Today's Gospel in Art - The man with the withered hand

Man with the Withered Hand, James Tissot, 1890 © Brooklyn Museum

Gospel of 22nd January 2020 - Mark 3:1-6

Jesus went into a synagogue, and there was a man there who had a withered hand. And they were watching him to see if he would cure him on the sabbath day, hoping for something to use against him. He said to the man with the withered hand, 'Stand up out in the middle!' Then he said to them, 'Is it against the law on the sabbath day to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to kill?' But they said nothing. Then, grieved to find them so obstinate, he looked angrily round at them, and said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' He stretched it out and his hand was better. The Pharisees went out and at once began to plot with the Herodians against him, discussing how to destroy him.

Reflection

Today's reading continues from yesterday. The Pharisees are still out to trick Jesus and condemn Him for healing on the Sabbath. Whilst in yesterday's reading Jesus explained that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath, we see a different Jesus today. As the Pharisees are still missing His point, we now hear that Christ was angry and frustrated. Very human feelings. The Pharisees are more keen to observe a legal code rather than to be touched by the plight of a fellow human being. They are hard, tough and uncaring towards their fellow human beings.....

To read on see: https://christianart.today/reading.php?id=304