Memorize: Healing on the Sabbath
Key Verses: 2, 9, 19, 24, 30, 34
The manner of death is not an indication of the person’s righteousness. Suffering in this life does not mean someone has sinned and God is bringing judgment through their suffering. God extends grace even to sinners. He does not bring immediate judgment on sin. He leaves space for repentance.
Jesus did some of His best work in synagogues, also some of His most controversial. He did so many things that were culturally unacceptable. He called a woman forward in the synagogue. This was a place where men had the primary role. He touched a woman to whom He was not related. And this took place on the Sabbath, a day when work was not supposed to happen. The guy in charge didn’t like his schedule being interrupted. But the people were ecstatic.
You see, when God’s Kingdom gets started in a person’s life, or in a community, it starts very small. It doesn’t look like it will have much effect. But once it is unleashed everything changes. Its growth will be felt by everyone. It works almost invisibly, imperceptively. Its growth and reach are surprising, unpredictable.
Not everyone who tries to enter heaven will. We must know the occupant of heaven in order to be admitted. Mere acquaintance is not enough. Familiarity with Jesus’ teaching won’t do. Having hung around with Jesus-followers won’t work. Jesus is speaking especially to the religious leaders, those who thought they had earned the right to enter by their position and privilege. The outward ranking does not matter. There will be surprises on Judgment Day.
God’s desire is that all would come to repentance. Even the inhabitants of Jerusalem who were responsible for so many acts of rebellion were invited to enter safety, but they refused. God desires to gather us and protect us, to pull us close to Himself and comfort us. But we must be willing to come.
The Arnold Journey 