Luke 13:10-17
There are a number of cute stories about children misbehaving in worship. There’s the story of two boys who were always in trouble, and the pastor had spoken to them about it. They tried to sit in church and be good, until one morning when the pastor looked right at them and shouted: Where is God? One boy immediately got up and ran out. Curious, the other boy followed him outside. What’s wrong? He asked. God must be missing, said the boy, and he thinks we took him!
My cousin was fidgety in church. He tried to be good like Grandma wanted, but it got hard during a long worship service. Finally, Grandma had had enough. She took him by the arm and started walking up the aisle with a stern look on her face, dragging him along. Just before reaching the back, he cried out: Pray for me! When asked later about it, he said: The good-er I try to be, the more in trouble I get!
One could say that was true for Jesus, too. It seemed that whenever Jesus came around one of the synagogues, there would be trouble. They ran him out of his home town after he taught in the synagogue. He healed in the synagogues to the amazement of the people, but as reports spread of the good he was doing, the more trouble he would get from the religious leaders, especially if he did anything on Sabbath.
This is where we are in today’s story. Jesus heals a crippled woman in a synagogue on the Sabbath. He tells this woman bent over for 18 years that she is set free and she straightens up. However, the leader of the synagogue is indignant and starts preaching to the crowd. He makes a logical case based on scripture and tradition. But Jesus shows the flaw in his logic…
You have heard about the deadly flooding in Kentucky. I once saw footage of a man breaking out the window of a sinking car to rescue the woman inside. He frantically pulls her to the surface. Then, when she pops up and takes a breath, she immediately asks him to save her dog. She’s frantic as he desperately searches. Then suddenly the dog appears in his arms. Anyone watching would let out a sigh of relief, cheering for both the woman and the dog.
This serves to illustrate just how ridiculous and hypocritical the synagogue ruler sounded to Jesus. Is not a daughter of promise important enough to rescue at any time, any day, as one would an animal? The people knew how these leaders would exercise power over the congregation. They would pray the prayers and quote scripture without seeing how God was at work to set them free.
It is rather curious that this is the only chapter in the NT where the number 18 shows up 3 times. Numbers held meaning in the ancient world. Earlier Jesus spoke of 18 killed when a tower fell on them, saying they were no worse sinners since we all need to turn our lives around. This woman was bent over 18 “long” years to now be set free from this bondage.
For one, 18 is code for bondage and oppression. There were 18 judges. 18 years suffered under oppression to Moab and Ammonites. The code suggests this: Jesus came to set free those bound by Satan, any day, anytime, anywhere. None have the right be indignant at what God is doing.
The Church Father Augustine said we are all bent over as this woman. Satan keeps us bent forward, intent on our seeing earthly things so we will not lift our eyes to heaven. Jesus changes that.
There is more. 18 in Hebrew also represents life and blessing. Jesus knew that the most important prayer in the synagogue was called “18” – 18 blessings divided into 3 parts: Praise, Petitions, and Thanks. Those religious leaders prayed in the synagogue for healing: Heal us, O Lord, and we shall be healed; save us, and we shall be saved, for the one we praise is You. Bring complete healing for all our sicknesses…and here you could insert a name, such as a crippled woman. That’s the real hypocrisy: To pray for healing with no expectation that God will act.
The prayer continues: O God, you are our faithful and compassionate Healer and King. Blessed are You, Lord, the Healer of the sick of Israel. No wonder the synagogue ruler was indignant: Jesus unexpectedly answered the prayer made to God, showing himself as the Healer. Like they say: be careful what you pray for; you just might get it!
This story invites us to examine what might cripple us and divert our eyes from heaven. Are they excuses? Ailments? Hypocrisy? Resignation? Or like the boy who prayed: Lord, if you can’t make me better, don’t worry about it. I’m having a real good time like I am! What keeps us from praising God for the wonderful things God has done? Hear Good News: Jesus sets us free! His touch invites us to “straighten up” and act like it every day, even on those days when the “good-er” we try to be, the more in trouble we get! Praise be to God through our Healer and King, Jesus Christ!