Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. A woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and couldn’t stand up straight. When he saw her, Jesus called her to him and said, “Woman, you are set free from your sickness.” He placed his hands on her and she straightened up at once and praised God. The synagogue leader, incensed that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded, “There are six days during which work is permitted. Come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath day.” The Lord replied, “Hypocrites! Don’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from its stall and lead it out to get a drink? Then isn’t it necessary that this woman, a daughter of Abraham, bound by Satan for eighteen long years, be set free from her bondage on the Sabbath day?” When he said these things, all his opponents were put to shame, but all those in the crowd rejoiced at all the extraordinary things he was doing. (Luke 13:10-17, CEB)
A woman was there. She does not have a name. She had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. When He (being Jesus) saw her, he called her over and told her she was set free from her sickness. Not healed, but set free.
How did he know she was bent over for eighteen years? Did he talk to her before? The lesson states that He was teaching, and when He saw her, He called her over. He did not ask her how long she had been ill or bound. He just knew. He saw her. All of her. She was bent over, and when He said that, He touched her, and she stood up straight, praising God. Perhaps she praised God with Psalm 103:1-8:
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
His acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Jesus saw her and knew who she was and how long she had been in bondage. So He told those who questioned this healing on a Sabbath, “You will untie your ox or donkey and take them to water, an animal, but you will not heal this daughter of Abraham?” She is not property, or an animal, she is not something to be fixed, she is a part of the People of Israel, a Daughter of Abraham. She deserves to be healed and allowed to be a part. This is the only time Daughter of Abraham is used in Luke. Later, Jesus will call Zacchaeus a “son of Abraham” in Luke 19:9. A woman and a tax collector. Who do we see as in, and who does Jesus see as in?
Remember, the Sabbath is a gift of rest, not a limitation on helping humanity.
aSacredRebel 