Breaking the Rules

In this week’s Bible reading from Luke 13:10-17, Jesus noticed a woman who was unable to stand up straight for 18 years. While knowing the rules of conduct for what was allowed and not allowed on the Sabbath, Jesus healed the woman. What he did was against the detailed rule structure – the laws relating to the Sabbath.

Shouldn’t that be the end of it – no more debate about anything else related – Jesus broke the law and that was wrong, right?

She didn’t seek him out – she was just present and Jesus noticed her. Jesus had an eye for those in need and the fact that they were from a less respected class of people (women) either didn’t matter to Jesus or it mattered to him so that he could show more of God’s love for everyone. The fact that he called her a "Daughter of Abraham" put her status right up there with anyone else.

Let me tell you about the Mishnah. Rabbis would discuss, debate and try to understand the scriptures. Part of those debates (which were, and still are ongoing to a certain extent) resulted in the writing of the Mishnah – or book of rules that were the result of trying to better understand the laws of scripture. One part (Mishnah Shabbat) lists "40 minus 1" kinds of work that are not allowed on the Sabbath. Listen to these prohibited activities:

Sowing (seeds)
Plowing
Reaping
Binding sheaves
Threshing
Winnowing
Selecting
Grinding
Sifting
Kneading
Baking
Shearing wool
Washing wool

Beating wool
Dyeing wool
Spinning
Weaving
Making two loops
Weaving two threads
Separating two threads
Tying
Untying
Sewing stitches
Tearing
Trapping
Slaughtering

Flaying
Tanning
Scraping hide
Marking hides
Cutting hide to shape
Writing two or more letters
Erasing two or more letters
Building
Demolishing
Extinguishing a fire
Kindling a fire
Putting the finishing touch on an object
Transporting an object between a private domain and the public domain, or for a distance of 4 cubits within the public domain

Another part (Mishnah Erubin) mixes the Shabbat rules with the kinds of things that people are bound to do as followers of God. The Erubin allows exceptions to the rules as they relate to things like cooking, carrying or traveling. ‘Erubin’ translates into English as "mixtures" or "Sabbath-bound." For instance:

2.1-4, one may draw water from a well for one's cattle so long as one transforms the well from public domain to private domain by placing boards around it.

Now that Jesus had amazed the Synagogue leaders with his knowledge – he continued with his wit. (It was not at all uncommon for Rabbis to engage in lively dialog on issues of theological importance.)

Jesus used the opportunity to make the Synagogue leaders think. He caught their attention by playing on the word we understand as "untie." These words like "unbind" "set free" and "untie" all have similar meaning – opposite from "bind", "enslave" or "tie". ( In Greek deo {deh'-o,} = tie. luo {loo'-o} = untie – both in a context of being tied up or set free: bound or unbound.)

I think that Jesus was trying to teach that strict adherence to the law while ignoring the two most important rules makes the law something that harms rather than helps.

Is it possible that in today’s world we have some issues that bring out similar responses? Is an issue like immigration reform one that is parallel to the one Jesus was addressing? Would drawing a connection be taking the Bible reading out of context? Would it be taking it in the direction that was intended?

Those are deep questions – and I invite you to ponder them at length this week.

This woman whom Jesus healed wasn’t looking for anything special that day. She didn’t come to Jesus to be healed. Jesus just noticed her and set her free. When he did, she stood up straight and began praising God.

I wonder what came next? After she stood up and praised God, how was her life changed? What did she do for the rest of her days? Was she caught up in the conflict and the debate over healing on the Sabbath?

I don’t think so. I think she would have answered a question about what happened not with a debate about healing on the Sabbath, but rather with something like. "I don’t know about all the rules you’re talking about, but I do know that when I woke up today I couldn’t stand up straight – the same way I’ve been for 18 years. Then this man put his hands on me and now I’m standing tall! Praise God!"

I wonder if anyone here today is bound by something. Maybe it is something physical. Maybe it’s something emotional. Maybe it’s something mental.

I can’t promise any kind of healing. I don’t know how any of God’s miracles happen. But I do know that God can and does heal. God can and does set us free.

I’m sure this all sounds a bit weird. It might be unnerving. Maybe you’re thinking to yourself, "This isn’t the way church is really supposed to go – that kind of talk is for the TV preachers who ask for money and then promise great things to those who give."

I know God doesn’t work that way. God can and does heal – even when -- maybe especially when -- you’re not looking for it or expecting it.

That doesn’t really sound right, does it? But we’ve seen it there in the Bible today. We’ve learned about God’s healing when someone didn’t expect it or ask for it. I know this healing was on the Sabbath and that made it into a debate about rules and laws. But I think even more significant than that is another kind of thing that seems to be outside our unwritten rules about God’s healing. God can and does heal – even when -- maybe especially when -- you’re not looking for it or expecting it.