What Jesus Did! 'Condemning Eyes' — Mark 3:2

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus' enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man's hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.
— Mark 3:2 NLT

Key Thought

The opposites of Jesus' compassionate eyes [1] were the condemning and critical eyes of Jesus' opponents. They were looking to use the occasion of this man's healing on the Sabbath to be the basis of their arrest and condemnation of Jesus. In other words, the man's humanity was forgotten; he was no more than a prop for the opponents of Jesus to use in their drama of anti-Jesus hatred. If we are honest with ourselves, we'll recognize that we can get so caught up in justifying, defending, and protecting our religiosity that we become blind to the needs of those around us for God's grace. Truth is then abandoned in the name of preservation. God forbid that it should ever be so in us!

[1] See yesterday's devotional.

Today's Prayer

Father, please don't let me ever become so focused on my religious self-preservation that I forget my search for your truth and abandon the character of your Son. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

Illustration

Illustration of Mark 3:2 NLT — Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus' enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man's hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'How Precious is Your Unfailing Love' (Ps. 36:5-8)
"Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,...."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Hebrews 3:1
"Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'God Rescues, Protects, & Strengthens'
"The Lord is my solid rock, my fortress, my rescuer. My God is my rock — I take refuge in him! — he’s my shield and my salvation’s strength, my place...."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Righteousness Made Manifest' (Ro. 3:21-26)
"Dear Father, just and justifier, Thank you that your righteousness has been manifested to us. You made this happen apart from the law, although the....."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!