The Bible in Mark 3:5 records that Jesus was angry and agonized (grieved) when the people whom he had questioned refused to answer him. Did you ever wonder as to what angered and grieved Jesus? The question that he had asked was “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil; to save life, or to kill?” as He encountered a man with a withered hand who was in the synagogue. This question was in no way rhetorical and warranted an answer, one way or the other, but the people who plotted to accuse Jesus, hiding behind laws and legalism, kept silent. It was the apathy of those with hardened hearts that angered and agonized Jesus, but before we pass judgment on those who plotted to accuse Jesus, let us examine ourselves as well.

Many a times we are no different. We are indifferent to those around us that need to be restored whole; that need to be saved. Our hearts are calloused and hard and compassion has no room in it for those who are hurting around us. The withered hand of the man was made whole by Jesus irrespective of whether the people answered him or not and so God’s saving work by His Son will continue irrespective of whether we respond to his question of whether it is good to save life or not. Let us however not be apathetic and remain silent, for being so is what angers and agonizes Jesus. An apathetic person is a pathetic person.

Point(s) to ponder:

  1. Who are some of the people around you that need to be saved or restored?
  2. What is the condition of your heart toward them?
  3. If Jesus was to ask you/me, is it lawful for you to save life or to kill, what would your/mine answer be?

Mark 3:1-5 (KJV)
1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.