7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there.
Some things just never change. People are still searching for reasons to speak out openly against Jesus, refusing to believe that He is who He says He is. The word rendered “accuse” is the Greek word “Kategoreo” meaning to speak openly against, to condemn, to make a legal accusation. Doesn’t that ring true in our day and age? Actually the wording here is that the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were keenly observing Jesus with an evil intent. They did not like Him. He was messing with their apple cart and they weren’t prepared for it to turn over – as if they could stop it. Jesus is all about turning over OUR apple carts or our ways of thinking about things. Scripture tells us:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
Jesus was ushering in a new way of thinking – a new covenant and they weren’t ready to receive it – to their own harm. Hebrews tells us: 15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. Heb 9:15 (NIV)
The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking to see if Jesus would render voluntary service to this man with a shriveled hand and heal him miraculously. Don’t you find that extremely odd? I believe if you had taken a poll of those present many would have agreed that Jesus could heal the man. They weren’t having trouble believing that He could perform the miracle. The miracle was done to confirm His Deity yet they weren’t willing to accept that fact because it went against their rules of the Sabbath. We must never try to put God into our neat little boxes – He simply will not go there.Knowing their thoughts, the Master makes a statement with His actions. He tells the man with the shriveled hand to get up and stand in front of everyone. Jesus did not want any to miss this. I love that about Jesus – He has nothing to hide. He is open and willing for all to come to Him: 24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. John 10:23-28 (NIV) That’s pretty plain – “I told you and you don’t believe”. If they would have just stopped and considered the miraculous workings of the Savior, if they would have just thought it through instead of trying to defend their traditions yet they chose to go another way. We are not above the same flawed way of thinking. Lord, help us to see you clearly. Give us your eyes to see and your mind to understand the working of your mighty hand.