Encounters with Jesus Series: A Man with a Withered Hand
Matthew 12: 9-14
Ice Breaker
Ask people to share their favourite encounter with Jesus in the Bible – why is that their favourite?
Ask people to share a story if/when they have encountered Jesus in their own life.
Reading
Matthew 12: 9-14
Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shrivelled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they (the Pharisees) asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
Introduction
Jesus is God incarnate and proves He is Lord over the Sabbath by healing the man with a single command. We see that throughout Jesus’ ministry He is available and accessible so that people could encounter Him. In this account we see two very different experiences from the same encounter, the man with the withered hand and the Pharisees. The man went home healed, the Pharisees went home angry. Jesus is always the same (Hebrews 13:8). If this is true and Jesus is the constant, then we must be the variable.
Questions
Why did the Pharisees’ encounter with Jesus end with them wanting to kill him?
Why did the man’s encounter with Jesus result in him getting healed?
Do you think you have ever missed out (or found it difficult) to encounter Jesus? Can we sometimes act like the Pharisees?
What adjustments can we make in our lives to ensure as we encounter Jesus we don’t miss out?
Additional Questions if time
Do you believe Jesus can heal today
Do you keep the Sabbath? What should the Sabbath look like for our lives in our culture today?
Prayer points
Help us to always approach Jesus by faith, and not let personal preference prevent/limit our experience.
Help us to make time to encounter Jesus every day (to Seek Him) and be aware of the Holy Spirit in our daily activities.
Pray for anyone who needs healing (present or absent)