10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, 11 and a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten herself up completely. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her to him and said, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” 13 Then he placed his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. 14 But the president of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, “There are six days on which work should be done! So come and be healed on those days, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from its stall and lead it to water? 16 Then shouldn’t this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be released from this imprisonment on the Sabbath day?” 17 When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated, but the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Aly Phan

I can’t imagine what it’s like to suffer with a bent back for eighteen years. I’m already suffering from soreness and poor posture after 8 hours sitting at my desk for work!

Jesus was teaching at a synagogue when he takes notice of this crippled woman. Without hesitation, Jesus puts on display his power to heal with just a handful of words and a touch of his hands. When I read of Jesus performing miracles, I imagine what it would have been like to be there – it must be such a remarkable thing to see, right before your very eyes.

But as the story continues, that's not the focus. What’s remarkable is not the length of time the woman has suffered so intensely, nor the fact that Jesus did what no one else could ever do. What’s remarkable is that Jesus is scorned by the synagogue leaders for “working” on a day that should be reserved for rest!

The religious leaders in Jesus’ day thought of themselves as people who obeyed God’s law. But they were narrow-sighted. They were missing the most crucial things of all: love for God and for their neighbour, and praise to God.

When I read this passage, my first instinct is to scoff and scorn the synagogue leaders. But when I reflect, I know that there are times when I seek to keep God’s rules as a tick-the-box exercise, rather than longing to obey God out of love and reverent fear of Him. I forget that, just as Jesus freed this woman from her crippling burden, He has freed us from guilt and from rule-keeping, and that he is worthy of my praise. I too am humiliated, like the adversaries in verse 17.

Pray now that we will all remember to be thankful to God who has the power to heal and set us free from physical and spiritual chains, and that we will learn to praise God more and more for His love for us.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aly is a member of our Fairfield Evening congregation.