Again he entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched him closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up here before us." Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death. (Mk 3:1-6)
Here, as before, we see Jesus busy at work in the synagogue. He was a regular participant in the synagogue activities but this did not prevent him from being what he was. They watched him closely: this was not because he was attending the synagogue activities but rather his personal way of teaching, preaching and doing good to the poor.
The man (with the withered hand) was disabled to work for his living and hence he was an object of charity. But the spectators were very unkind to the man. Instead of helping him or interceding for him they hinder Jesus doing good to him. They proved themselves to be inhuman and unkind.
Jesus’ attention was on the man with the withered hand. Jesus saw the man in need first. There were so many others but Jesus went straight to this man. He was always sure of his option. Jesus always had his attention turned to any man in need/ in suffering/ poor.
