He said to the man with the withered hand, 

"Step up where people can see you."

Then he said to them, "Is it legal on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?"

But they said nothing.

Looking around at them with anger, deeply grieved at their unyielding hearts, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."

So he did, and his hand was made healthy. 

At that, the Pharisees got together with the supporters of Herod to plan how to destroy Jesus.  

Mark 3:3-6 CEB

Jesus seems to be saying to those in power "you're missing the Kingdom, you're missing the heart if what God is about, you're missing people, vulnerable people."

And they missed Jesus. 

It seems that rather than a Messiah, someone who in front of their eyes brought life & healing, all they saw was a threat to them, their systems, their way of life.

And it was for that that they plotted his demise. 

In the middle of this I am jolted by what Mark records was going on inside Jesus;

"deeply grieved at their unyielding hearts".

"Jesus, where is my heart unyielding to the ways of justice, grace, love, that you demonstrate, that you want me to follow you in?

Lord, where am I more interested in systems than people, lifestyle more than Life?

Help me take a step towards your Kingdom values in some way today.

Amen"

#gospelofMark 

#invitation 

#dangerousprayers

#speaklife