Greetings, brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, let’s reflect on the authenticity of Jesus’s miracles and the compassion He has for lost sinners:
“And He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there with a withered hand.”
— Mark 3:1
Mark takes the time to describe the man’s condition. He mentions that this man had a withered hand, meaning it was public knowledge. This is how people identified him—as “the man with the withered hand.” Mark doesn’t tell us the man’s name, likely because not many knew it. What everyone knew was his condition.
This is important to note because it highlights the authenticity of Jesus’s miracles. People often try to downplay the miracles of Jesus, with some even claiming they were fake or merely illusions.
However, Mark makes it clear that the man’s condition was well-known to those around him. This wasn’t a hidden illness that the man could claim to have been healed from as part of some trick. His condition was public, and it’s how people identified him.
Similarly, the miracles Jesus performed were verifiable, clear, and authentic:
“A man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years.”
— John 5:5“As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth.”
— John 9:1“And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone,”
— Luke 8:43
All these miracles were genuine and verifiable by the people of that time. For example, when Jesus healed the man with leprosy, He sent him to the priests so they could validate the healing, allowing the man to re-enter the community after being declared clean:
“And a leper came to Jesus, pleading with Him and falling on his knees before Him, saying, ‘If You are willing, You can make me clean.’”
— Mark 1:40
The miracles Jesus and His apostles performed were authentic. They are unlike many of the so-called miracles we see today, which are often unverifiable, with the focus being on the person performing them. These false signs and wonders are what Jesus warned about concerning the end times:
“For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
— Matthew 24:24
As believers, we must be on guard against false christs, miracle workers, healers, and teachers who seek their own glory and deceive others for personal gain.
This was also the attitude of the Pharisees, who were already looking for ways to discredit and accuse Jesus. Their intentions are laid bare in the next verse:
“They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.”
— Mark 3:2
The Pharisees had created their own set of “fence laws” based on their interpretations of the Ten Commandments. These laws prohibited healing on the Sabbath, and they knew that if Jesus healed the man, they would have something to accuse Him of.
“And He said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Get up and come forward!’”
— Mark 3:3
We see Jesus perform the miracle openly, in front of eyewitnesses. It’s also worth noting that this specific miracle involved the recreation of the man’s hand, which shows the incredible power of Jesus, who is God—the Creator.
But Jesus didn’t stop there. He turned His attention to the Pharisees, knowing their thoughts, and challenged them:
“Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent.
— Mark 3:4
Jesus had already demonstrated that He is the Lord of the Sabbath, and that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. When He questioned the Pharisees, they had no answer because they knew they were elevating their traditions and legalism above God’s law.
“After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.”
— Mark 3:5
Finally, we see Jesus’s compassion. Even though the Pharisees were against Him, He was grieved by the hardness of their hearts. This reveals the attitude of Jesus toward lost sinners. He doesn’t take pleasure in their downfall or eternal suffering. As we read in Ezekiel:
“Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord Yahweh, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’”
— Ezekiel 33:11
We serve a compassionate God. That’s why we have the responsibility to go out and preach the gospel to everyone. As children of God, we should also have compassion for lost sinners and implore them to place their faith in Christ, their only hope for salvation.
I pray that this word reminds us to be vigilant against false teachers and miracle workers, but also to have compassion for those who are lost.
May the love of God be with you all.
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