Jesus Heals
Jesus Cares About Our Needs
Read Luke 6:6-11
The religious leaders were looking for a way to get Jesus into trouble. They wanted the people to follow them instead of Jesus. They had noticed the man with the crippled hand, and they waited anxiously for Jesus to see him. They knew Jesus would care deeply for the man and desire to heal him.
What were the Pharisees hoping for? How did they wish to trap Jesus? One of the rules of the Sabbath was that the people were not supposed to work. God wanted the Sabbath to be a day of rest and a time to focus on Him. To the Lord’s Day of rest and worship, the Pharisees had added a set of rules that were impossible to keep. One of the ridiculous rules the Pharisees added was that you could not heal on the Sabbath; healing was too much like work.
Jesus knew exactly what they wanted. He knew the Scribes and Pharisees wanted Him to heal the man's withered arm; they wanted to be able to accuse Him of breaking their man-made rules. Jesus asked them a startling question. He did not ask if they thought it was lawful to heal someone on the Sabbath; He asked them if it was lawful to save life or destroy life on the Sabbath.
Those are strong opposites: save or destroy. The Pharisees did not see ignoring this man's need of healing as destroying him. Jesus was trying to show them that in the presence of someone who has a great need you only have two choices; you do good to him, or you harm him. Ignoring him is doing him harm.
We often have the same decision to make--to save or to destroy. We must choose to do good to people. If we choose to do nothing when someone has a need, it is the same as doing harm to him. Jesus is showing us a greater rule than the Pharisees had; those who break the rule of God's Sabbath are those who would leave a man in agony instead of trying to help him. Jesus helped him because Jesus cares about our needs.
Jesus tells us that we can stretch out that thing, whatever it is, and trust Him to help us and heal us. He will because Jesus cares about our needs. No matter how big or small, how noticeable or hidden it is, He sees, and He cares. He is simply waiting for us to stretch out our withered hands so He can help us. He will not let any enemy or crowd stop Him from working His love and power in our lives. Nothing can stop Jesus from doing His work when we, by faith, receive His help and stand with Him.
Family Discussion
Memory Verse
And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. James 5:15a
The religious leaders were looking for a way to get Jesus into trouble. They wanted the people to follow them instead of Jesus. They had noticed the man with the crippled hand, and they waited anxiously for Jesus to see him. They knew Jesus would care deeply for the man and desire to heal him.
What were the Pharisees hoping for? How did they wish to trap Jesus? One of the rules of the Sabbath was that the people were not supposed to work. God wanted the Sabbath to be a day of rest and a time to focus on Him. To the Lord’s Day of rest and worship, the Pharisees had added a set of rules that were impossible to keep. One of the ridiculous rules the Pharisees added was that you could not heal on the Sabbath; healing was too much like work.
Jesus knew exactly what they wanted. He knew the Scribes and Pharisees wanted Him to heal the man's withered arm; they wanted to be able to accuse Him of breaking their man-made rules. Jesus asked them a startling question. He did not ask if they thought it was lawful to heal someone on the Sabbath; He asked them if it was lawful to save life or destroy life on the Sabbath.
Those are strong opposites: save or destroy. The Pharisees did not see ignoring this man's need of healing as destroying him. Jesus was trying to show them that in the presence of someone who has a great need you only have two choices; you do good to him, or you harm him. Ignoring him is doing him harm.
We often have the same decision to make--to save or to destroy. We must choose to do good to people. If we choose to do nothing when someone has a need, it is the same as doing harm to him. Jesus is showing us a greater rule than the Pharisees had; those who break the rule of God's Sabbath are those who would leave a man in agony instead of trying to help him. Jesus helped him because Jesus cares about our needs.
Jesus tells us that we can stretch out that thing, whatever it is, and trust Him to help us and heal us. He will because Jesus cares about our needs. No matter how big or small, how noticeable or hidden it is, He sees, and He cares. He is simply waiting for us to stretch out our withered hands so He can help us. He will not let any enemy or crowd stop Him from working His love and power in our lives. Nothing can stop Jesus from doing His work when we, by faith, receive His help and stand with Him.
Family Discussion
- Jesus was teaching in the synagogue on what day? (the Sabbath)
- What was special about the Sabbath? (the Sabbath is a day of rest and focusing on God)
- The Pharisees were hoping to see Jesus violate the rules of the Sabbath. What rule did they hope Jesus would violate? (a person was not supposed to work on the Sabbath)
- How did Jesus respond when the Pharisees accused Him of breaking the law on the Sabbath? (Jesus asked them if it was lawful to save life or destroy life on the Sabbath)
- Share some examples of needs that we depend on God to take care of.
- How does it make you feel to know that Jesus cares about our needs?
Memory Verse
And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. James 5:15a
Posted in Calvary Kids