Condemn Him

Reading: Mark 3 Psalm 27 1 Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. 2 Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. Would he heal the man’s hand on the Sabbath? If he did, they planned to condemn him. 3 Jesus said to the man, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” 4 Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Is it legal to do good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing harm? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him. 5 He looked around at them angrily, because he was deeply disturbed by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Reach out your hand.” The man reached out his hand, and it became normal again! 6 At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to discuss plans for killing Jesus. (Mark 3:1-6 NLT) The Pharisees were the most morally-strict, Bible-believing, fundamentalist Jews of the day. The supporters of Herod were Jews who compromised their faith to get along with wicked and immoral King Herod Antipas and the pagan Romans he served. The Pharisees hated both King Herod and the Jewish compromisers, but their hatred of Jesus, and their fear of the disruption his truth and honesty and love would bring to their system, united them all in an immoral, illegal plot to kill him! Sometimes, it seems as if many of the Christians who speak most loudly are much clearer on what they’re against than what they’re for! And in a society that’s becoming ever more polarized around politics, morality, and cultural issues it’s not a huge step from being critical and judgmental to hating and condemning those we differ with!

Jesus came to give himself in service and sacrifice because “God so loved the world.” Friends, it was the wayward, wicked world that God loved and Jesus sacrificed for! I’m examining my motivation, my communication, and my salt and light influence on my world. Prayer:

Father, Please help my friends and me to make sure that the things we take a stand on and the alliances we form are motivated by care and compassion and not hatred, fear, and judgment! May our alliances be more about what we’re for than what we’re against! Amen!