10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. Luke 13
Jesus regularly attended synagogue, but He often didn’t hold to the teachings and the attitudes of those who led the people there. In our day we have concepts such as, ‘political correctness’, demanding everyone conform to certain ideology. There’s no room for the individual, yet God’s Kingdom welcomes individuality. God doesn’t call us to be clones, He’s made us all unique! He created each of us as individuals, but we have the opportunity to unite with Him for the purpose of building His Kingdom here on earth. Conformity to stereotypes kills freedom in the Spirit. (Stereotypes take a group of people and reduce them to a few, often simplistic, characteristics, ignoring individual differences. Internet definition)
12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’ 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Luke 13
Jesus had pity on this poor woman and set her free from her suffering in the midst of the whole synagogue. The woman immediately began to praise God, she was in the House of God and expressed gave for her deliverance. However, the religious leader of the synagogue rebuked what had happened, because it didn’t conform to the religious traditions of the house. There is little joy in religion, but great joy and peace when God’s Spirit manifests.
14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, ‘There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’ Luke 13
This religion was essentially rule keeping, with little or no power to help those in need. Modern day philosophy may attempt to dress things up in a more powerful and attractive guise, but it’s just as powerless. Real truth exists in Christ alone, not in following sterile doctrine.
15 The Lord answered him, ‘You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, A DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM, (THE CHURCH HAS BEEN GRAFTED IN TO THIS SAME ROOT THROUGH CHRIST) whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’ Luke 13
Jesus never attempted to placate the religious leaders of his day, instead He rebuked them. Harsh and controlling religion had no place before the Son of God. Jesus recognised this woman as a true daughter of Abraham, she had a legitimate claim for mercy from Abraham’s God and received it. We too are children of Abraham, the father of all who believe, and entitled to receive help from God. Jesus didn’t ignore this woman, He reached out to help her, in the face of stern opposition.
17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. Luke 13
WE TOO SHOULD REJOICE IN OUR FREEDOM IN CHRIST.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.