Chapter 13b

The Sabbath seems to have been a big issue for the Pharisees.

Several times over the last few chapters, Jesus has been challenged for working on the Sabbath. This is the SECOND time that he’s upset people by healing in a synagogue on the Sabbath.

The woman was affected by arthritis. I have seen people with bad arthritis, and it’s a distressing sight. The passage says that she “couldn’t straighten up at all”. Poor woman. She’d have been hard to watch.

I’ve read this dozens of times and it hasn’t affected me much; it was just what Jesus does. You know, heals people, that sort of thing.

But this time I have imagined the woman. Bent so much she was doubled over. Face set in a permanent grimace as she walked. I can even hear the little sighs of pain with every step. All in all, I can just imagine being there; I wonder if I might have tapped Jesus on the shoulder, pointed to her and asked “can you do something for her?”

Then again, I can be pretty hard-hearted. Maybe I’d have said nothing.

Jesus, however, was obviously affected. So much so that he couldn’t just stand idly by when there was something he could do!

So he lays hands on her, heals her; for the first time in years, the woman is standing up straight, and giving Glory to God.

What reaction do we hear from the Pharisees? Did they celebrate with her? Did they say “It’s wonderful what you’ve done for her”?

No, they just say “You should have healed her another day. This is the SABBATH. Remember? Do no work! And healing counts as work!”

This is where I get angry, and Jesus did too – remember that anger isn’t wrong when it’s a reaction to some wrongdoing that you see, and that is exactly what is happening here. A woman has been given her life back by Jesus, and yet they’re more concerned about what rules he’s broken. When it comes to the PERSON, they couldn’t give a tinker’s cuss!

I think this can be an issue for us too. It’s possible for us to have very little compassion, whilst following the letter of the law. For example – if a guy came in to church who confessed to being gay, how would we react? Would we be more concerned with demonstrating Christ’s love and compassion? Or would we be more concerned with whether the rules have been followed?

Now, there are things that are right and wrong, and we are correct to be concerned with those things. But Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Surely these are the lost that Jesus was talking about!






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