Now, he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a disabling spirit for 18 years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her and immediately she was made straight and she glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered Him, “You hypocrites. Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it. And ought not this woman? A daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for 18 years be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day.” As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.
– Luke 13:10–17
We usually just read one verse or maybe two for this podcast, but I wanted to read this whole story. There’s obviously so much here that we could talk about.
Luke 13:10–17 Shows Jesus’ Compassion for those with Disabilities
But the thing I want to emphasize most is Jesus love for this woman. His compassion for this woman in her disability that led him to heal her, even when he knew that would make the religious leaders indignant, mad at him in a way that would ultimately lead to them wanting to crucify, to kill him.
But Jesus loves like that. He loves people in a way that is totally counterculture to the world around us, as well as sometimes the religious world around us. And I just want to encourage us to look around and see others today, with Jesus compassion like this. To love like Jesus loves, and even specifically to do so with men and women and children who have a variety of disability for us to be a reflection of Jesus love for everyone around us, and especially today in light of Luke 13, those who have disabilities.
What does this look like in your life, in your family or in your church family? How are we particularly reaching out to those with disabilities around us and showing them the radical love and compassion of Jesus for them? Oh Jesus, we praise you. We love reading the gospels. We love reading these stories about who you are and how you love and how you heal.
Jesus, we pray that you would help us be a reflection of who you are in the world around us. Help us to love everyone around us. Lord, help us to see everyone around us as you see them. Help us not just to see people doing tasks and going to the busyness of life, but to see men and women and children made in your image, loved by you, created for relationship with you. God, help us to love them accordingly, to lead people into relationship with you, Jesus. What’s to speak the gospel today?
Luke 13:10–17 Encourages to Imitate Jesus’ Compassion
We pray that you would help us be a reflection of your character, for those with any disabilities around us. God, even as I pray that, I know there are many listening to this right now who have different disabilities. I pray that hearing Luke 13:10–17, they are reminded of your compassionate eye, your deep love and heart for them. God, we pray for healing like is evident here in Luke 13.
We ask for that with faith, knowing you have power to bring healing amidst disability, the same time knowing that you are wise and good, and whether you bring healing today and answer to our prayers or tomorrow, one day, you will answer that prayer ultimately for all who trust in you, that disability will not be the end of anyone’s story, who trusts in you and your love.
All glory be to your name Lord Jesus, for stories like this, for how they apply to our lives today, to the mission you’ve given us to reflect your love in our lives today, to the hope we have that one day all the sons and daughters of God will join together and worship to you, free from any and every disability.
Praying for the Darai People
Oh God, we pray for this good news to spread everywhere in the world, specifically today for the Darai people of India and Nepal. May they hear this good news. Think about walking through the Himalayas and seeing children and adults with disabilities. God, we pray that the hope of Jesus, what spread throughout all of the Darai villages of India and Nepal and ends of the earth that this good news might be known and enjoyed by all peoples. In Jesus name, we pray according to your Word in Luke 13:10–17. Amen.
