“YOU ARE SET FREE FROM YOUR INFIRMITY”

Luke 13:10-17 / Keywords 13:12

When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity."

Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath

13:10 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. 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.

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.”

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, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

 

1. While Jesus was teaching on the Sabbath, he saw the woman, understood her situation, and decided to set her free (note it was a spirit, not just old age). The result was freedom that brought praise to God. Jesus had already taught that he is Lord of the Sabbath, and that the Sabbath is for doing good and giving life (6:1-11). Our times of gathering should be punctuated with the liberating work of the Messiah and characterized by the joyful sounds of praise rendered to God in gratitude for his amazing grace given us in Jesus.

 

2. The synagogue leader became indignant. He only wanted teaching, not healing, at his worship service. He had an order of service and a bulletin, and Jesus was going off script because of these “needy” people! Jesus rebuked him as a hypocrite: the basic thing he would do for his animals he wasn’t willing to do for this woman. When we become focused on control and an agenda for our gatherings, they become habitual and lifeless. We don’t notice the people around us and their needs. Instead, let’s welcome Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath to come and provide the spiritual healing needed in our families and communities, setting people free, that our gatherings may be delightful.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for Jesus who heals us from our infirmities, setting us free through the gospel. May our worship services be a joyful space for this healing in our community today.

One Word Jesus, set us free this Sunday