He approached the synagogue
the man
didn’t want to show his hand
for it was withered
rendering him, to enter, unworthy
rendering h-is self-concept to draw towards unworthy
but the man with the withered hand
wanted to see the man
of whom he had heard
spoke with love and authority
stretched out his hand to touch
those who were never touched
those who ached to be touched.
So the man
wrapped his hand
within cloak.
Pulled his head deep into cloak
lest he be recognized.
Slunk into back corner of synagogue.
He was present
yet unwilling for his presence to be known
especially in the presence of those
pharisees.
A short sharp breath
into his chest
when his eyes rested on a man.
His heart burned within him
confirmed within him
that this was the man
Jesus.
Jesus was present
standing
teaching
with love and authority.
Yes, this was the man
Jesus.
The man
with the withered hand’s
stomach lurched
when he heard
his presence being called forward.
Sweat swelled into rolling beads
desperate to be absent
yet to be present
with him in his presence.
Knife edge tension
whispers
pharisees sniggering
self-admiring
admiring
the trap they crafted
for Jesus.
What would he do?
Heal the man or obey the law?
A conundrum.
A conflict of interest.
A puzzle.
A trap.
Clever pharisees.
Jesus engaged with this...cleverness
with a question
“And he said to them
Is it lawful on the Sabbath
to do good or to do harm
to save life or to kill?”
The self-rendered holy, righteous
were silent.
Jesus
distressed in his heart
at the hearts
of those
who would impose
dos and don'ts
at cost
to the wellbeing of the man
the flourishing of the man .
The flourishing God spoke
when he spoke man
into being.
The shalom.
Four words of Jesus
declared clarity
over any muddied waters.
“Stretch out your hand.”
As the man
stretched out his hand
healed was his hand.