March 8, 2018
Luke 13:10-35
The passage starts off with Jesus teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath, and while teaching, He encounters a woman who has been crippled for almost two decades. She had been possessed, the text tells us, by an evil spirit. He sees her and calls her forward. Then he puts His hands on her, and she immediately straightens up.
So, while the people are amazed and delighted, the leader of the synagogue is put out by it being done on the Sabbath. He tells the people that if you want to be healed, great…just don’t do it on the Sabbath. Of course, Jesus calls him out, calling him a hypocrite because he is willing to allow people to untie their donkey to get water, but not let a “daughter of Abraham” be healed from her affliction.
Jesus then goes on and tells the famous parable of the mustard seed and the yeast, comparing the kingdom of God to seemingly small, insignificant items that go on to have a big effect on what is around them. It seems like Jesus is trying to remind us in both instances (which the synagogue leader clearly misses) about focusing on touching those around us with the love and power of God, and not letting our preconceived ideas about what is right or proper keep us from doing so.
Luke 13:10-35
The passage starts off with Jesus teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath, and while teaching, He encounters a woman who has been crippled for almost two decades. She had been possessed, the text tells us, by an evil spirit. He sees her and calls her forward. Then he puts His hands on her, and she immediately straightens up.
So, while the people are amazed and delighted, the leader of the synagogue is put out by it being done on the Sabbath. He tells the people that if you want to be healed, great…just don’t do it on the Sabbath. Of course, Jesus calls him out, calling him a hypocrite because he is willing to allow people to untie their donkey to get water, but not let a “daughter of Abraham” be healed from her affliction.
Jesus then goes on and tells the famous parable of the mustard seed and the yeast, comparing the kingdom of God to seemingly small, insignificant items that go on to have a big effect on what is around them. It seems like Jesus is trying to remind us in both instances (which the synagogue leader clearly misses) about focusing on touching those around us with the love and power of God, and not letting our preconceived ideas about what is right or proper keep us from doing so.
Devotion by Travis Wallace