Troublesome Truth

“But He knew their thoughts and told the man with the paralyzed hand, ‘Get up and stand here.’” (Luke 6:8)

Jesus went to the synagogue on a Sabbath and taught. The Pharisees and others were watching Him closely. He had already offended their sensibilities by defending His disciples’ actions in the wheat fields. They had dared to pluck a few grains of wheat on the Sabbath because they were hungry. Jesus reminded them of something David once did because he and his men were hungry. So they were watching Him through piercing eyes.

There was a man in their midst with a paralyzed hand. Would He do it?
Jesus knew their thoughts. And He knew they were watching. No one was compelling Him to heal the man with a paralyzed hand. Would one day make a difference? Why not just wait until the next day? Why antagonize these people?

Things are not always as simple as they appear. Jesus knew that these men needed some serious readjusting of their thoughts. He knew that the next day, they would all be about their own business and wouldn’t care whether the man was healed or not. He knew that the man was there and needed healing, and He did not know where he would be the next day. Sometimes truth just cannot be postponed. So, Jesus healed the man, enraging many in the synagogue, who immediately began to try to think of ways to get rid of Jesus.

The purpose of this miracle of healing was not just the healing of the man’s hand. It’s greater purpose was to demonstrate an important truth the people were missing. Jesus knew this was going to antagonize them. Regardless of what they might think of Him, He knew their thinking needed to be challenged with the truth.

Truth antagonizes some; others it sets free.

Lord, May we humble ourselves before You and always be willing to adjust our thinking in the face of Your truth. Amen.