Spontaneous grace
John Povey
July 17, 2025
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Luke 13: 10-17 (NIVUK)
10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’ 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, ‘There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’
15 The Lord answered him, ‘You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’
17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
Apart from the few who were miffed that the actions of Jesus had shown them up, everyone else was delighted by the healing of the poor crippled woman. For eighteen long years she had suffered, and then she met Jesus. His heart went out to her. Unfortunately it was the Sabbath Day, but that did not stop Jesus. He could not bear to see her suffer a minute longer. The law of love without hesitation superseded the law of the sabbath.
The crabbit, sulky leaders that day were put to shame. Such humiliation is often accompanied with silence, eyes cast down. What a contrast to the once crippled woman! She now stood up straight in front of everyone present. Her new demeanour, together with the delight of the rest of the crowd, leave us in no doubt of the positive impact of the love of Jesus. His action was spontaneous, and so was the joy of the crowd. The atmosphere was nothing less than electrifying!
What a cause for praise to God her story became that day in that synagogue! What great reason she herself had to praise God for what Jesus did for her! And what a great and important lesson her story has to teach us about the love and mercy of God! It tells us that we may come to Jesus just as we are, with all our needs, and be confident in his healing grace.
Prayer:
Holy God, thank you for the great love you have shown in Jesus Christ, who was moved with compassion in the face of human need. Give me a heart like yours, free from condemnation, full of understanding, full of grace. Give me a heart to put people first, to reach out with love and goodness, to offer healing to hurting lives. So may I find that there is deep joy in serving you. Amen.
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