Objection

Luke 13:12
“Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.”

I imagine what the scene must have been like in the Synagogue that day. The crowd had gathered like they did every Sabbath. For some it was no more than a religious duty, for others, it was how they expressed their devotion to God. The scene suddenly shifts from the normal activities of prayer and Bible reading to a woman with a serious medical condition. She had been suffering for eighteen years and nothing could be done for her. Without hesitation Jesus called her to Himself, and when she responded to the call, He healed her. Imagine being there! Imagine the joy that would fill her, perhaps like the lame man in Acts 3, she leaped with joy, celebrating what Jesus had done for her. I would expect to read that the service changed that morning, as the people broke out in unrestrained praise. Sadly however, rather than hearing praise, we hear the sound of objection.

“There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”

Sometimes the only response I can muster is WOW! I am amazed. Jesus changed the life of a woman in agony, but instead of people flocking to Him with praise, they objected to what He had done. Why were they so angry? I think it was because He violated the culture of the day. The religious leaders had developed a whole system of what was allowed on the Sabbath. Healing of the sick was not included. They might have been happy with Jesus making people’s lives better, but when He began to mess with the culture, they were infuriated. We read later, it was his changing of the cultural norm that motivated the religious leaders to make a deal with Rome and have Him crucified.

Things are not so different today.

For the past 2000 years the earth has been filled with people like this woman, who have responded to Jesus and have been transformed by Him. He has taken those who society has neglected, even rejected, and has made them heroes of faith. Yet, many still object to Him. Jesus is not rejected because He has not changed lives, but because He changes culture; because He dares to declare what man tolerates is often abominable to God. Much of what Jesus said and did is contrary to our culture. Rather than falling down before Him in worship for who He is and what He does, many raise up their fists in objection. “How can He say He is the only way?” “How can He say that my lifestyle is wrong, I was born this way, it’s hereditary, we are in love…”

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 13

Jesus to emphasize a point repeats Himself. Write down the repeated verse in the beginning of the chapter.
What tree does Jesus use as an illustration in the next section?
The women bent over, did she come to Jesus or did He call out to her?
After Jesus healed her, what was her response?
Jesus uses two things to compare the Kingdom of Heaven. What are they?
What was Jesus talking about as He was journeying to Jerusalem?
Describe God’s heart for the Jewish people in the last two verses.
The Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah in Jesus’ day and today. Israel is God’s chosen people. Now take a moment and read Ephesians 1:1-14. Take note of the believers place in Christ and let your response to these things be Paul’s response at the end of verse 14. “TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY”

Old Testament:
Leviticus 24- Mind Of The Lord
Leviticus 25- You Deserve A Break