Stretch Out Your Hand

Jesus healed many people. Each healing showed who He is and what He came to do. The man with the withered hand was one of them.

Promised long ago. Isaiah said that when God came to save, “the lame shall leap like a deer” (Isaiah 35:6). Jesus' healings showed that God's promise was coming true.

Jesus' mission. In the synagogue at Nazareth Jesus read, “He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted” (Luke 4:18). Then He said, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).

The proof. When John the Baptist sent to ask if Jesus was the One, Jesus answered, “The blind see and the lame walk” (Matthew 11:5).

Moved with compassion. When a leper begged Him for help, “Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him” (Mark 1:41). Compassion means feeling someone's pain and wanting to help.

Power in a word. Luke tells us only that Jesus spoke: “Stretch out your hand” (Luke 6:10). His word carried the power.

Faith that obeys. The man could have refused, because his hand did not work. Instead, “he did so” (6:10). Faith means trusting Jesus enough to do what He says.

Whole again. His hand “was restored as whole as the other” (6:10). Jesus does complete work.

He sees the hurting. Many people in the synagogue only saw a problem to argue about. Jesus saw a man He loved, and He made him the center of attention for the right reason.

Does Jesus still heal? Jesus still hears and answers prayer, and sometimes He heals in amazing ways. The Bible tells us to “pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16). But He does not always heal right away, or in the way we expect.

When healing waits. Paul prayed three times for a hard problem to be taken away. Jesus answered, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Jesus stays close to us even while we are still sick.

The final healing. One day God will make everything new: “There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

The deepest healing. Our biggest problem is sin. “By His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). The wounds of Jesus on the cross heal us from sin.

What to do. Think of someone who is sick or hurting. Pray for them by name this week, and ask Jesus to show His love to them.

Before He healed the man, Jesus asked a question that is still for us: “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” (Luke 6:9).

Only two choices. Jesus did not give a third choice for doing nothing. When we can help someone and choose not to, we have not chosen good.

The leaders' choice. The Pharisees were careful not to work on the Sabbath. But they spent the day watching Jesus and planning to hurt Him (6:7, 11). Their rules looked holy, but their hearts were not.

Jesus' choice. Jesus chose to do good, even though it made powerful people angry. Doing good can cost something.

Love fulfills the law. “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10). God's commands are all about love.

Good works do not save us. We are saved by grace through faith, “not of works” (Ephesians 2:9). Nobody can earn heaven by being good.

Saved for good works. But God saves us so that we will do good: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10).

Silent leaders. When Jesus asked His question, the leaders would not answer Him. Jesus was angry and very sad, because their hearts were so hard (Mark 3:4-5).

He went about doing good. Peter later said that Jesus went everywhere doing good and healing people, because God was with Him (Acts 10:38). That is the kind of life Jesus gives His followers.

Eyes to see. The leaders looked at the man and saw a trap for Jesus. Jesus looked at him and saw someone to help. Ask God to help you see people the way Jesus does.

Let it shine. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Our good deeds point people to God, not to us.

Done for Jesus. Jesus said that when we help someone in need, “you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:40).

Small things count. Doing good does not have to be big or famous. Sharing, helping, listening and praying for someone are all good works that please God.

What we learn. Jesus always chose to do good. When He lives in us, He helps us do good too.

What to do. Look for someone this week who is left out, like the man in the synagogue. Invite them to join you, help them or say something kind.