Josh Samarco

If you stay stuck looking to the left or the right, you’ll miss the miracle in sight.

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In Luke 6, on a Sabbath day (a day of rest), Jesus passes through the fields where his homies, the disciples, were hanging out. They were picking grain, shaking them in their hands like a pack of skittles, and tearing them up. (I don’t know why I want to put a laugh out loud right here: LOL).

In this moment of pure joy, sabbath delight, snacking, and hanging, the disciples were met by some Pharisees. I was tempted to say haters, but I won’t deem them to be haters, more like stuck in their ways.

The Pharisees are an interesting bunch of religious leaders. They were intelligent men, knew tons of Old Testament Scripture, had a bunch of laws and customs that they lived by. The Pharisees were still living by the Mosiac Law, which taught it was unlawful to be working in the fields on the Sabbath. So when they see these disciples, wannabe students of the Rabbi Jesus, they confront what they are doing in the fields.

How often do you and I call out people that we do not have a relationship with? How often do we stereotype other ethnic groups of people? How quick are we to judge without knowing any backstory or history to a person’s life? How often do we allow our differences to separate us?

What I love about the next few verses at the beginning of Luke 6, is how the big homie, Jesus responds. (Listen, if you ever been in a tight situation growing up, you would call on the big homie in the hood to help you out.)

Side note: One time, my big homie (James Homes) almost got beat down by another big homie trying to save me and my boy Matt. hahaha, that’s a story for another time, though!

In this situation, the disciples didn’t even have to say anything. Jesus was on deck (on standby), ready to respond to their question. Jesus, as He often does, hits the Pharisees with some Scripture that they would have known. He gives them a story. We all love stories and we remember stories. Why? Stories help us process and think. Jesus was a master storyteller.

Jesus shares his story about David and how David set aside the law to fulfill a mission of feeding those around him who were in need. In verse 5, Jesus then drops the mic on the Pharisees. He says, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” In His reference to David, Jesus points people to a greater David; one in whom He has the authority to keep the Sabbath and redefine it by helping those around Him no matter what day of the week it is.

The text transitions us to another time Jesus was in the Synagogue (a place of worship) on the Sabbath day teaching. There was a man there who had a shriveled hand that looked like ol’ boy from Scary Movie. You know the scene when he was like grab my hand, my strong hand. haha (If you haven’t seen it, make sure you click the picture for the clip)

Well, this guy was in the Synagogue, kicking it with Jesus. Jesus, with all eyes on him by the religious leaders, asked the man to come near. Can you picture this scene? The religious leaders circled around ready to pop off (come at and accuse Jesus and his followers). Jesus remembers their question from the last Sabbath encounter and says, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” (v. 9)

The man stretches out his hand towards Jesus, and it is restored. A miracle!!! Look what happens next, and this is what I don’t want us to miss: “They, the Scribes (teachers of the law) and Pharisees, however, were filled with rage and started discussing with one another what they should do to Jesus.” (v. 11) Hold up, wait a minute!

A man is healed, but because it’s done ‘out of order’ or not according to your customs, you are mad!? This man’s needs were met and they were more focused on religiosity and Jesus violating the Sabbath. How often do we see this? They show no interest in this man’s condition and totally dismissed him.

They missed it. We miss it. I miss it! In this quarantine, how often have I missed the miracle? The miracle of life? The miracle of income? The miracle to serve and give? The miracle of meeting the needs of others? The miracle of bills getting paid, food on the table, technology to stay connected, etc.

How often do I look at something God is doing in someone’s life and feel a bit of envy? How often do you miss out on what God is doing because your focus is on yourself or on something that you have no business even thinking or worrying about?

I know it took me a while to get to my main point, but I wanted to give some context. I was reminded by my squad at (Transformation Church) on a zoom call that God’s goodness and faithful love are pursuing me all the days of my life. (Psalm 23:6) Despite what I do or what I have done, I have eternal life in God, and that in and of itself is a miracle.

When we say yes to Jesus, we rise with Him and we get a new identity and life. That’s a miracle!

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I hope this is a reminder for you to pause, to reflect, to see the beauty in ashes, to see the light in the darkness, and to see that we are living miracles.

Here are some good closing reminders to say to yourself:

I am breathing… therefore, I have a purpose.
I am alive… therefore, I have a ministry.
I am here… therefore, I have a mission.

Give yourself grace.
Give others grace.
Even when you don’t understand something, give grace.

“Grace humbles us without degrading us and elevates us without inflating us.” – Dr. Ken Boa

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In love,

Josh.