66 in 1 series: the withered hand

I am attempting to read through all 66 books of the Bible this year. Whenever I am challenged or encouraged by a particular word, verse, or passage, I will share it with you. Welcome to my “66 in 1” series…

 

 

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.

 

“He went on from there and entered their synagogue. And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’—so that they might accuse him. He said to them, ‘Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.’ Then he said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.” 

~Matthew 12:9-14 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.

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. Jesus knew His purpose was not to save those who appeared to be healthy, but to save those who were broken and withered.

 

 

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.

 

* This is a post from my archives.