Not too many months ago the world was abuzz with news that scientists might have uncovered evidence that there was once life on Mars. Tucked within a small Martian rock were the remains of microscopic organisms, suggesting the presence of life billions of years ago. A few days after that announcement, I happened to be at my desk at home, reading an account of physical healing in the Bible. It was the experience of a man whose withered right hand was instantly restored to normal. See Luke 6:6-10 . Right here on earth, this was truly remarkable evidence of new life!
And yet, as remarkable as that man's physical restoration was, the underlying lesson one learns from the account is the good that happens when evidence is uncovered that divine law is in control in human lives.
The man with the withered hand was in the synagogue where Christ Jesus had gone to teach. Perhaps he just wanted to listen, or maybe he was hoping that Jesus would heal him. Whatever the case, it was the latter event that some scribes and Pharisees were watching for—to see if, contrary to their interpretation of the law, Jesus would heal on the Sabbath. They thought that if he did, they could accuse him of being a lawbreaker.
