Lent 2019 | Day 19 | Jesus & Religious Traditions - Part 2

One of the primary ways we find strength is by seeing Jesus and how much he loves us. For the next few wks of our guided prayer we are going to take strength by meditating on what Jesus went thru for us. The scripture teaches us that the greatest demonstration of Love is to lay down your life for another. Throughout Jesus’s time on earth he was continually “laying his life down” for us. Each day we’ll take one example of Jesus doing this and ponder it.

SCRIPTURE

------

On another Sabbath day, Jesus was teaching in the synagogue. In the room with him was a man with a deformed right hand. Everyone watched Jesus closely, especially the Jewish religious leaders and the religious scholars, to see if Jesus would heal on a Sabbath day, for they were eager to find a reason to accuse him of breaking the Jewish laws. Jesus, knowing their every thought, said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand here in the middle of the room.” So he got up and came forward. Jesus said to all who were there, “Let me ask you a question. Which is better: to heal or to do harm on the Sabbath day? I have come to save a life, but you have come to find a life to destroy.” One by one Jesus looked into the eyes of each person in the room. Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your arm and open your hand!” With everyone watching intently, he stretched out his arm, and his hand was completely healed! The room erupted with bitter rage because of this Sabbath-day healing. And from that moment on, the religious leaders plotted among themselves about how they might harm Jesus. -Luke 6: 6-11 (TPT)

REFLECTION

------

(Ponder and grow in your awareness of Jesus’ life of sacrifice by reflecting on the following questions.)

Jesus said, “Let me ask you a question. Which is better: to heal or to to harm on the Sabbath day? I have come to save a life, but you have come to find a life to destroy.”

How fast or slowly did Jesus look around the room? Were people holding their breath? Did they hold their gaze or have to look away as The Savior looked at them? Did Jesus’s eyes have tears in them? Were they full of questions or anger … with deep fatigue or anxious invitation? Did his voice tremble with grief or anger? Did he find any eyes that looked back at him with a decision to join Life? What happened inside Jesus as he looked at each person in the eyes? Was this the moment that every part of him gained resolution and strength to save that which was lost? Did he know that this miracle was the tipping point - and would activate the tireless plotting of his death? If so, did he feel a sense of relief when he felt the momentum change … and his course was set to be convicted for murder?

RESPONSE

------

Precious Jesus, I am so saddened by this scene. Precious Savior, Giver of Life, how many times do you ask my heart such searching questions as you asked in that room? What part of me accepts your invitation. What part of me erupts with rage? Oh Lord, I do not want to partner with evil in any way. I do not want to “find a life to destroy” and yet … I know that often my choices and behaviors, my beliefs and perspectives are as twisted as the religious leaders who were offended by the liberation of a man … only because it did not come in the form or method they found acceptable.

Right now, I thank you for taking that sin and the wrath of our choices to reject life in all its’ forms … and I thank you for letting the weight of that sin crush your body and soul. Jesus. I want to have eyes to see you working, I want to have eyes to see you destroying injustice, over turning tables, bringing life even when it destroys our notion of what is safe, or right, or appropriate.

Jesus … I want to stand beside you in that room, against those raging eyes … and always choose you - the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let me feel more comfortable with your heart of life than I ever do in the camp of mockers and destroyers … Even if I must sacrifice my own privilege, position, reputation, or beliefs to find you in Truth. Let me have the purity and the love and to be able to look back into your eyes with complete devotion to you and the ways of your Father. Amen.