One day Jesus looked at the religious leaders with anger and he was deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts. They were plotting to kill him and he knew it. You know what they were looking for? To see if he would heal a person or not. All because they thought it was wrong to do so on a particular day.
Jesus said, "Stretch out your hand." The man stretched out his shriveled arm and it was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out to plot how they might kill Jesus.
Jesus chose to heal the man and rebuke the religious. May we do the same. Let's heal the sick and the broken downs of this world. Let's continue to be ourselves and let the world know they are welcome to experience this love at any given moment. Including the religious who seem out to plot and kill the good.
What breaks my heart in all of this is the fact that the religious can change at any moment. They can humble themselves and agree with Jesus. They can stop at any time, the plot to kill him and his kingdom.
I think they knew that, there had to have been that still small voice in their hearts tugging away from deep within. He really is the Son of God, listen to him. Follow him, for he leads to life. But to stubborn in their pride they resist the inner voice and move on with their plotting.
So what is the response of Jesus? He went right along to the next town and ministered to many people. He continued in his authentic approach of saving, healing and freeing those who desired it. He desired to see even more people completely restored.
The enemy is always plotting to kill Jesus and his kingdom. And sometimes the best weapon of war is to continue right on doing what God desires to be done and that is helping people move from darkness to light! Let's be careful to keep our hearts focused on what matters. Jesus did that very well. He was making all kinds of people upset but he knew his mission and lived in a very fierce kinda uncompromising way.
His very life was confronting, to those who plot to kill, but what did he say to them on the cross? Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.
I pray that The Grove takes on this same heart of our Messiah. Be fierce in everything. Be focused on our mission together. And let's love everyone, including those who seek to plot and kill. Cause in the end maybe they really don't know what they are doing. Maybe they are so broken and hurt but they can not see it.
These thoughts come from Mark 3.
