"It is Better To Light A Candle Than Curse the Darkness"
Eleanor Roosevelt
Mark 3:5
5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
Everyone knows what anger is…right?
Everyone knows how to properly manage anger. Right?
WRONG!
This is one of several passages where the Bible declares the displeasure of the Lord Jesus related to situations that were distressing, problematic, and sinful.
Look at Mark 10:14
But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Look at the words, “much displeased.”
Jesus saw something that caused him to be very unhappy. He was unhappy with the disciples who were rebuking people who were bringing children to him. These disciples were pushing these people and the children they were bringing, away from coming to him. This made Him very unhappy.
Go back to Mark 5. In this passage, we see a similar picture. Again, we see hard, misguided hearts hindering the ministry of Jesus. These men’s hearts were calloused. Through the repeated rejection of the truth, these men had come to a place where they had lost good sense, honesty, courage, and compassion. They were willing to allow another man to suffer, rather than for him to access the help and healing that were available. All because their hearts were filled with
• pride in themselves,
• hatred for Jesus, and a
• twisted legalistic perception of the Law of God (meaning they thought that attempts to keep it were salvific).
This sinful attitude, which led to sinful results on their part, made Jesus indignant.
When Jesus became angry what did he do? Did he become sarcastic? Derisive? Scornful? Contemptuous? Did he write a few missives on the wicked Pharisees and start an anti-pharisee campaign?
NO!
Although Jesus, through public pronouncements, let the people know exactly where he stood concerning the Pharisees (Matthew 23), he did not make them the focus of his ministry. So, what did Jesus do? He did two things. In doing these two things, Jesus teaches us how to respond to bad situations that are compounded by obstinate human ignorance, sin, and depravity.
First, He became grieved. A deep sorrow and sadness filled his heart. One must be very careful with this type of emotion. Because of the weakness of our hearts, if this feeling is not properly managed, it can easily lead to bad actions on the part of the one experiencing it.
Second, he engaged in a positive, constructive, helpful action. He healed the man. His main focus was on the one in trouble. The mission of the Lord Jesus was perfectly stated in Isaiah 61:1-3.
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me;
Because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;
He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
and also in Luke 4:18–19
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
The focus of Jesus was on the hurting, the suffering, and the wayward. It was compassion that motivated him.
Matthew 9:36
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Matthew 14:14
14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Parallel passage - Mark 6:34
34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
Mark 1:41
41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
In approaching this matter in this way, Jesus rebuked the wickedness of the Pharisees, engaged his ministry of help/healing, and provided an example to all of us.
Consider this story from the life of Jesus.
Luke 10:25–37
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
My encouragement to us is that we “go and do likewise.”
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