The pharisees waiting in the synagogue were the same men who had lingered at the edge of the field. I do not know why they had waited as we came through the field on that Sabbath day but I do know that one man was delighted to call out the Lord for the shocking sin he had permitted us to commit. We were tired and hungry and no one of us thought for a moment about plucking the heads of grain to eat as we walked. It was not an action which would not normally fall under condemnation as infringing the Sabbath law, unless someone was determined to condemn a rival.
The Lord turned the pharisees false piety back on themselves by quoting King David’s action when he entered ‘the house of God, in the time of ‘Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?’
That point was not lost on those men. Jesus had spoken of himself and his followers as though he were the great King David with his loyal army and the pharisees, infuriated, were looking for an opportunity to catch him blaspheming. They did not have to wait long as Our Lord gave them their wish in his very next breath, when he clearly defined himself as ‘Lord of the Sabbath.’
Lord of the Sabbath: in the synagogue
As Jesus led us all into the synagogue it was clear that people were already stirred up by the account of the harm he was causing. It was sad to see how easily they were turned against him by the envy of those men who were poor models of holiness for their neighbours. Then he turned his gaze to Eli.
Eli stood at the edge of the group as usual, unclean because of his deformity and unable to make a living. His eyes were always cast down, afraid of the revulsion or pity he might meet from others. The women would give him parcels of food and clean clothes when they could. It was very difficult for him to care for himself with only one hand. The damaged hand he hid in his sleeve.
I knew what the Master would do. It would have been better, I thought, if only he healed Eli on another day. He was, after all, just walking into a trap. Everyone knew that doing the work of healing on the sabbath would be held against him. It was pedantic and unnecessary to condemn him for a work of mercy but we knew, as surely as we knew that he would heal Eli, that he would be condemned for doing so.
Compassion
Our Master stepped forward and said to Eli, “Come here.” The man looked up at Jesus’ face and we understood. He should not be left for a moment in his suffering and humiliation. `He had seen the Lord and he was ready to be healed.
Jesus turned to the pharisees and quietly asked,
“Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?”
But they were silent. What could they say that would not incriminate them?
Jesus looked at the little group of men, and said nothing more. His silence speaking to the hardness of their hearts. Then he turned back to Eli,
“ Stretch out your hand.”
He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. His life was restored and joy shone out of his face.
The Lord was well aware of the Pharisees departure as they slid away, to stir up others against him. I trembled but as I looked at Jesus I saw only peace and compassion.
