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==148:7. THE MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND==

==148:7. THE MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND==

148:7.1 The second Sabbath before the departure of the apostles and the new corps of evangelists on the second preaching tour of Galilee, Jesus spoke in the Capernaum synagogue on the " Joys of Righteous Living. " When Jesus had finished speaking, a large group of those who were maimed, halt, sick, and afflicted crowded up around him, seeking healing. Also in this group were the apostles, many of the new evangelists, and the Pharisaic spies from Jerusalem. Everywhere that Jesus went (except when in the hills about the Father's business) the six Jerusalem spies were sure to follow.

148:7.1 The second [[Sabbath]] before the departure of [[the apostles]] and the new corps of [[evangelists]] on the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_149 second preaching tour] of [[Galilee]], [[Jesus]] spoke in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capernaum Capernaum] [[synagogue]] on the " [[Joys]] of [[Righteous]] Living. " When [[Jesus]] had finished speaking, a large [[group]] of those who were maimed, halt, [[sick]], and afflicted crowded up around him, seeking [[healing]]. Also in this [[group]] were the [[apostles]], many of the new [[evangelists]], and the [[Pharisees|Pharisaic]] [[spies]] from [[Jerusalem]]. Everywhere that [[Jesus]] went (except when in the hills about [[the Father]]'s business) the six [[Jerusalem]] [[spies]] were sure to follow.

148:7.2 The leader of the spying Pharisees, as Jesus stood talking to the people, induced a man with a withered hand to approach him and ask if it would be lawful to be healed on the Sabbath day or should he seek help on another day. When Jesus saw the man, heard his words, and perceived that he had been sent by the Pharisees, he said: " Come forward while I ask you a question. If you had a sheep and it should fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, would you reach down, lay hold on it, and lift it out? Is it lawful to do such things on the Sabbath day? " And the man answered: " Yes, Master, it would be lawful thus to do well on the Sabbath day. " Then said Jesus, speaking to all of them: " I know wherefore you have sent this man into my presence. You would find cause for offense in me if you could tempt me to show mercy on the Sabbath day. In silence you all agreed that it was lawful to lift the unfortunate sheep out of the pit, even on the Sabbath, and I call you to witness that it is lawful to exhibit loving-kindness on the Sabbath day not only to animals but also to men. How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! I proclaim that it is lawful to do good to men on the Sabbath day. " And as they all stood before him in silence, Jesus, addressing the man with the withered hand, said: " Stand up here by my side that all may see you. And now that you may know that it is my Father's will that you do good on the Sabbath day, if you have the faith to be healed, I bid you stretch out your hand. "

148:7.2 The [[leader]] of the spying [[Pharisees]], as [[Jesus]] stood talking to the people, induced a [[man]] with a withered hand to approach him and ask if it would be lawful to be [[healed]] on the [[Sabbath]] day or should he seek help on another day. When [[Jesus]] saw the man, heard his [[words]], and [[perceived]] that he had been sent by the [[Pharisees]], he said: " Come forward while I ask you a question. If you had a sheep and it should fall into a pit on the [[Sabbath]] day, would you reach down, lay hold on it, and lift it out? Is it [[lawful]] to do such things on the [[Sabbath]] day? " And the man answered: " Yes, Master, it would be lawful thus to do well on the [[Sabbath]] day. "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_Luke#Chapter_6] Then said [[Jesus]], speaking to all of them: " I know wherefore you have sent this man into my [[presence]]. You would find [[cause]] for [[offense]] in me if you could [[tempt]] me to show [[mercy]] on the [[Sabbath]] day. In [[silence]] you all [[agreed]] that it was [[lawful]] to lift the unfortunate sheep out of the pit, even on the [[Sabbath]], and I call you to [[witness]] that it is lawful to [[exhibit]] [[loving]]-[[kindness]] on the [[Sabbath]] day not only to animals but also to men. How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! I [[proclaim]] that it is lawful to do [[good]] to men on the [[Sabbath]] day. " And as they all stood before him in [[silence]], [[Jesus]], addressing the man with the withered hand, said: " Stand up here by my side that all may see you. And now that you may know that it is [[Universal Father|my Father]]'s will that you do [[good]] on the Sabbath day, if you have the [[faith]] to be [[healed]], I bid you stretch out your hand. "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_Luke#Chapter_6]

148:7.3 And as this man stretched forth his withered hand, it was made whole. The people were minded to turn upon the Pharisees, but Jesus bade them be calm, saying: " I have just told you that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, to save life, but I did not instruct you to do harm and give way to the desire to kill. " The angered Pharisees went away, and notwithstanding it was the Sabbath day, they hastened forthwith to Tiberias and took counsel with Herod, doing everything in their power to arouse his prejudice in order to secure the Herodians as allies against Jesus. But Herod refused to take action against Jesus, advising that they carry their complaints to Jerusalem.

148:7.3 And as this man stretched forth his withered hand, it was made [[whole]]. The people were [[minded]] to turn upon the [[Pharisees]], but [[Jesus]] bade them be calm, saying: " I have just told you that it is [[lawful]] to do [[good]] on the [[Sabbath]], to save life, but I did not instruct you to do harm and give way to the [[desire]] to [[kill]]. " The [[anger]]ed [[Pharisees]] went away, and notwithstanding it was the [[Sabbath]] day, they hastened forthwith to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberias Tiberias] and took [[counsel]] with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Antipas Herod], doing [[everything]] in their [[power]] to arouse his [[prejudice]] in order to secure the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodians Herodians] as allies against [[Jesus]]. But [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Antipas Herod] refused to take [[action]] against [[Jesus]], advising that they carry their [[complaint]]s to [[Jerusalem]].

148:7.4 This is the first case of a miracle to be wrought by Jesus in response to the challenge of his enemies. And the Master performed this so-called miracle, not as a demonstration of his healing power, but as an effective protest against making the Sabbath rest of religion a veritable bondage of meaningless restrictions upon all mankind. This man returned to his work as a stone mason, proving to be one of those whose healing was followed by a life of thanksgiving and righteousness.

148:7.4 This is the first case of a [[miracle]] to be wrought by [[Jesus]] in [[response]] to the [[challenge]] of his enemies. And [[the Master]] [[performed]] this so-called [[miracle]], not as a [[demonstration]] of his [[healing]] [[power]], but as an effective [[protest]] against making the [[Sabbath]] [[rest]] of [[religion]] a veritable [[bondage]] of meaningless restrictions upon all [[mankind]]. This man returned to his [[work]] as a stone mason, proving to be one of those whose [[healing]] was followed by a life of [[thanksgiving]] and [[righteousness]].

==148:8. LAST WEEK AT BETHSAIDA==

==148:8. LAST WEEK AT BETHSAIDA==