Non Sequitur

Non Sequitur: Latin for 'it does not follow'.

So, I was reading in the Gospel of Mark this morning for my LTG (Life Transformation Group).  I was reading along in chapter 3 and found these words...

"...He said to them, 'Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?'  But they kept silent.  After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, ' Stretch out your hand.'  and he stretched it out, and his hand was restored."  Mark 3:4-5

That is a pretty cool story.  Here was a guy with a messed up hand, couldn't be fully productive and probably had to rely on everyone else to do many things for him.  Jesus tells this guy to stretch out his hand and a miracle.  His hand was restored and useful.  You can imagine the glee that must have been all over this guy.  You would think that the religious leaders, the Pharisees would at least be happy for this guy for minute...even a second, but no!  The next verse is a non sequitur for me - it does not follow, does not make sense, is not coherent and probably, I'm a lot like this too!

"The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him."  Mark 3:6

This response does not seem like what should have been happening after this guys hand was restored.  What kind of people see miracles happen, right in front of their own eyes and go out and start plotting to destroy the guy who healed the withered hand?  What kind of hearts do they have?

It also doesn't follow that I have seen God do so much in my life and yet I often take it for granted.  Now, I'm not going out and trying to get back at Jesus as these guys were, but  I find myself often doing what I want instead of doing what I know Jesus would prefer.  I find myself going in directions that it shouldn't.  I'm glad that Jesus was 'grieved at their hardness of heart.'  I know Jesus may be grieved as he looks at me at times and I know He is praying for me.    Yeah, my life is often a Non Sequitur when it comes to living for Jesus...and I want that to change.