THE MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND

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From THE URANTIA BOOK

Part IV, 148, 7

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The second Sabbath before the departure of the apostles

and the new corps of evangelists on the second preaching tour of Galilee, Jesus spoke in the Capernaum synagogue on the “Joys of Righteous Living.” When Jesus had finished speaking, a large group of those who were maimed, halt, sick, and afflicted crowded up around him, seeking healing. Also in this group were the apostles, many of the new evangelists, and the Pharisaic spies from Jerusalem. Everywhere that Jesus went (except when in the hills about the Father’s business) the six Jerusalem spies were sure to follow.

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The leader of the spying Pharisees, as Jesus stood talking

 to the people, induced a man with a withered hand to approach him and ask if it would be lawful to be healed on the Sabbath day or should he seek help on another day. When Jesus saw the man, heard his words, and perceived that he had been sent by the Pharisees, he said: “Come forward while I ask you a question. If you had a sheep and it should fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, would you reach down, lay hold on it, and lift it out? Is it lawful to do such things on the Sabbath day?” And the man answered: “Yes, Master, it would be lawful thus to do well on the Sabbath day.” Then said Jesus, speaking to all of them: “I know wherefore you have sent this man into my presence. You would find cause for offense in me if you could tempt me to show mercy on the Sabbath day. In silence you all agreed that it was lawful to lift the unfortunate sheep out of the pit, even on the Sabbath, and I call you to witness that it is lawful to exhibit loving-kindness on the Sabbath day not only to animals but also to men. How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! I proclaim that it is lawful to do good to men on the Sabbath day.” And as they all stood before him in silence, Jesus, addressing the man with the withered hand, said: “Stand up here by my side that all may see you. And now that you may know that it is my Father’s will that you do good on the Sabbath day, if you have the faith to be healed, I bid you

 stretch out your hand.”

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 And as this man stretched forth his withered hand,

 it was made whole. The people were minded to turn upon the Pharisees, but Jesus bade them be calm, saying: “I have just told you that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, to save life, but I did not instruct you to do harm and give way to the desire to kill.” The angered Pharisees went away, and notwithstanding it was the Sabbath day, they hastened forthwith to Tiberias and took counsel with Herod, doing everything in their power to arouse his prejudice in order to secure the Herodians as allies against Jesus. But Herod refused to take action against Jesus, advising that they carry their complaints to Jerusalem.

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 This is the first case of a miracle to be wrought by Jesus in response to the challenge of his enemies. And the Master performed this so-called miracle, not as a demonstration of his healing power, but as an effective protest against making the Sabbath rest of religion a veritable bondage of meaningless restrictions upon all mankind. This man returned to his work as a stone mason, proving to be one of those whose healing was followed by a life of thanksgiving and righteousness.

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AT CAESAREA-PHILIPPI

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This passage includes another story
that "evolved" over time to be a
tale of a miraculous event
THAT WAS NOT a miraculous event.
It involves Peter and the
fish with the shekel in its mouth.
And we've got fishin' music too!
Day 10 of THE LENTEN SERIES is here:
http://www.maninthemaze.com/thelentenseries/atcaesareaphilippi.html

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FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND

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Magic Multiplication is the essense of the story,

though supernatural is the real term for what

happend on that day. Howevah...."Magic

Multuplication" IS the title to one of the musical
selections for the fourth day of lent (smooth jazz!).
Check it here:
http://www.maninthemaze.com/thelentenseries/feedingthe5000.html

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MILAGROS (MIRACLES)

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 The small metal objects that in Mexico are

collloquially called milagros (miracles) or
 milagritos (little miracles) belong to a devotional genre
 known as ex-votos. There is a wide range of representational
 forms of milagros, including legs, arms, heads, hearts, angels,
 animals (dogs, chickens, pigs, and horses, among others)
 and entire humans, both male and female, either standing face
 forward or kneeling with hands outstretched in prayer.
 Objects virtually identical to these can be found in
 Andalusia, Spain, and throughout the Mediterranean world, 
where they almost certainly originated and from which
 they diffused to Mexico and other parts of Latin America
 at the time of the Spanish conquest.
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Throughout Mexico, milagros belong to the world of 
popular or folk religion rather than to that of religious othodoxy.
 As devotional objects, they therefore pertain predominantly, 
if not exclusively, to the world of the working classes. 
Members of the intellectual and social elite, however,
 appreciate these small objects for their aesthetic value
 and sometimes collect and display them.
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 Milagros are sold in churchyards and at chapels,
 sanctuaries, basilicas, and cathedrals throughout Mexico.
 Typically, a believer who suffers a serious or persistent health
 problem makes a promesa, or vow, to a saint that, if cured,
 he or she will present the saint with a token of gratitude in the
 form of a milagro. The milagro selected for presentation reflects
 the afflicted body part - eyes, hands, feet, or head, for example.
 In the case of sick farm animals or small children,
 believers choose milagros that represent those victims 
of misfortune. Almost always, presentation of the milagro
 follows upon a cure, in repayment for the miraculous recovery.
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Frequently the promise keeper attaches
 the milagro to the clothing of an image of a saint.
 Even more often,
it is fastened to a cloth hung on the wall
 next to the saint's image.
 These small metal objects facilitate a
 social relationship between supernatural beings
 and believers. Displayed as they are in public,
 they announce to the world the successful realization
 of a divinely aided recovery.
 They have been an integral part of folk
 medical systems in the Mediterranean
 world for centuries.
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Edited from an essay by Stanley Brandes in

FAITH AND TRANSFORMATION -
Votive Offerings and Amulets

Published by the International Museum of Folk Art

Santa Fe, New Mexico
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