The Shepherd Chapter 16

Chapter 16

          During Passover week I had to make three trips into Jerusalem with lambs. Each time, I made it a point to catch up with Jesus to see what he was up to. I was never disappointed. Wherever Jesus was, there was bound to be a huge following of curious folk. And wherever Jesus and the crowds were, his detractors were not very far away. The chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees were looking to catch Jesus in a mistake and hung on every word that he spoke. But Jesus was always one step ahead of them. Everyone knew that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah sent from God. But he was too clever to come right out and say it. If he ever did, the Pharisees would accuse him of blasphemy and have him stoned. But Jesus was too smart for them. He would answer their questions with a question - directed to them. Everyone liked it when Jesus turned the tables on the religious leaders.

          On the Sabbath day before Passover, Jesus saw a man with a withered hand. I just knew that he wanted to heal the man, but those critical Pharisees were watching his every move. The Pharisees saw Jesus’ look of compassion too. They asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?”

          But Jesus answered them with a question. He said, “Which of you, who has one sheep, and it falls into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lift it out of the pit?”

          The Pharisees said nothing. They refused to answer Jesus because they knew in their hearts that they would rescue their one sheep on the sabbath day.

          Jesus glared at them for a moment, and then returned to the crippled man. Jesus asked the man to hold out his hand. And when he did, immediately, the man’s hand was restored whole!. Wow! Were those Pharisees mad! But there was nothing that they could do. Jesus was too popular with the people. The people regarded Jesus as a mighty prophet.

          But the Pharisees did make plans. They would soon make their move against Jesus. But their move actually played right into God’s hand. God knew exactly what they would do centuries before they were even born. God was using them to accomplish His goals. You’ll see.