Short Devotional about A Man with a Withered Hand – Mark 3:1-5
Introduction
Welcome to another treasure trove from the Holy scripture – story of the man with a withered hand. This story is a beautiful testament of God’s healing, compassion, and the astonishing power of faith. As you dive into this bible study, let it serve as an encouragement to you that no situation is too dire or hopeless when you have faith in Jesus.
The story is about astonishing faith, one man’s affliction, and the divine healing of Jesus – all set against the backdrop of the rigid Sabbath rule. It’s an invitation to embrace not just the letter but the spirit of God’s laws and trust in His infinite mercy. Let’s plunge into the deeper implications of this fascinating narrative.
Bible Verse
“And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.” (Mark 3:1-5).
Meaning
This miracle serves a dual purpose, first to highlight the compassionate and healing nature of Jesus, and second, to challenge the Pharisees’ interpretation of the Sabbath law. Jesus, in this account, shows that loving and healing is above any temporal law.
The man with the withered hand, living his life with this physical limitation, serves as a metaphor for our own spiritual ailments and limitations – our ‘withered hands’ that we hide, often in shame. And like the man who was healed, we are also called forth by Jesus, not to be shamed, but to be healed and restored.
This also underlines the potency of faith. The man in the story was healed because he dared to believe in the healing power of Jesus. His faith was visibly demonstrated when he dared to step forward and stretch out his hand as Jesus commanded.
Actions to Take
- Identify your ‘withered hands’, the areas of spiritual weakness or limitation, and offer them up to Jesus in prayer.
- Strive to put love and compassion above rigid rules in your interactions with others.
- Actively practice faith and trust in Jesus by obeying His commands, knowing He can restore you.
Journal Prompts
- What are the ‘withered hands’ in my life that I need Jesus to heal?
- How does my faith in Jesus’ healing power manifest in my daily life?
- How can I show love and compassion to others, reflecting Jesus’ actions in this passage?
Prayer
Dear Jesus, I come before you today, holding my ‘withered hand’, my challenges, weaknesses, and limitations. I have faith in your healing and restoring power. Teach me to value mercy over judgment, and love over rigid laws. Amen.
Social Posts
- “Step out in faith and watch God restore your life. #Mark3”
- “In the face of any limitation, trust in the healing power of Jesus. #Faith”
- “May we always value mercy over judgment. #CompassionateJesus”
Conclusion
The man with the withered hand offers us an example of faith coupled with Jesus’ unwavering compassion and power. Stand before Jesus with the confidence that no matter what your ‘withered hand’ may be, He can restore you.
Let’s continue to learn and dive deep into such enriching stories of faith and weekly devotions. We look forward to seeing you next time at BGodInspired.com.
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Q&A about A Man with a Withered Hand – Mark 3:1-5
Question: In the book of Mark, where does Jesus encounter the man with the withered hand?
Answer: Jesus encounters the man with the withered hand in a synagogue.
Question: What day of the week did Jesus encounter the man with the withered hand in Mark 3:1-5?
Answer: Jesus encountered the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath.
Question: What did the Pharisees want to know when Jesus met the man with the withered hand?
Answer: The Pharisees were watching to see if Jesus would heal on the Sabbath day, because they considered it as work which is against the law of the Sabbath.
Question: What was Jesus’s response to the Pharisees questioning about healing on the Sabbath day?
Answer: Jesus responded by asking if it was lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill.
Question: What did Jesus do after his response to the Pharisees in Mark 3:1-5?
Answer: After his response, He healed the man with the withered hand by asking him to stretch it out and then He restored it.
Question: How did Jesus feel towards the Pharisees after they stayed silent to his question?
Answer: Jesus felt distressed and grieved at their hardness of heart.
Question: What was the condition of the man’s hand after it was healed by Jesus?
Answer: After Jesus healed the man, his hand was restored, it was no longer withered.
