Mark 3:5-8
Jesus was angry as he looked around
at the people. Yet he felt sorry for them because they were so
stubborn. Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his
bad hand was healed.
The Pharisees left. And right away they started making plans with Herod’s followers to kill Jesus.
Jesus
led his disciples down to the shore of the lake. Large crowds followed
him from Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. People came from Idumea, as well
as other places east of the Jordan River. They also came from the
region around the cities of Tyre and Sidon. All of these crowds came
because they had heard what Jesus was doing.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When
I was growing up, my daddy and my Mam-ma Polly had a saying, “Tend to
your own rat killin’!” What they meant was, “Mind your own business, do
what you know is right, and don’t worry about what the other guy
thinks.” My mother also had a favorite saying in her last years…”You
can’t fix stupid.” I know these may not be the nicest things to say…but
at face value, they do hold a lot of truth.
I could not help but
think of both of these phrases as I read today’s scripture passage. On
the one hand, Jesus had demonstrated His power in both word and
deed…and there were still some who simply refused to believe Him. The Book of Mark
tells us that this angered Jesus…but it also saddened Him. On the other
hand, people were rumbling and grumbling about Jesus’ miracles…doubting
His authenticity - and even making plans to kill Him. And Jesus
just “went on with His rat killin’!” He continued to minister to those
who came to Him…to heal those who trusted and believed in His power and
sovereignty.
What does this mean for you and me? Every day, we
encounter people who, at best, do not agree with us on some level…and
some who do not believe in Jesus or the faith in Him that we
demonstrate. We are questioned, doubted, challenged…and sometimes mocked
or ridiculed. We can get angry…and even stoop to the level of those
who would argue with us. Or we can rely on God’s strength, stay in
communication with the Holy Spirit…and “tend to our rat killin’!” We
can go about our day doing what God has told us to do…sharing the love,
grace power and mercy of Jesus Christ with others…and let God handle the
rest.
Thankfully, the chances that you or I might be killed for
our faith are slim to none. But there may be some lonely, hurtful,
frustrating days/weeks/months/years. Do not be discouraged. Remember
this passage from Mark 3. Take heart that you can’t fix everyone – and
you’re not supposed to. You are simply to tend to the business and
ministries of Jesus – and give Him room to do the heavy lifting. Are
you with me?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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