In Luke 6, Jesus meets a man with a shriveled hand. It is the Sabbath day, and the law forbids work, including healing. The Pharisees (legalist religious leaders) are there too, “looking for a reason to accuse Jesus.” Jesus does not allow people’s expectations to hold him back from doing what he knows is right. He heals the man.
Ah, but this isn’t one of those “poof – you’re healed” moments. It requires action and humility on the man’s part. Jesus tells the man to stretch out his hand, to uncover it from the shelter of his sleeve. The man has to reveal his shriveled hand in order for it to be healed. How embarrassing! It’s bad enough to live with a deformity, but to display it for ridicule! You can bet the Pharisees are still watching, and they are quick to judge.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want anyone to see my “shriveled hand,” my weakness, my wickedness! I’d almost rather hang on to my dignity than be exposed! Almost.
In John 15, Jesus says he is the vine, God is the gardener, and I am the branch that needs pruning in order to be more fruitful. Boy, am I terrified of the trimming! But I certainly choose that over withering or being thrown away! (Read what Becky, a current World Race participant wrote about this.)
In Luke 18 & 19, Jesus meets two other guys: a rich young ruler and chief tax collector Zacchaeus (yes, the wee little man). The rich young ruler seeks eternal life but is not ready to give up his worldly possessions. He sees only how much he has to lose. In contrast, Zacchaeus realizes he is a stinker and sees how much he has to gain by entrusting Jesus with his life, even though it means risking his reputation.
Am I willing to risk humiliation for Jesus’s sake? Are you?
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!”
Philippians 2: 5-8
At Jesus’s prompting, I am revealing my “shriveled hand” and exposing myself in order to accept his healing in my life. It’s about to get ugly up in here, but I believe that he will bless my vulnerability and glorify himself.
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11
