STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND

Passage: Mark 3:1-6

Key verse: 5b

NIV

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

3 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue,(A) 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(B) to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.(C) 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(D) how they might kill Jesus.(E)

Read full chapter
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

A Man with a Withered Hand

3 (A)Again (B)he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And (C)they watched Jesus,[a] to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, (D)“Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he (E)looked around at them with anger, grieved at (F)their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” (G)He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 (H)The Pharisees went out and immediately (I)held counsel with (J)the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Mark 3:2 Greek him
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Stand up in front of everyone (1-3)

A man with a shriveled hand was in the synagogue when Jesus came one Sabbath. He could not play the violin. He probably kept his useless hand in his pocket; he thought that he himself was useless. When Jesus came in, hope sprang up in his heart. But Jesus' enemies were there too. They had murder on their minds. Jesus did not shrink back. When he told the man to stand up in front of everyone, he was inviting him to become vulnerable--and to trust only in Jesus.

2. Stretch out your hand (4-6)

To be healed by Jesus, he had to take his useless hand out of his pocket and expose it to everyone. He did it, and Jesus healed him. Jesus' enemies could not answer Jesus' question, nor could they say anything about his act of mercy. They did not repent, so they went out and plotted to kill Jesus. No one can be neutral before Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, help me to stand with you and stretch out my shriveled hand.

One Word: Stretch out your hand