My husband and I love to pull out the movie projector, fill our bowls with unhealthy microwave popcorn, and relax by watching a movie. One of our favorites is the movie Inception. The way it is filmed is incredible. Modern special effects seem to make the impossible possible.
When Jesus walked on the earth, there was no Christopher Nolan and no George Lucas. There was no CGI or 3D. Jesus Himself made the impossible possible. No one else has walked on water, fed thousands with one meal, raised the dead, or restored a withered hand.
Jesus spoke,
the man obeyed,
and the withered was no more.
6 On another Sabbath, he [Jesus] entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. ~Luke 6:6-11, ESV
Tragically, this miracle made the scribes and Pharisees furious. They focused on a broken rule instead of a restored man. They chose to worship the Law instead of its Fulfillment.
Yet Jesus knew their thoughts and intentions. He knew that restoring this man’s hand would ultimately lead to His own hand being nailed to a cross. He knew that He wasn’t there to save those who appeared to be healthy, but to save those who were broken and withered.
A One Degree Moment
If we are not careful, we can believe that the impossible only becomes possible because of Hollywood. Jesus has not changed (Hebrews 13:8). He still makes the impossible possible. He still saves the broken and heals what is withered.
Have you accepted his invitation to come and to stretch out what is withered in your life before Him? Or are you clinging to things other than faith and missing the Messiah completely?
Jesus is speaking,
will you obey?
If so, then what is withered in your life will truly be no more.
Good Morning, as I read your blog I think of all the areas of my life that are withered and I so want to place them all at the foot of His Blessed Cross. I have done that in the past, I am doing it today and I know that if He allows me to have tomorrow I will be doing it tomorrow! Your thoughts that you have shared remind me once again, that our Lord’s beautiful grace is sufficient for every area of my life and all I need to do is trust and surrender! As I spend time with Him, He continues to reveal to me the areas that I think I am still controlling in my life. Have a truly blessed day dear friend and know that because of your sharing my life is much richer in Him and His Love, Grace and Mercy!
I love this passage because there is so much to learn from it! I am thankful that your heart is open and that you are willing to trust and surrender. His grace IS sufficient for us! Have a blessed day 🙂
Hello friend,
Wow! I’m being blown away by God’s love for me today! I so enjoyed this post and how you tied in your analogy of Hollywood and Jesus. I feel like I found a “gold mine” today in Hebrews chapter 4. It’s all so good but here’s the verse that pulled me in first. “So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God”. Hebrews 4:9 NLT WOW! Thank you for more encouragement girl, and we’re especially praising the Spirit of our living God working it out within us! ~ Blessings, Amy
You are welcome Amy! I am in a season where Jesus is calling me to stretch out several “things” before Him, and I am finally saying: “take them and restore them Jesus.” And guess what? He is healing this broken daughter. Why do I want to hold onto the “withered hands” in my life? I am starting to get quite annoyed by them…Praise Him!
Thank you for sharing Hebrews 4:9. I read through the entire chapter-LOVE IT! I love the idea of entering into His rest….what an awesome thing to “strive” for (Hebrews 4:11 ESV). I also found verses Hebrews 4:14-16 to be encouraging too. I think they state the most excellent reason why we should/can enter into His rest. Blessings Amy 🙂
You never disappoint your readers, at least not me! I’ve enjoyed each of your blogs and have walked away with something new to think about. Today’s goal is to hand over my impossible to God!
Have a God filled day!!
Thank you Amanda! Praying that you were able to hand over “the impossible” to God today…and that you will continue to do so every day after that! 🙂 I love Isaiah 55:11 where it says that God’s word will accomplish all that HE has purposed for it. Praising Him for using this passage to accomplish His work in your heart today. Blessings and thanks again for your comment and encouraging words!