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by Sandy Shaw
Luke Chapter 13 at verse 10. We read that Jesus Christ went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He is teaching - Jesus loves to teach. He is always present where the Word is being taught - are you? Have you noticed the emphasis on teaching in this long section in Luke? There are those who do not like teaching – I wonder why? Jesus loved to teach and the disciples loved to receive His teaching.
There was present in that sanctuary, a woman, who had a spirit of infirmity for 18 years. She was bowed down - bent - she had not been straight for 18 years. She needed help and she was not getting help where she was worshipping. This wasn't a simple physical illness - if there is such a thing. Her suffering came from satan - her pain - agony - distress - bondage - came from satan. She had been crippled by a demonic spirit for 18 years. That in itself would have been another form of suffering.
People can come into worship under all kinds of influences, and be mixed up in all sorts of things, with all kinds of motives - then one day Jesus comes. O what a glorious day when Jesus comes - when He draws near - when He approaches - when Jesus comes to an individual. Jesus takes the initiative.
When He saw her - Jesus called to her - and released her - and delivered her - set her free - then He laid hands upon her - and she straightened up and praised God.
As soon as that person is set free - as soon as a person is really healed - as soon as a person is touched by Jesus - there is a desire to praise God.
For the first time in 18 years she could look up and praise God.
I would like to stop there - but I mustn't. We must deal with the tragic sad sequel.
The ruler - the leading elder - in the synagogue was furious - indignant. WHY? Because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day.
(People ask me frequently if I believe the whole of the Bible. Of course, I do. Those of you studying along with me in “Word from Scotland” know that I believe the Bible, read it every day and love to teach its truths. BUT - This is the sort of thing in the Bible I find hard to believe - not the virgin conception and birth of Jesus - not angels and miracles - certainly not the resurrection of Jesus from the dead nor the outpouring of the Holy Spirit - but this - that a leader in the synagogue could be furious at what Jesus Christ was saying and doing.)
Can you imagine the look on his face - his rage - his glowering? There is always a clash between formal religion and the living Christ. Religion and God don't mix.
This dear woman got straightened out, but the leader didn't. He is saying - we cannot allow that sort of thing to go on here in this place of Worship and Praise on this holy day - even though it is YOU JESUS Who might be doing it!
Some of us have had to live with this for many years. That is why we must never never become guilty of behaving in a similar way some months or years down the road. Jesus blasts this type of thing.
This dear woman had been coming for 18 years - and this man had done nothing to help her - and Jesus ministers to her needs within 5 minutes.
Jesus calls such people hypocrites! He uses the word quite often with regard to religious circles. Doesn't HE? Jesus never uses it about the world - the people outside.
You will lead your animals to water on the Sabbath, but you criticise when I heal someone in need. You show more kindness to animals than to people.
The synagogue is split into two groups - those who are ashamed and those who are delighted - those who are humiliated by their formal religion and those who rejoice that Jesus is present.
There is fruit and fury - release and rage – joy and jealousy. How do you minister to the needs of those who approach you – irrespective of the day or the time?
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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