We talked last week how we only see things partially or through a cloudy reflection because of our finite minds and human limitations. In the end and with eternity in mind, Jesus speaks to the element of completion. He says that eventually the fog will clear off the glass, and we will be able to see things in full 4K resolution completely clear of confusion or constraint.
If you’re open to new possibilities and approach each day with the mindset that you do not have a full picture or grasp on anything, then you can expand your perspective, hear others’ opinions, and think through different ideas without losing sight of what has already been established as truth.
Imagine living your whole life believing that the ocean is ONLY vast (wide) and good for anything on the surface but not being open to the idea that it is ALSO very deep and there is another whole dimension and world under the surface that far exceeds our knowledge. How foolish is that and how much would you miss out on?
Jesus spent much of his three years of public ministry speaking to help people explore the deep, to rethink their attitude toward faith, God, and wholeness of life. He used common terms, earthly experiences, and human interactions to create connections with divine realities and spiritual truths.
In scripture, the large platform around which many of these conversations revolved dealt with the law, the written code of ethics and faith, where practice met belief. There were four similar instances where the actions of Jesus came into conflict with these religious laws. Jesus healed four different individuals on the Sabbath: one paralyzed, one a blind man, one a disabled woman, and one a man with a dysfunctional hand.
Jesus restored each of these people, making them whole, but was questioned about the tactics, about his methods, which called his integrity into question, because he broke or caused those healed to break a specific law in the process.
We might have a tendency to scoff at those who were offended, and think, how ridiculous. But how often do you get upset when someone does something that disregards you, your life, or even your beliefs? And you forget that you have done the same thing, only in a different way, or know that you were ‘justified’ in your doing it.
I’m disgusted when my boys drink out of a container from the fridge, but you better believe I frequently hit a swig of milk straight from the jug! Granted, this is a drastically different issue but the idea is the same: we will crucify someone on a cross for the same thing we just did (because ours wasn’t the same).
One thing we fail to see clearly is the intent and will of God. There are some explicit renderings in scripture that point to what that is, but it comes with a lot of gray area as well. And we often look to manmade workings, structure, and order to help us discern it. But Jesus wants to clear some things up in this matter and help us see things differently.
In his healings of these four individuals, he says some pretty powerful stuff. Here’s my take and what I want us to consider:
The hand – meant authority and signified strength with work. Without one of the hands, a man was less than whole, and society would have shunned him for it.
The back (the woman had a bad back) – meant functionality and stability. She couldn’t stand up straight so was always looked down on (literally and metaphorically). She obviously couldn’t move well and probably hurt.
The eyes – they are a lamp to the body, if the eyes are good, the whole body is good, but if the eyes are bad, the whole body is full of darkness. (Matt 6) Eyes equal light, enable us to experience beauty, depth, texture, colors, and more. Now there are jobs and assistance for blind people, but not back then, so this meant a life of poverty and begging, and quite literally, living in darkness.
The invalid (weak and feeble – crippled) – signifies powerlessness. This man was isolated and alone, had no one to help him, signifying this great need and desperation.
Jesus said he came to fulfill the law (the very rules that spoke against what happened in these stories) (Matt 5:17). BUT, HOW?
In healing these people on the Sabbath, he taught very simply what the law was to be about. He cleared up misconceptions, misunderstandings, and misinterpretations. He revealed the truth that He came to bring “life to the full.” (John 10:10)
For these people, as well as you and me, Jesus was the source of restoration. And that restoration includes:
Strength
Honor
Love
Stability
Light
Value
Power
Community
Peace
Jesus is available for your restoration. It’s why RWOL exists.
May you find that reality to be true in your life and if I can help you walk through it in any way, I would be thrilled to partner together and honored to share in that journey.
#LawOrLove
#ObjectsInMirror
#RestoringWholenessOfLife
Brett
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