And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward." 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 kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.—Mark 3:1-6 (emphasis mine)
As I read this last night my heart was encouraged. There are so many things in this world that grieve my heart. It always helps to know that Christ felt similarly as He walked this earth. It is also hard for me to know exactly how to handle my feelings in this regard because unlike Christ, my own sin is always before me.
For my iniquities have gone over my head;
Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.—Psalm 38:4
Matthew Henry’s commentary on these verses…particularly the one highlighted above spoke wonderfully to my heart.
Note, The sin of sinners is very displeasing to Jesus Christ; and the way to be angry, and not to sin, is it be angry, as Christ was, at nothing but sin. Let hard-hearted sinners tremble to think of the anger with which he will look round upon them shortly, when the great day of his wrath comes. [2.] How he pitied the sinners; he was grieved for the hardness of their hearts; as God was grieved forty years for the hardness of the hearts of their fathers in the wilderness.
Note, It is a great grief to our Lord Jesus, to see sinners bent upon their own ruin, and obstinately set against the methods of their conviction and recovery, for he would not that any should perish. This is a good reason why the hardness of our own hearts and of the hearts of others, should be a grief to us.—Matthew Henry
What did Christ do in the face of those who were disapproving and looking to ensnare and entrap Him? He dealt kindly with the man with the withered hand and went on to resolutely do the right thing…the will of His Father in heaven…despite the offense that would be taken by the hostile onlookers. He denied Himself and did good despite the evil that would be planned against Him for that good.
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.—Matthew 5:43-48
Beloved…Pray for your enemies and those who rebel against the light. Lament their stubbornness…lament your own stubbornness and rebellion and be grieved for the hardness of heart that at times makes each of us insensible to the evidence of His love all around us. Make it a cause for prayer.
Stretch out your own withered hand to Him. Even as believers all of us are weakened by sin and are very often in desperate need the healing power of Christ. Allow Him to effect the cure as you gaze deeply into His word and depend on His grace to see you through. And always…all glory and honor to our God as He works His beautiful work of grace in each of us.
