They see a man walking with mat on the Sabbath, a clear violation of the law. Fascinating part of the story is what happens next. And remind him that is unlawful to carry his mat on the Sabbath. And he responds,
“The man who made me well told me,’ Pick up your mat and walk.’“
What is most interesting is the fact that they skip over the first part of the settings and, only hear the second half.
Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’?
They skip over “the man who made me well.” They miss the miracle.
They are so fixated on their agenda they can’t hear what is being said. Someone has just told them the Good News, a miracle and all they can do is obsess over a violation of the Sabbath.
How often are we those people, so driven by our own agenda and judgements that we cannot truly listen.
