“One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 2 There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. 5 Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” 6 And they had nothing to say.” Luke 14.1-5
At this point in his ministry, Jesus was being watched constantly. Think Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson, or Donald Trump. There are not many things these people do without outside observation. Paparazzi and the press follow them constantly. They live much of their lives under the public eye.
Jesus had reached star status. He was now famous. People all over the nation of Israel and the surrounding areas of the Middle East — the whole Fertile Crescent — had their eyes on Jesus. Some said he was “making a big splash,” while others were disgusted and frustrated with his work. But regardless of what people thought, said, or did — no matter how much criticism or acclaim he received from the crowds (Jews, Romans, and Samaritans) — Jesus remained faithful to his calling and to God.
And so, it was the Sabbath. Same chapter, different verse. We’ve seen this before, in the previous chapter actually. Jesus heals on the Sabbath and the religious leaders are furious. Now, a week or two later (I’m assuming), Jesus is doing it again — healing a man on the Sabbath who suffered from dropsy, a serious stomach condition. The passage tells us he was having dinner at the house of a very prominent Pharisee, and that he was being carefully watched.
Think of a proctor monitoring students taking the SAT or ACT. Eyes are everywhere to keep people from cheating. That’s what it was like for Jesus — eyes everywhere. “What will he do?” they likely whispered. “How will he act? Will he once again break the Law of Moses?” If you’ve watched The Chosen, you may remember Jesus responding to those accusing him of breaking the Mosaic Law with the powerful reply: “I AM the Law of Moses.” (Mic drop moment.)
So Jesus is being watched, judged, and criticized. But right in front of him was a man suffering — and that was enough for the God-Man to act. He asked, just as he had the previous week, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” But no one said a word. So Jesus, committed to doing the work of God, reached out, touched the man, healed him, and sent him on his way. He didn’t seek permission — he simply acted. And just as he did the previous week, he said, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” Again, they had nothing to say.
Jesus was not about pleasing people. He cared most about the work of God. That is why he came — to bring God’s Kingdom to earth and to bring us into God’s Kingdom.
This week we are on a mission trip here in Costa Rica to serve God and others. Some of your friends or family may not understand why you would want to come and serve in this way. “Why not go to Cancun or Cozumel?” they might ask. “Why not stay home, swim, play golf, or sleep in?” But you, like Jesus, have chosen a better way — you have chosen to be the hands and feet of Christ to people who desperately need God’s love.
At the beginning of this week, we have no idea who we will impact, who we will meet, or how we will serve. We don’t yet know the names of the kids at the Colegio Metodista (Methodist School) who will be at camp or the children at the Hogar Metodista (Methodist Children’s Home) whom we will serve and play with. But God does. God knows. Just as God knew the heart of Jesus, God knows your heart. And he is going to use you to make lasting, eternal impacts on his children.
And finally, at this point in your life you are being constantly watched. Not by me, nor your parents, nor your friends — but by the Lord. And in spite of what you might think, he likes what he sees. Because while humans judge by outward appearances (1 Samuel 16 tells us), God judges the heart. And the very fact that you are on this trip means you have a heart for loving God and helping others experience that love for themselves.
So let your light shine this week.
Love extravagantly so that the world might know the man Jesus — who heals without hesitation, loves without limits, and saves without exception.
“O Lord God, you are faithful. Thank you for allowing me to find my strength. As I prepare for this week of service, I pray that you might fill me with your Spirit and guide me by your grace. Help me remain steadfast with my heart set on you and you alone. Come now, Holy Spirit, use me in powerful and beautiful ways so I might shine for you. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen.