Mark 3:5
“And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.'”
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Jesus, angry? This is the divine Lord, the merciful Jesus who is meek and lowly in heart. Yet, this was a rare moment…He was indeed angry. What could have upset Him so much?
Jesus had trafficked all around the farm country of Galilee healing the sick, raising the dead and cleansing the leprous. He now had come to a poor man who was in the synagogue with a withered hand. Anyone who has to earn a living can imagine the agony of having that useful member of the body dried up or paralyzed.
It’s no coincidence that Jesus is there and ready to restore that hand to its full capacity. Wouldn’t those who were gathered in the synagogue have special cause to worship when they saw a miracle of divine goodness? I can imagine them whispering to each other saying, “We shall see our poor neighbor restored today for the Son of God has come among us with power to heal and He will make this a very glorious Sabbath by His work of gracious power.”
But that isn’t what happened. Instead, they sat watching Jesus ready to find a way that they might attack Him and end His earthly ministry.
Hardness of heart will always rob you even though you may be standing in the midst of God’s presence. Are you battling the temptation to harden your heart? Stop today and yield that cold heart to the warm healing hands of Jesus before it’s too late.
Pastor Jack