14. The Man with the Withered Hand (Mark 3:1-6)

The religious leaders, stunned by Jesus' claim to be 'Lord of the Sabbath' return a week later for what they hoped would be their 'knock-out' punch. In a 'trial' of sorts, a set-up certainly, they place a man in front of Jesus who is notably impaired with what Mark calls 'a withered hand.' This takes place in the synagogue on the Sabbath, the leaders hoping that Jesus would 'take the bait.' He did. But in a remarkable reversal, Jesus the 'defendant' became Jesus the 'prosecutor' cross-examining the religious experts in anger with the question, 'Which is lawful on the Sabbath? ...to do good or to do evil?' As they sat speechless, Jesus transformed the ethic of religious devotion from one of limitation to one of action.