Clay in the Hands

We are making our way through the Gospel of Mark on Wednesday nights in our chapel Bible study.  It is a formative study in which we are looking directly at what was and is important to Jesus as witnessed by his followers.  So often we read what others have said and thought about what Jesus said – and that is a good thing to do – but it is always important and refreshing to read what Jesus actually said.

Last night we took a close look at Jesus’ lesson on the importance of the Sabbath and the fact that the Sabbath was created for us and not the other way around.  Jesus took several opportunities to teach this lesson to people who did not want to hear it.  We will be talking about Sabbath this Sunday morning.

But this morning, what is fresh on my mind is something we see in Mark 3:5.  As Jesus was preparing to heal a man with a withered hand, he was confronted with the disapproval of the Pharisees that were in the synagogue.  Those who were against the healing never said a word but Jesus saw it in their faces and based on previous experience, he knew what they were thinking.  They were caught up in keeping the law to the point they had lost sight of the intent behind the law.

The description of Jesus’ approach should not be glossed over.  The text says Jesus was “angry” and “deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts.”  I have not been able to shake that sentence in 3:5.  What I see here is that stubborn, unwilling hearts do not please Jesus.  Now it is easy to look at the description of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees and cast judgement – to look down on them as ignorant and think to ourselves, “How could they have been so blind!”  But before we rush to judgement, how pliable are our hearts?

Am I ever guilty of stubbornness or being closed-minded?  Are you?

We learn many things about Jesus and what is important to him in this story.  He had compassion on the hurting.  He wanted to guide people into a better understanding of God and God’s desires for us.  He used common everyday opportunities to teach.  But don’t miss the fact that we also learn that Jesus had little patience for those who were not willing to be taught.

May our hearts be teachable today!