David Bahn – Reflections

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ² And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? ³ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? ⁵ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

⁶ And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. ⁷ And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ ⁸ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. ⁹ Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

¹⁰ Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. ¹¹ And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” ¹³ And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. ¹⁴ But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, 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 the manger and lead it away to water it? ¹⁶ And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” ¹⁷ As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

¹⁸ He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? ¹⁹ It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

²⁰ And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? ²¹ It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

²² He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. ²³ And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, ²⁴ “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. ²⁵ When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ ²⁶ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ ²⁷ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ ²⁸ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. ²⁹ And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

³¹ At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” ³² And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. ³³ Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ ³⁴ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! ³⁵ Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Maybe you’ve seen a bent over woman or man. He must twist his head to the side to speak with you. She has to contort her neck to see where she’s going. Such a life is sad and difficult. How could it be, therefore, that when Jesus had pity on this woman and healed her, he was criticized by the synagogue ruler?

There are some possible answers – all of which are speculative. Maybe she had been a pest every Saturday. Constantly asking for alms. Continuously interrupting the synagogue meeting demanding help. Could be that there had been complaints about her behavior. Perhaps they realized that they had never done anything to help her and they felt guilty when Jesus did help her. I wondered whether the synagogue ruler was afraid of losing control of his synagogue. I wonder if he was genuinely afraid that that loss of control would disqualify him as a leader or actually offend God.

Many possibilities, but one root cause: sin. Sin blinds us to others’ needs. It holds us captive to fear of Satan, the judgement of others, and our security before God. Recall Isaiah’s response to the vision of the LORD in his temple (Isaiah 6). “Woe to me, for I am a man of unclean lips!” Remember Peter’s response to Jesus after the miraculous catch of fish, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). Sin turns us in on ourselves and closes our hearts to others’ needs. It protects our self our assets, our reputation.

Jesus was not encumbered with sin in his nature. He was totally without sin, so when he saw this woman he saw her need and realized he could do something about it. He harbored no guilt about past failures. He had no ulterior motives. He was committed only to pleasing God and loving others.

So he healed her. On the Sabbath. In front of the whole synagogue. And he took away her infirmity. And he took on their ire. He calls them to account in the process, saying, “And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”

There are two reactions to Jesus’ healing touch. Luke tells us, “As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.” 

Lord, grant me courage to do the right thing. In love. For my neighbor’s benefit. For your glory! Amen