Category: Daily Prayer

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.
Luke 14:1-4

In this passage Jesus continues to bring our attention to the meaning of Sabbath, and how our human rules may keep us from fully participating in God’s kingdom work. Jesus is accused of breaking Sabbath because He healed people in each of the Gospels – Matthew 12:10, Mark 3:1-6, Luke 13:10-17 and John 9:16. These lessons show us that there is never a wrong time for helping others.

We also hear Jesus ask the religious leaders if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath. I can’t imagine the Lord being sarcastic but this might be close – in the previous passage a synagogue leader indicated it was not appropriate. Here Jesus puts the question to them and and they have no answer. Perhaps they were afraid of being seen answering wrongly, or maybe some are beginning to think more seriously about the issue. Whatever their rationale, Jesus heals the man, as we know He would even had they answered negatively.

There is also a subtle lesson for us in verse 1 – “He was being carefully watched”. Like it or not, the world is watching what we say and do as Christians and our words and actions will be judged by others. There will always be those ready to oppose us, as many did Jesus during His ministry. We must follow His example, doing what God has called us for, regardless of the world’s opinions.

Gracious God, help us to be faithful followers of Jesus, using Your gifts to us to bring the world to You. Make us strong in the face of opposition, forgiving those who wrong us as You first forgave us. Amen.

In our lesson this week (Luke 13:10-17), Jesus teaches us about the heart of the Sabbath. It seems the true meaning had been lost in the concern about practices and rules for its keeping. Jesus takes the opportunity to show us what true Sabbath is by healing a crippled woman at the synagogue.

Let’s look at the background some – this is a woman of faith, participating in worship despite her long term infirmity. The scripture doesn’t indicate that she is shunned or mistreated by her community, but she is certainly not able to be involved fully due to her condition. Although she does not come to Jesus and ask to be made whole, Jesus heals her and her immediate response is to stand up straight and praise God!

We might expect the congregation and synagogue leader to rejoice with her, celebrating God’s blessing to all of them. Instead, the leader is angry that Jesus has done this and accuses Him of working on the Sabbath. What kind of person is angry when someone else receives a blessing?

As we have discussed, the leader may have been truly concerned with the laws regarding Sabbath, but if that is case he has missed the meaning God intended. Jesus responds with a practical example of caring for livestock on the Sabbath, and how much more we should use Sabbath day to care for each other. We miss the heart of the teaching by only remembering the rules. Jesus wants us to see that true Sabbath is about our relationship with God and each other, not just a set of instructions.

Loving Lord, we are often foolish in our attempts to follow Your way, seeing only the edges intended to keep us on the path and not the joy of being on the way with You. Give us Sabbath hearts all the days of our lives to worship You and share the Good News with others. Amen.

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.” But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?” When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.
Luke 13:10-17

Jesus’s healing of a crippled woman on the Sabbath draws a rebuke from the leader of the synagogue. He and others were twisting God’s instruction for us to rest on the Sabbath to fit their own desires, using the Law to control people. God gave us His guidance to show us the way, not to beat each other!

Jesus shows the nonconformity of those who care for their animals on the Sabbath, not to say they are violating the Law, but to show that it is to be applied in love, not judgement. God gave us rules about living and how to treat each other because we had proved ourselves incapable of doing so without His help. Using these gifts to harm each other violates the purpose for which they were given. The best way to show others how God wants us to live is by living for Him, obeying Him, and caring for our brothers and sisters.

When we live in accordance with God’s Law, we should not be irritated or angered by those who don’t, but continue to do His will as an example to the world. This was Jesus way of reaching us, showing us what a life in God was, and that following His Law is not a burden, but a blessing.

Gracious God, we are grateful for Your guidance to show us the way to eternal life. Help us to live by Your Law, in love with You and each other. Amen.

When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.
Luke 13:17

Jesus taught people what was the right thing to do through His words and His actions. His opponents were unable to accuse Him of saying one thing and doing another, as most of us do. Jesus was consistent in all He said and did, which made Him popular in the eyes of the crowd because He shamed those who opposed Him.

I don’t think shaming anyone was His main purpose, I’m sure the Lord would rather they understand and turn away from their wrong thoughts and actions. I wonder about the crowd “rejoicing at all the wonderful things He was doing”. Did they truly believe or were they just going along with the popular opinion, glad to see those in power put in their place?

Jesus isn’t about doing anything for show or gain, everything He said and did was to glorify God and bring us back into relationship with Him. When we marvel at His works, we should be amazed that He came to save us sinners and not that He opposed the powerful. We must remember that He came to save them, too.

Loving Lord, we sometimes get caught in seeing the miracle but missing the lesson. Help us to hear what You are teaching and go do likewise. Amen.

But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?” Luke 13:15-16

Jesus teaches us something very practical in this passage. He calls the people’s attention to the fact that they actually do work on the Sabbath by caring for their animals and how much more should they care for their brothers and sisters on the Sabbath. This is the heart of His lesson.

Sometimes as humans we get wrapped up in our way of doing things and what’s “proper”. We often feel there is a time and place for things. This is what the synagogue leader says in verse 14, “come on those days to be healed and not on the Sabbath”.

