An Atheistic Bible Study Of The Gospel Healing Of A Cripple On The Sabbath

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Luke 13:10-17 A miracle told exclusively by Luke’s Gospel. Jesus is preaching in a synagogue when he notices a woman in the congregation who is crippled. Her back is bent over and he cannot straighten up, due to some demonic spirit. She has been in this condition for eighteen years. Jesus calls to her to approach him and tells her as he lays his hands on her that he is now healed and sure enough, she straightens her back and he is alright. Though in many other healings Jesus has tried to be discreet and keep the story of his part in the miracles a secret from all but his closest followers, this healing is done very publically in front of the leader of the synagogue. The synagogue leader makes a speech to the congregation criticising Jesus for conducting the healing on the Sabbath (Saturday being the Jewish holy day of rest). He is neither surprised or critical for Jesus performing the wonder at all, just concerned about the day it takes place. Jesus criticises the Synagogue leader and his supporters as hypocrites, pointing out that they feed and water their donkeys on the Sabbath, and that healing is important enough to conduct on holy days too. The audience is overall on the side of Jesus, but the synagogue leaders feel humiliated. There are really two questions here. The first as ever is the question of whether Jesus really performed a miracle at all. This could easily be faked a many modern miracle healings are. The second question on whether healings should take place on holy days is one of the rare occasions I agree with Jesus. The day of the week is irrelevant to essential or humanitarian work. Today we can shop on Sundays but not visit our doctors. Our priorities are all wrong. Arthur Chappell