Devotional:

“Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 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. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. 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.” 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? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 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.” — Luke 13:10-17

Jesus and His disciples continued their final journey to Jerusalem together. Luke 9:51 says, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” That meant Jesus knew His hour was drawing near and He would not be back to these places again, at least not in His earthly body and He did not hold back. He openly and boldly taught and performed miracles of healing in as many towns and villages as He could along the way. His ministry did not stop just because He knew what was waiting for Him. In fact, when we read all the parables and teachings He did during this time, it was as if He turned everything up a notch because nothing was more important than bringing people to Jesus, the Messiah.

We don’t know exactly where He was when He was teaching here. In verse 22, it says, “Jesus went on his way through towns and villages teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.” So, we know they weren’t there yet, but after reading yesterday’s passage, we know it is a very different crowd of people and maybe this was a town that had become more accepting of Jesus. Yesterday, the people were saying He worked for Satan. Today, they are rejoicing in His teachings and miracles.

Jesus was desperate to see His people receive their Messiah, that was His only focus. The threat of the Pharisees did not stop His mission and even though I am sure the burden of the cross weighed heavily on Him. His hour had not come yet. Jesus did not let the Pharisees shut Him down in the synagogue that day. In fact, Jesus shut them down, because verse 17 says He put them to shame and the people rejoiced at all He had done.

There are no limits to God’s power, mercy and grace. Jesus proved this over and over by healing people on the Sabbath. Satan had bound this woman for years and Jesus did not care what anyone thought, especially the Pharisees. Healing and releasing her from these binds meant one more soul for the kingdom. And to release someone from a debilitating spirit on the Sabbath seemed pretty appropriate. Jesus was restoring the Sabbath to its original intent; freedom to worship the God of mercy, grace, healing and rest.

The Pharisees were so focused on their legalism and fear of the rules set for the Sabbath that they missed the desperation and needs of this woman, bound by this disabling spirit. Who knows how many other needs they had missed because of their self-righteousness?

In John 5:17, Jesus said as long as his Father is working, He will also be working.

I am so thankful God doesn’t take a day off from caring for us. He never misses a hurt or a need and we can come to Him whenever and with whatever burdens we bear.

Lord, thank You for Your constant love and mercy that never ceases. I pray that as we show others Your love, we never choose to take a day off. Instead, I pray we see our days of rest as an extra opportunity to meet the needs of a friend or a stranger. Make us alert and willing to receive the call to action when someone is desperate and hurting. Amen