December 10, 2016 – 14 Days Until My Head Explodes, Or Devotions to Prepare Us For Christ’s Coming

“Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.” Mark 3:1-6

This Christmas decoration gives a new meaning to the term “Hat Tree”. It almost looks like someone barfed up hats stolen from Ebenezer Scrooge. It doesn’t matter how many berries you paste on these hats, they still look like a mistake from a magic act.

I find it interesting that the Pharisees are waiting in the synagogue to “see” if Jesus will heal the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath. It is amazing to me that the “people of the law” were so mired in it, that when the miraculous occurs, when this wonderful event happens in their presence, all they can do is worry about whether this healing breaks the commandment of honoring the Sabbath. Personally, if I watched a faith healer restore a withered hand, I would be completely astounded, and amazed, and would give glory to G-d. When the miraculous happens right in front of our eyes, do we let the details of our daily lives keep us from seeing how great this G-d of ours really is? The miraculous acts of G-d should not scare us – they should offer opportunities to offer prayer, praise and thanksgiving.

Pastor Dave