Luke 13:10-17
On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 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. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
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.”
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? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
Years ago there was a television program called That’s Life!. It featured many funny items and alongside the wonky vegetables and talking animals, it had a weekly award called ‘Jobsworth’. This award, a glittered hat, was given to anyone who was very pedantic about rules and regulations. Parking attendants, Council officials and railway employees were regular winners. Rules, and following rules, are part of today’s gospel encounter.
This story is only found in Luke’s gospel, it is also the last time that Jesus is in a synagogue before he goes up to Jerusalem. Jesus goes along to the meeting place, as was his custom. At the service, a woman who has been ill for 18 years, is there. The fact that Luke mentions 18 years could be an indication that other people must know who she is. Within the synagogue, you had to sit in a particular place. There were places for men and women, separate places for children, and an area for those who were ill. People would soon know who you were, these were the rules. As Jesus is preaching he notices and calls out, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Instantly released, the woman stands straight up and praises God. Most people, I’m sure would have thought wow! She has been like that 18 years, bent over, a crippled woman, you know, that woman!
Jesus sees the woman bound by an infirmity, (illness, disability). The synagogue leader sees the laws, the rules and regulations. “Hey ! you can’t do that on the Sabbath”, he angrily shouts. I wonder if he is thinking that he doesn’t want any trouble, no hassle, just wanting the service to run smoothly. Or is he thinking that it’s his synagogue, his rules, like the That’s Life ‘jobsworth’. Healing on any Sabbath Day was considered work, so according to the law, not allowed. Along with 100’s of other little laws, rules and regulations.
Notice that he does not address Jesus directly. He simply calls it out. There is no doubt lots of whispering behind people’s hands and what do you think? How often are we in positions when we should call things out, but sit on our hands and do nothing? “You Hypocrites!”, comes the response of Jesus. “You look after your animals on the Sabbath Day, what about this woman, a child of Abraham?” The gospel encounter has a much bigger lesson for us. Being set free offers us lots of opportunities to help and support others.
The synagogue leader cannot see the woman, he can only see the rules. In the story, those who side with him feel ashamed. Meanwhile others rejoice. Perhaps it’s important to realise that we need rules, some are even designed to help us and ensure our safety. Some rules seem like the un-written rules for living, being courteous, saying please and thank you, helping others. What lessons do we learn from the story?
Peter Thomas
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