Healing Power

This is the passage that Jesus read in the synagogue and declared that it pertained to him. This is the beginning of a long list of what the Jewish leaders considered offenses worth having him killed. They hated that he challenged their teachings. They objected to the people he surrounded himself with, that he healed people on the Sabbath and called God his Father. They believed that he had blasphemed, declaring that he was the Son of God. They really hated the fact that they were losing their power over the people. They knew that they were already on shaky ground with the Roman rule because they did not acknowledge the Emperor as a god. It was only because the Jewish people said that their God, Yahweh, was not of this world but in heaven, that they were given the freedom to practice their faith. Jesus was threatening that as well.

As far back as the early days of his ministry, John had sent emissaries to Jesus to ask if he was the one or if they should look for another. At that time, Jesus sent them back to tell John what they had seen, “The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” Because of this and all the healings that did occur, the people were beginning to believe that he was in fact the promised and long awaited Messiah. The leaders couldn’t chance this.

Today is Monday, by the time we reach Friday, the plotting and planning will find its culmination in the crucifixion.

May we take some time this week to read one of the Gospel’s accounts of the Passion and meditate on it. Picture yourself at the foot of the cross and tell Jesus how you feel about his sacrifice for you.

Lord, as we approach this week, may we remember again all that you have done for us. May we remember your words and actions and recommit ourselves to living lives that are worthy of your sacrifice. Amen.