One Hope Project sings, ‘My Soul Rests’. Let this song carry you into the presence of God today...

Here in this mystery, here in Your majesty

I find myself

With nothing to offer, Your love surrounds me

You give me Yourself

My soul rests, my soul rests, in Your embrace

My spirit sings, my spirit sings all Your praise

Here in Your presence, the whole host of heaven

Bows down low

There's no higher honour, no love that's greater

You make us Your own

My soul rests, my soul rests, in Your embrace

My spirit sings, my spirit sings all Your praise

My soul rests, my soul rests, in Your embrace

My spirit sings, my spirit sings all Your praise

You're so close, Jesus, so close to me

Like the breath in my lungs

You're so close, Jesus, so close to me

Like the breath in my lungs

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 3:1-6

Again [Jesus] 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.

Start with the man with the withered hand. How do you imagine he is feeling at the start of this story, as he sees Jesus entering the synagogue?

And at the end, with his hand restored, how does he feel? How, as you see the outcome of what Jesus has done, does the healed man react?

This could have been simply a story of a great deed done for a needy individual. But once again, it provokes the Pharisees to an ever-growing opposition. What is it, do you think, that makes them so opposed to what seems initially to be so great a blessing?

Hearing the passage again, pay particular attention to Jesus’s reaction at different points.

Mark 3:1-6

Again [Jesus] 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.

What, finally, might you say to this angry and grieving Jesus?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen