On a sacred day, a sacred act

"Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are set free from your ailment.’ When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.’ But the Lord answered him and said, ‘You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing."

This Sunday's Scripture reading comes from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 13, verses 10-17. This passage invites us to consider a powerful moment in Jesus’ ministry—a moment that reveals His heart for people and challenges our own priorities.

This story takes place on a seemingly ordinary Sabbath day. Jesus is doing what He always does: teaching in the synagogue. As a community, they gather to worship and honour God. But something is out of place. Something is wrong.

At the back of the room, or perhaps tucked into a corner, is a woman. For eighteen long years, she has been bent over, unable to stand up straight. The text tells us it was a “disabling spirit.”

This wasn’t just a physical ailment; it was a spiritual bondage that had manifested in her body. For nearly two decades, she could only look down. She could not look others in the eye, see the sky, or even look forward in a simple conversation. Her world was defined by the ground.

But Jesus sees her. He doesn’t wait for her to ask for help or to come forward. He notices her, calls her over, and speaks with an authority that changes everything. He says,

“Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.”

And with the simple, compassionate act of laying His hands on her, she is made straight. Instantly. After eighteen years of being bound, she is set free. The first thing she does is glorify God, a perfect and fitting response.

You would think that everyone in the synagogue would be celebrating. A woman who has suffered for almost two decades has been miraculously healed right in front of their eyes. But instead of rejoicing, the ruler of the synagogue is indignant. He isn't angry about the disease or the suffering. He’s angry about the day. He sees a transgression of the law, not an act of grace. His words are harsh and unfeeling:

“There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”

This man represents a very common human tendency: to prioritise rules and regulations over people. His focus is on the letter of the law, not the spirit of the law. He had elevated the Sabbath rule—a beautiful gift designed for rest and honour—into a rigid, unyielding cage that restricted compassion and freedom.

Jesus' response is sharp and direct. He exposes the hypocrisy of the ruler, using an argument they can all understand. Every one of them would untie their own animal on the Sabbath to take it to water. They would tend to a creature’s basic needs because it’s a necessary, compassionate thing to do. So if it’s acceptable to care for an animal on the Sabbath, how could it be wrong to free a “daughter of Abraham” from a spiritual and physical bondage?

Jesus’ logic is irrefutable. The ruler’s anger is revealed for what it is: a cold, unfeeling adherence to a rule at the expense of a human being.

The good news of this story is not just that a woman was healed. The good news is that Jesus saw her, cared for her, and set her free. He prioritises people over traditions and compassion over legalism. He came to set us free—from sin, from suffering, and from the things that keep us bent over, unable to live a full and upright life.

This miracle shows us that Jesus' power and compassion are not limited by our human rules or by the rigid traditions we create. He is the God who breaks through our boundaries to bring freedom and healing on any day of the week.

Amen.

A.L.D 24/25