The Rest-istance: Heal (Mark 3:1-6)

Why Sabbath? In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath and then proceeds to question the Pharisees’ who are dismayed by his breaking of the rules and regulations around Sabbath-keeping. He questions the Pharisees’ entire understanding of the purpose of Sabbath and their authority to be the ones to make and enforce the rules about it. Perhaps the man with the physically impaired hand is not the only person in this story that Jesus wants to heal. There’s more than one way to be sick. Jesus offers healing to both the man with withered hand and the Pharisees with their withered and sin-sick hearts. The Sabbath is for healing and freedom and life, not to place additional burdens on already worn-down people. Sometimes our healing is physical or spiritual or mental or emotional. When we choose to regularly create space in our life to encounter Jesus, Jesus will do what Jesus does—heal, restore, bring life and freedom and wholeness.