THINK TOGETHER.
Have you ever helped someone who has been sick or injured? How did helping make you feel?
READ TOGETHER.
Luke 13:10-13. 10Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” 13And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.
Luke starts this story by telling us its setting: where and when it happened. Where did it happen? That’s right in the synagogue. Do you remember what a synagogue is? It’s the building where the Jews in Jesus’ day would worship. When did it happen? On the Sabbath. Do you remember what the Sabbath is? The Sabbath is the day of rest when no Jew was allowed to do any work.
Next, Luke tells us what happened in the synagogue on the Sabbath – Jesus healed a poor woman who had been bent over for 18 years. You’re probably not even 18 years old. Can you imagine having a disability for 18 years? Many people can, can’t they? There are so many people who have bad backs, and legs, and arms, and are sick, and have been for years. And Jesus loves them all. He wants to heal us all. And one day he will when he returns and removes all sin and sickness forever!
This story should have just been a happy story of a woman being healed and glorifying God. But instead the story will take a dark turn. Listen to what happened next:
Luke 13:14. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath.
The ruler of the synagogue would be like a pastor today. Luke says that this religious leader became indignant. That means that he got very mad and offended. Why? Because in his mind, Jesus has just broken the law. Jesus “worked” on the Sabbath. When he healed that poor woman it was considered work, and working on the Sabbath was against the law.
You see, the ruler of the synagogue cared more about the rules than he did about people. Rules that weren’t even in the Bible. Rules that were made up by people, not God. But Jesus cared way more about people. He cared about the woman. Jesus never broke God’s laws, but he also never allowed the laws of people to keep him from obeying God’s law, especially the law of love. God’s law says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” That’s what Jesus did. He always loved people more than people’s rules.
Remember, any rule that keeps you from loving the way God wants you to is a bad rule. And any rule that helps us to love others the way God wants us to is a good rule. When you’re not sure if it’s a good rule or a bad rule ask mom and dad, or your pastor for help. Ask Jesus for help too. He is always there for you.
Because of Jesus we are always loved by God and will be healed by God one day.
With Jesus we can obey God’s law to love others.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Make a plan as a family to help someone who is sick/injured, or disabled. How can you love them as Jesus did the woman?
PRAY TOGETHER
Father, help me to understand and obey your law of love. Thank you for always loving me no matter what. Amen.
TLICfamily 