S-t-r-e-t-c-h

Mark 3: 1-6 - And He entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

As I was seeking God pertaining to the new year and what He would like to say to me, I came upon this scripture. It began to come alive to me. As I took a deeper look I found that withered means to be dried up or withering away. One of the key meanings of the word hand is "power."

As I pondered this particular part of scripture, I thought about how we, the church find ourselves in the "synagogue" with our power dried up and withering away. Many times we look like anything other than how we are supposed to look. As I continued to take a look at this situation I found that Jesus did some interesting things.

Mark 3:2 - And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse him.

I found there were those present with motives which were impure. They could not see the goodness of God because they were operating in their own agendas. These had came to find fault. They came with accusation in mind. There are those today who cannot rejoice in the goodness of God because their only motivation is to find something wrong. This did not inhibit Jesus. He continued to do what He saw the Father do.

Mark 3:3 - And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

Stand - to waken, to rouse from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death, from obscurity, inactivity, ruins, non-existence; lift up, raise again, raise up, rear up, stand, take up.

This is a time when we are being called to wake up! It is time to rouse up from our complacency and apathy. God wants to bring us out from the place of obscurity and inactivity and into the place of life and demonstration. There are some things in us that need to be roused up. Some things God has placed in us that will require us to "take them up." It means we must take action. This is not something that will happen to us simple because we are in the synagogue. This requires being willing and obedient so we may eat the good of the land.

Mark 3:4 - And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

Ouch! Have you ever had Jesus look your issues square in the face and expose them? Even though these were silent, he knew what reasonings were taking place in their hearts. Jesus could sense the challenge that was being released to Him. He could feel the eyes of criticism that were on Him. He knew what He was about to do would fill these men with rage. But He had to continue.

Mark 3:5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger (violent passion), being grieved for the hardness (stupidity, callousness, blindness) of their hearts, he saith unto the man, S-t-r-e-t-c-h (extend) forth thine hand. And he s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d it out: and his hand was restored whole (well in body, true in doctrine, sound) as the other.

We can see that what grieves God and makes him angry is stupidity, callousness and blindness. This aroused violent passion and sorrow of heart within Jesus.

We may as well know that it is time to stand right in the middle of that which opposes God and s-t-r-e-t-c-h! I used to think that this man just kind of effortlessly stretched out his hand and "wah-lah" it was just like the other one. But I don't think so. I believe he had to do as a friend of mine says, he had to "work it!" I believe as he did what Jesus said to do, as he s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d, life began to be restored to what had dried up!

We may find ourselves in some uncomfortable situations in days to come. We may be in a place where Jesus calls us right into the "middle" of something and say, ok now, s-t-r-e-t-c-h that which has been unproductive! S-t-r-e-t-c-h in the middle of stupidity! S-t-r-e-t-c-h in the face of callousness! S-t-r-e-t-c-h in the sight of blindness! And as we extend ourselves we will see restoration come. We will experience soundness. We will taste of wholeness! We will walk in the power of Almighty God! It will be more than we will be able to keep to ourselves. It will reproduce and flow into the streets, into the market place, into our families, bringing divine change into the lives of others. Our lives will cause others to have an encounter with the Living God.

Mark 3:6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

There will always be those who desire to destroy what God is doing, but we must be like Jesus and continue on in what He has commissioned us to do. John 4:34 KJV Jesus saith unto them, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." My heart cries yes! We must continue until we finish the race!

2 Tim 4:7-8 LITV -I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. For the rest, the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me in that Day, and not only to me, but also to all the ones loving His appearance.
 

Apostle Tina K. Baker