In Luke 6:6-10, Jesus is in a synagogue on the sabbath. Jesus had encounters with the Pharisees in earlier trips to the synagogues on the sabbath, so the Pharisees as it states were keeping a sharp eye on him. The issue was, Jesus was performing miracles on the sabbath which went against the Jewish religious laws at the time. The Pharisees were so caught up in their man made laws that they forgot what fellowship and worshiping God was. The law was preeminent in their society because they lost their relationship with God. The law put a void between man and God. Religious practice became the god. Works to justify their religious existence. A form of Godliness, but no Godliness at all. Men existing to practice what they made up.
Jesus comes along, and messed up their existence. Here he is in the synagogue healing people. Doing what is right. Doing the will of the Father. The Pharisees hated it and so hated Jesus. He was walking all over their law. Their rules. The maintenance of their rules took precedent over a move of God. The Pharisees were so blinded by their created law that they could not see God, even when He was standing in front of them.
Things haven’t changed for over 2000 years. Men still make laws that do not line up with the Word of God, and they still brush Jesus aside. For the sake of their “beliefs”, man made doctrines, they put Jesus in a box and say that he cannot move outside the box because this would go against their beliefs. Even though the Word of God which they have, tells a complete different story.
Jesus walked in miracles. His Disciples walked in miracles. Jesus said we would walk in miracles, but in certain circles even today, man says no. What is funny to me, just as the Pharisees got angry at Jesus for healing a man’s hand on the sabbath, today we have institutions in the church, their leaders and followers who get mad about the same things. Today the Word of God is alive in a remnant of individuals, but the bulk of the church still says no. We have been called pagan, ungodly, wackos, you name it, because we believe that Jesus is alive and well and still operating in power in the church today. We see healings. We see people receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence in speaking in other tongues. We hear prophesies. We see all manners of the gifts of the Spirit, and religious people say that it isn’t for today. Deep spiritual things go against their man made laws and interpretations to the point that they will not allow their congregants to fellowship with other believers due to the fear that they may belief differently from what they teach. In other words, the truth might be known.
The Pharisees in Luke 6 were more worried about losing power and position of their man made laws than they did about doing what was right. Jesus did what was right. He had the power to heal the man with the withered hand, and he did it. The religious people who’s eyes were blinded with religion could not see the truth of it. Today the same blindness is present. People still cannot see the truth because of their blindness. Ask to see the truth and the truth will be given to you. Jesus is the same today as yesterday, and that power that has been given freely by God to us is still available. Let us be free from the law and be like Jesus.
