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The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
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a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
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A Quick Word
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Jesus teaches at a synagogue service. Nothing so unusual about that. There’s a woman there, crippled and bent double. She’s been afflicted in this way for eighteen years: clearly this is no temporary ‘bad back’. If the number of years has any symbolism in it perhaps it is three times the rather devilish number six, for it is an evil spirit which cripples her. We can see what’s coming: another pointed healing by Jesus on the Sabbath. Another bust-up with those religious types who seem to lurk on such occasions looking to catch him out. Sure enough, Jesus does heal the woman, dramatically and totally. True to form, the synagogue ruler - a sort of chief elder responsible for decency and order - is ‘indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath’ (verse 14). An argument ensues. Jesus wins the argument but enrages the old guard. Nothing so unusual about any of that. Little peopleBut our story is not finished yet. While in the synagogue that Sabbath day, Jesus delivers a famous teaching. The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed planted in a garden, he says, a seed which grows and grows until it provides room in its branches for the birds of the air (verses 18-19). The crippled woman is one of those ‘birds’, the little people who will find a safe place in Jesus’ kingdom. We see that the woman’s healing represents a dramatic advance for the kingdom against the power of the devil. The kingdom is spreading like the mustard tree to provide a safe place for everyone. Is all this not reason for rejoicing? Apparently not. For the synagogue ruler it is all a terrible affront. He is ‘indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath’. Think about it: his reaction is almost comical. DecorumHere we are in the synagogue, gathered to worship and learn of God. The Son of God is here, but must play by our rules. He is welcome to talk to us, to plod through the service with us, to sing a psalm or two, to hear a reading, to stay for the equivalent of a cup of tea. But don’t let’s have anything exciting happen. After all this is the Lord’s day and his house of worship! Show some decorum! We don’t want any miracles here! Jesus, for some, apparently, ruined the entire Sabbath routine. He dared for just a moment to turn God’s house into a place where God’s kingdom could grow. For just a moment he turned the place of worship into a place where people are set free. May we expect to see lives changed on Sunday mornings. May our churches be places where there is healing. May we not be afraid to experience Jesus’ power in our midst and to see the growth of his kingdom. |
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