“I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in My Father’s name testify about Me.”Jesus demonstrated His power, His compassion, and His love. He took it upon Himself to use this responsibility to meet the needs of others, in the same way that the church has the same responsibility to reach the lost.
Matthew 12:9-14
9 Moving on from there, He entered their synagogue. 10 There He saw a man who had a paralyzed hand. And in order to accuse Him they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
11 But He said to them, “What man among you, if he had a sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, wouldn’t take hold of it and lift it out? 12 A man is worth far more than a sheep, so it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 Then He told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored, as good as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.
Mark 3:1-6
1 Now He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a paralyzed hand. 2 In order to accuse Him, they were watching Him closely to see whether He would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 He told the man with the paralyzed hand, “Stand before us.” 4 Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5After looking around at them with anger and sorrow at the hardness of their hearts, He told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.
Luke 6:6-11
6 On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching. A man was there whose right hand was paralyzed. 7 The scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely, to see if He would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a charge against Him. 8 But He knew their thoughts and told the man with the paralyzed hand, “Get up and stand here.” So he got up and stood there. 9Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you: is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 After looking around at them all, He told him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored. 11 They, however, were filled with rage and started discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Jesus answered the Pharisees after they challenged Him about the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11). Jesus countered that He is the Lord of the Sabbath, and declares that a person in need is much more important, or valuable, than the Sabbath if the person is in need. The area of caution for a church to make sure that it is always more important to do good for others and not hinder the love of Christ in its ministry to those in need. If the church has the ability to help others, that ability becomes a responsibility to help others. The church needs to do more than just provide the opportunity for salvation. The church needs to build people up in such a way that benefits others. It must make the distinction of what is good and what is evil and follow Christ in doing so (Isaiah 5:20).
The love of Jesus Christ has a way to draw people closer to God (Romans 2:4; 1 Corinthians 13:8); in fact, learning God’s Word should compel us to do more to help others. The greatest obstacles of the church is to overcome those things that hinder this effort. God’s Word is meant to teach us, to nurture us, and provide healing.
As a church, we are to pray for direction that helps us to do what is good for those in need. The need is great and it requires undivided attention from its members.
Matthew 23:23-28
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. 24 Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, yet gulp down a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so the outside of it may also become clean.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Who are the people that will help those in the greatest need? What is the value of a person who is need? Where can you, or the church, provide help for those in need? A willingness to help helps to answer all of these questions. Our goal is to always bring persons to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to help the person become the person that Christ desires for him or her to be.
God’s kindness to us and His love for us has always been present–even when we have been unkind to Him or to others. Should we not love others, as Christ loves us, in the same way? Our compassion is what draws people to a relationship with Christ. The church leads the charge to set people free and deliver them in the name of Jesus Christ. There is never a bad time to do what is good for others.
When Jesus healed the man with the paralyzed hand, it required the man’s obedience, and he also did what the Lord asked of him. In the same way, the lesson here is that a person in need of healing requires obedience and listening to His voice, and to move according to God’s direction. Those who minister to persons in need fulfill their responsibility of service for Him and are in accord with God’s will for them and for everyone they reach for the gospel.
Akron Alliance Fellowship 