Yes

 Luke 14:1-6 (The Message)  

One time when Jesus went for a Sabbath meal with one of the top leaders of the Pharisees, all the guests had their eyes on him, watching his every move. 

Right before him there was a man hugely swollen in his joints. 

So Jesus asked the religion scholars and Pharisees present, "Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath? Yes or no?"

They were silent. So he took the man, healed him, and sent him on his way. 

Then he said, "Is there anyone here who, if a child or animal fell down a well, wouldn't rush to pull him out immediately, not asking whether or not it was the Sabbath?" 

They were stumped. There was nothing they could say to that.

Imagine Jesus sitting at your dinner table on a Sunday afternoon.  OK, got that picture?  

Now try to imagine him asking your permission...to heal someone.  

Not, "pass the salt."  It's, "I'm going to heal this man, would that be alright?"

The Pharisees didn't say yes.  They didn't say no.  They didn't say anything.  Jesus still healed.  

All of this seems to beg a question for me:  If Jesus asked us whether it would be ok if he did some good in the world...what would we say?  

An emphatic yes, right?  Well...hopefully.  

What I'm afraid of, is that when he does put that very question to us, day in and day out, it's too easy to see the obstacles.  

"Well, that sounds good Jesus...but do you know what that will cost?  Do you know the kind of time that's going to take?  Do you know what you're really talking about?  Change in the world?"  

He knows.  And he's not really asking our permission.  He's not even really looking for our help, though we're ceratainly invited.  

It seems to me, that the biggest problem, especially for those who say they're Jesus-followers, is that if we DON'T answer with an emphatic, "Yes!!," what does that say to the world around us?  

I really don't want to be in the Pharisee camp. 

So here's the deal.   If we see some good today...if there's anywhere that healing is taking place...let's celebrate. 

"Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath?"  

The right answer..."Yes, Yes, Yes!!!"  

Prayer:  Purge our inner-pharisees, we pray.  Forgive us when we are stuck in self-importance, while ignoring the needs of the world around us.  Help us to celebrate that which is good.  

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.  World without end.  Amen.