Luke 13:10–21 (ESV)
10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 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. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” 13 And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. 14 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.” 15 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? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17 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. 18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” 20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
Sometimes, as you read through a Gospel, you might have the sense that you’ve read the narrative account before. This is especially true if you’re reading through what’s called the synoptic Gospels. Mathew, Mark, and Luke are often referred to as the “Synoptic Gospels” because they include many of the same accounts in a similar sequence. In fact, almost all of the Gospel of Mark can be found in Matthew and Luke’s Gospels.
But here, as we’ve been reading through Luke’s Gospel, you may get the sense that this isn’t the first time that this kind of confrontation has happened in a synagogue; and you’d be right. In Luke 6, a similar confrontation took place, only instead of a woman who needed healing, it was a man with a withered hand.
But it’s the same controversy, and once again Jesus is breaking all the rules by healing this woman on the Sabbath and the synagogue ruler is quick to voice his complaint to the crowd which has been following Jesus.
The Sabbath was massively important for the Jews and the Sabbath laws existed to ensure that God’s people would center their hearts and minds on the Lord, constantly keeping their focus on God’s love for them. Jesus would absolutely agree with that purpose, but what’s happened is that the Sabbath laws have become this powerful system which required strict observance on the part of the people to the point that observance of these laws was literally getting in the way of God’s love and grace flowing out to His people. The problem here in our passage is that the Sabbath laws forbid work on the Sabbath and Jesus’ healing of this woman was considered work that could wait.
So it’s not too terribly difficult to see where Jesus is coming from; people matter more to God than the observance of these laws. And then, after Jesus thoroughly rights the ship of their thinking, Jesus tells two quick little parables regarding the kingdom of God.
A seed has been planted; leaven has been worked into the flour. Both are small things, but they are going to inexorably and relentlessly work until they have accomplished their purpose. That’s what the kingdom of God is like. Right now it is small, but a seed has planted and a steady, unstoppable process of growth has begun and the kingdom of God will continue to break into the world despite the opposition Jesus will face from the religious leaders.
One healing of one woman, one healing of a man with a withered hand, the healings that took place through the sending of the seventy-two and the twelve, a boy with an unclean spirit, a centurion’s servant, the raising of the widow’s son, the birth of a child.
The kingdom of God is breaking into the world as Jesus is heading to Jerusalem and to the cross.
The Lord is fulfilling His promises not just for one group of people, but for us all.
As I’m thinking about all of this, I’m mindful that Advent begins this Sunday. Advent is our time to prepare our hearts for Christmas day and to remember that God has already won the victory which began with a baby, a victory which was revealed in parables and miracles, and with compassionate words and touch, the victory that was achieved with every stroke of a whip and with three nails, the victory which broke through with glory on Easter morning, a victory won for all by Jesus the Son of God.
So I encourage you to enjoy this Advent season and prepare your heart and mind for the coming of Christmas day, but also realize that we wait in expectation and anticipation for the full outworking and fulfillment of Jesus' victory begun at His birth; the victory won on the cross and at the empty tomb.
God bless you and know that you are constantly in my prayers!
Scott