Very Valuable
And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him. Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:10-12 NKJV
To the Pharisees, it was aways about laws and regulations, but for Jesus it was always about people. Jesus truly loves us, as individuals. He knew the Pharisees couldn't comprehend how much He loves man and that to Him man mattered more than the set laws, and gave them an example they could relate to. The example He gave was in relation to a sheep as He knew how much sheep mattered to the Jews. The interesting thing is He didn’t talk of a man who had many sheep in that example, rather of just one sheep. If one had many sheep and one fell into a pit on Sabbath I’m sure they'd have thought of leaving it though I still think they’d have lifted it out. The fact that it was the only sheep they owned Jesus was sure none of them would have left it. Jesus in essence was saying that He cared for that man as if he was His only creation, way much more than a Jew would care for a sheep that was the only one they had, as man was of more value than sheep.
I'm sure the man with the withered hand didn't feel valued before (otherwise he wouldn't be in that condition in the first place), but when Jesus said this then healed him I'm sure the perspective changed. Jesus loves you just as if you were the only person on earth and His only possession. Even when things aren't the way we think they should be like that man with the withered hand we’re still very valuable to Him, just as if we were the only sheep He owns and He were a Shepherd. Nothing, not even the opinions of men or their traditions would stop Him from doing us good. The more we see ourselves the way He sees us the more we’ll enjoy His personalised love. Many people know that Jesus loves them but don't see Him loving them as individuals. Jesus’ love is very personal, so personal that He has inscribed our individual names on the palm of His hands and has all the hairs on our heads numbered (Is. 49:16, Matt. 10:30).
Reflection:
How convinced are you of Jesus’ love for you? Might you have allowed circumstances to influence your faith in His love for you? How would your life be if you lived as one who was deeply loved by Jesus personally, as if you were the only one on earth and His only possession?
Grace and peace to you!
To the Pharisees, it was aways about laws and regulations, but for Jesus it was always about people. Jesus truly loves us, as individuals. He knew the Pharisees couldn't comprehend how much He loves man and that to Him man mattered more than the set laws, and gave them an example they could relate to. The example He gave was in relation to a sheep as He knew how much sheep mattered to the Jews. The interesting thing is He didn’t talk of a man who had many sheep in that example, rather of just one sheep. If one had many sheep and one fell into a pit on Sabbath I’m sure they'd have thought of leaving it though I still think they’d have lifted it out. The fact that it was the only sheep they owned Jesus was sure none of them would have left it. Jesus in essence was saying that He cared for that man as if he was His only creation, way much more than a Jew would care for a sheep that was the only one they had, as man was of more value than sheep.
I'm sure the man with the withered hand didn't feel valued before (otherwise he wouldn't be in that condition in the first place), but when Jesus said this then healed him I'm sure the perspective changed. Jesus loves you just as if you were the only person on earth and His only possession. Even when things aren't the way we think they should be like that man with the withered hand we’re still very valuable to Him, just as if we were the only sheep He owns and He were a Shepherd. Nothing, not even the opinions of men or their traditions would stop Him from doing us good. The more we see ourselves the way He sees us the more we’ll enjoy His personalised love. Many people know that Jesus loves them but don't see Him loving them as individuals. Jesus’ love is very personal, so personal that He has inscribed our individual names on the palm of His hands and has all the hairs on our heads numbered (Is. 49:16, Matt. 10:30).
Reflection:
How convinced are you of Jesus’ love for you? Might you have allowed circumstances to influence your faith in His love for you? How would your life be if you lived as one who was deeply loved by Jesus personally, as if you were the only one on earth and His only possession?
Grace and peace to you!
The reason why we find it hard to share the love of Christ to others is because we aren't really convinced of Christ love for us personally and we cannot give what we haven't received. Very powerful it puts us in a place to really reflect His love for us.
ReplyDeleteThat is true Keziah. Well said. May the Lord help us.
ReplyDelete