Never Less ThanSample

“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” (Luke 13:10-11).

I almost hold my breath when a story begins with: “It was the Sabbath.” Jesus is about to ruffle some feathers. He constantly broke the who, what, when, where, and how of religious rules to carry out His Father’s business. In this first sentence, we get a hint; He’s about to break the rules of when and the who. It was the Sabbath, and there was a woman.

When Luke tells us Jesus called her forward, we see Jesus breaking the where rule. He called the woman to leave the designated women’s section of the synagogue, walk through the sea of men, and take her place, front and center.

“He put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up” (Luke 13:12-13). Healed! Just like that. Jesus didn’t mention the woman’s faith, but make no mistake, she had to take several steps of faith to walk through the forbidden crowd of men to see the One who saw her first.

Not everyone was happy about Jesus miraculously healing this bent and bowed woman. The who, what, when, and where of the healing riled the synagogue leader. He was more concerned with the binding law than the bound-up woman.

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?” (Luke 13:15-16).

Here’s something else worth noting. Jesus mentioned Satan had kept her bound for eighteen long years. Who told Jesus she was bound for eighteen years? Could it be Jesus knew it had been eighteen years because He knew every day of her life? I believe so.

Brokenness comes in many forms. We don’t have to have a mounded back to know what it feels like to be more comfortable looking at feet rather than eyes. Many emotions cause us to slump spiritually and become emotionally bound. Is there something in your life bending your spirit? Unforgiveness? Bitterness? Resentment? Guilt? Sorrow? Worry? Regret? Comparison? If so, cut it loose, cast it off, throw it away. We cannot carry such burdens. We will only bend under pressure if we try to carry them.

Friend, He is calling you right now. Whatever has been holding you back from lifting your head, Jesus has come to set you straight! Do you feel the press of His hand on the crook of your back? Do you feel His index finger under the point of your chin? He sees you, and now is the time.