November 21, 2010: Stretch Out Your Hand and Live – Michael Hidalgo

Jesus goes to the synagogue on Sabbath, and publicly raises a question about life. He pointedly asks all who were assembled there, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" His question reflects how easily we allow our culture – religious or otherwise – our rules, and our ideas to stand in the way of people experiencing the restoration and renewal that God can bring about. 

Those present do not respond directly to Jesus – they, Mark tells us, are hardhearted. This does not mean “coldhearted” – rather it is an idiom referring to the fact that some lack the ability to understand and grasp the heart of God. The people place a religious framework as first and foremost in their minds and hearts. 

Which raises then a significant question for us: How much do we attempt to place our particular brand of religious framework over God – and according to our framework determine what is good or bad?