The Law of Love

 Mark 3: 1-6

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

3 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Another confrontation with the Pharisees over the sacredness of the Law in which Jesus shows us that the Law of Love supersedes the "letter of the law".  Doing good to or for a neighbor exemplifies the love for one another that Jesus came to show us by laying his life down for us more than keeping the letter of the law simply for keeping it in a dull, lifeless way. Yes, we need rules and regulations for the sake of order and unity, but none of these "mini-laws" can compare with the all-encompassing Law of Love.  The Pharisees could not or would not answer Jesus' question, the answer to which is obvious.  May we not allow rigidity keep us from bringing forth life through love.

Bro. Rene