In Luke 13, there is a woman hunched over for the last eighteen years who meets Jesus in a synagogue. Calling her over to himself, Jesus says, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” And just like that, “she stood up straight and began praising God.” Well, all this happens on a Sabbath day, which makes the synagogue leader feel the need to stand up and protest. “Come on one of the other six days of the week to be healed,” he announces to the congregation. “You hypocrites!” Jesus rebuts. Even religious leaders like this guy would untie their ox and lead it to water on a Sabbath; so why not “untie” this woman’s bent condition? Then, as stories like this often end, the observing crowd is simply astonished by Jesus.
What happens when we get into this story, in this synagogue on this Sabbath? What does it look and sound like from the woman’s eyes and ears? The synagogue leader’s eyes and ears? The crowd’s eyes and ears?
The woman’s instant reaction is to speak a word of praise. It’s completely believable that her mind would be so flooded with thoughts and emotions that the most articulate thing she can think to say is, “Praise God.” I wonder, is she immediately imagining all the physical activity in her future? What visions of yard work, running to visit neighbors, going for a hike? I wonder, is she annoyed with the synagogue leader for raining on her parade? Or is she totally indifferent to his hissy fit? A miracle has happened to her – who cares if someone else doesn’t like it!
When I step into the perspective of the synagogue leader, I first have to admit – I get it. If a synagogue isn’t the place to actually observe Torah regulations, then what is? After all, he doesn’t say that he wants no one to be healed, he just wants it done on a day other than the Sabbath. But I also have to admit, as the synagogue leader, I’m feeling some competition with Jesus. For all the good that the synagogue provides to its community, Jesus can upstage it in a single moment. One word from him and suddenly everyone is following him, not the synagogue. Luke tells us that Jesus put the synagogue leader “to shame.” In his shoes, I am feeling some of that shame, that I’ve just rained my negative words on someone else’s miraculous healing. But maybe I’m also doing what we often do when we feel shame – come up with excuses. I keep the shame at bay by convincing myself that rebels like Jesus are the problem, not me.
What about watching all this take place from the crowd? Surely Jesus has blown our minds. We’ve known this woman for a long time. We’re happy for her and the parts of her life that she’s going to get back now. We’re more convinced than ever that we want to follow Jesus. Everywhere he goes, there is healing. Why would we want to follow anyone else? And at the same time, we start wondering, what even is the point of the synagogue? When we’re around Jesus, people are healed and lives are changed. When we’re at the synagogue, are we hearing much more than just what rules are being broken? Has the synagogue just been exposed for how hollow it is? What would we be thinking if this healing happened in our church building today?
Which of these perspectives do we resonate with the most?
Well, church, Jesus is right here, ready to heal, ready to renew. Give him your ailments, your wounds, your doubts, your shortcomings. And for us Pharisees, let’s not overthink and overanalyze the healing love of Jesus. Let’s just receive it, and share it.
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