Jesus tells us that the proper time and place for caring about each other is always here and now. It is always right to do good for others, regardless of the situation. When someone is in need of God’s love and our assistance, we must be ready to act.

Gracious God, we are humbled by the love and care You send us, and shamed by our selfishness in not sharing it freely. Help us to be good stewards of Your gifts, giving to others as You first gave to us. Amen.

But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.” Luke 13:14

Jesus made those in control uneasy. While He didn’t tell people to overthrow the government or quit listening to the temple leaders, His lessons often made those in power feel uncomfortable because His teaching often pointed to their mistreatment of others or the wrongful use of their power. Sometimes it was a matter of Jesus getting the attention the powerful thought was rightfully theirs.

That could be the case in this story. Why would the synagogue leader be upset that Jesus cured someone? He says that because it is the Sabbath, this shouldn’t have been done at this time or in this place. Perhaps he thinks it will distract people from worship.

It’s more likely that the leader feels threatened by the display of love and true power Jesus displays in healing the crippled woman in this passage. Does Jesus love ever convict us when we think we are in control? It’s the same lesson He is giving the man in this passage – God’s love and care transcends any human plans! Don’t let our selfish desire to be in charge block your connection to God.

Loving Lord, we know You control all things, but we sometimes get wrapped up in earthly concerns and lose sight of this. Help us to let go of our need to try to run things and let Your plan be the path we follow. Amen.

When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Luke 13:12-13

To me, this is one of those real “Bible” moments, Jesus reaching out to heal someone. There are several things about this interaction we need to be aware of in order to understand the depth of Christ’s love and compassion. Let’s look at the situation more carefully.

First, it occurs as part of Sabbath worship (Luke 13:10). This woman has come to be part of the family of God even in her pain. Rather than separate herself because of her condition, she came willing to praise God in spite of it.

Second, it tells us “Jesus put His hands on her”. While Jesus doesn’t need to touch us physically to heal us, His action is one of caring, and that is an essential part of healing. Jesus reached out to her as He does to all of us, wanting us to come to Him and be healed.

Finally, it says she straightened up and praised God. Giving thanks to the One who made us for healing is right and necessary, for without Him we can do nothing. While we may be tools in His hands, we cannot heal anyone alone.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the healing love you send. Help us to be part of Your work in the world, offering compassion and comfort to all. Amen.

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” (Luke 13:10-12)

In this week’s scripture lesson, Jesus heals a crippled woman. It’s not unusual for Him to heal anyone, but He has a special purpose in mind for this healing beyond just compassion for one who is suffering. As we will see later in this lesson, Jesus has something to teach us.

Jesus healed because He cared about us, but there was always a lesson in His actions. He wanted to show us that beyond the physical healing was the relationship with God that made spiritual healing possible. Jesus wanted us to be made whole not just in body, but in our connection to our Creator so that we might live fully.

What physical and spiritual ailments do you have to give to the Lord for healing? He knows our pain and weakness and stands ready to support us when we ask in faith. Let Him be the rock of your salvation in times of need and times of joy!

Loving Lord, we are burdened by our human weakness, in body and in spirit. Help us to accept Your love and Your strength to be able to do Your will in our world. Amen.

Jesus is uncharacteristically stern in His lesson recorded in Luke 12:49-56. He warns that He has come to bring division, not peace. I was a little shocked the first time I read that passage, as Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but He has good reason to shock us into listening.

He knows that the time will come when we will be divided over our acceptance or rejection of Him. We are told that “All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.” (Matthew 25:32-33). He is saying that all the other divisions we find among ourselves will be meaningless when this occurs, that at the last day the only thing that counts is our faith in Him.

Jesus grabs our attention with the firmness of this teaching, wanting us to understand how essential this choice is – life or death! Our decision has eternal importance and He wants us to realize our relationship with God is the only thing that will matter when He returns for us. He has promised to come back again; will we be ready?

Gracious God, You sent Jesus to teach us and show us how important it is to have a connection toYou. Help us to follow His example, loving You and our neighbors, and sharing the joy of the Good News with everyone. Amen.

In Luke 12:49-56 Jesus is very passionate about what He wants us to understand. We sometimes are lulled into thinking that He was always “gentle Jesus, meek and mild” and while He loves us, He is concerned by our failure to grasp the meaning of what He teaches. He is very animated in this passage, using strident language to awaken our sense of urgency.

Jesus knows we are not getting the picture, so He uses the example of a family divided to illustrate the point that regardless of how we divide ourselves by group or affiliation, there are really only two groups: those who accept Him as Lord and Savior and those who do not. This is the decision that each of us must make for ourselves. Jesus wants to save us all and He was willing to prove it through His obedience to God’s plan.

Our obedience is based first on acceptance of Jesus and then on continuing relationship with God and learning His plan for us. We must learn to be obedient as Jesus was, and follow His example. Only through our intentional acceptance of His grace can we hope to live with Him forever.

Loving Lord, help us to see that only You can save us, and that we must choose to be in relationship with You. Let us learn from Your example and the love we show each other what it means to be part of the family of God. Amen.