As we begin Mark 3, we see Yeshua in a place of controversy again involving the Sabbath. Verses 1-6 read: He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on Shabbat, so that they might accuse Him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on Shabbat, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent. After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. The Pharisees had developed 39 specific prohibitions based on the work performed in the building of the Temple. For example, you could not grind or crush building materials. One of the reasons that the Pharisees condemned healing on Shabbat was that you could not make medicine that would bring healing because that would involve grinding herbs to make medicine. However, Yeshua doesn't make medicine. He doesn't violate any of the 39 prohibitions. He merely speaks the Word of healing. He says, "Stretch forth your hand."
According to the Pharisees, the following rules applied to healing on Shabbat:
1. Healing to save a life was a duty;
2. Caring for the seriously ill was allowed; and
3. Treating minor ailments was prohibited.
Since a withered hand was not life threatening nor serious, it would have been prohibited by the Pharisees. However, since Yeshua followed the teachings of the House of Hillel which emphasized concern for others and demonstrating love, healing on Shabbat was not prohibited. Yeshua did not violate Torah by healing on Shabbat. In fact, it could be argued that Yeshua did not violate the Pharisees rules concerning Shabbat since talking was not prohibited.
Shabbat means rest. That rest belongs to us and not us to the rest. When we begin to see Shabbat not as rules to be obeyed but as a joy to be encountered, it becomes a real treasure. Just think, that treasure comes to us every week. Do you receive it?
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