Sermon: Freed from shackles by Jesus

If we go back just two generations, a Sunday was very different from what it is today.   As a child I remember singing in church a hymn that begins:-

 “Again the morn of gladness

  The day of light is here

  And earth itself looks fairer

  And heaven itself more near.

  The bells like angel voices

  Speak peace to every breast

  And all the land lies quiet

  To keep the day of rest.” 

That is nothing like the Sunday of today ! 

If we go back a further generation, we are in a time when Sunday was a very restrictive day.  No shops were open.  There was no kind of entertainment.   Sundays were also very different in the home.  There was no television in those days but no book should be read in the home except a bible.  No housework was done.  It was not done even to go for a walk, except to walk to church.  People who were brought up in such an atmosphere generally look back on Sunday as being a very gloomy day, a restrictive day.  This was a time when people were still under the influence of the strict Sabbatarianism of Victorian times. Today, of course, things could not be more different.   Did such a strict way of keeping the Sabbath bring people to church or did it put them off?   - or perhaps a more relevant question is:-  Did a strict sabbatarianism bring people to Jesus or put them off having anything to do with Jesus. 

In today’s gospel we hear of an interesting encounter that Jesus has with a synagogue leader about how the Sabbath should be kept.  The synagogue leaders made sure that people kept the Sabbath laws to the letter.  This meant no work at all.  It meant they were not allowed to walk beyond a certain distance.   One day when Jesus went to the synagogue he was invited to teach the people.  He notices a woman who is obviously in some pain.  Indeed in so much pain that she cannot stand up.  She has been like this for eighteen years.  Immediately Jesus heals her and she stands up and praises God.   We would expect everyone to be delighted on seeing this.  They would of course all know the woman.  This was in a small Galilean town where everyone knew everyone else. Most people of course were so happy to see this woman healed, but not everyone.   In most situations there is always someone ready to spoil the party and in this case it was the leader of the synagogue.  He brushes Jesus aside and takes over the role of the teaching himself and gives the people a good telling off. “ Healing is not allowed on the Sabbath, if you want to be healed, come to be healed on another day.”   Imagine how this woman felt.  She was probably not only embarrassed but also felt humiliated. We can imagine too how annoyed most of the people were at this unwelcome comment by the synagogue leader.  We can imagine too the synagogue leader and his cronies gathered in a corner muttering to each other and complaining about Jesus and looking for a way to get rid of him.  t this point Jesus intervenes.  He reminds the synagogue leader and his little group of like minded allies that on thr way to the synagogue he noticed them leading their donkeys to give them water.  Strictly this was not allowed on the Sabbath, but for reasons of compassion they would not let their animals suffer even if they do break a Sabbath law. He then appeals to them, “ This woman is in faith and in race, your sister”. He tells them,  “Why will you not make an exception of Sabbath law so she can be healed while you will make an exception to give your donkey some water?”  Now it was their turn to feel humiliated. They didn’t say another word.   

What would   Jesus say to  sabbatarianism and legalism in our own day?  We too live at a time of increasing legislation for every aspect of our lives. Many are saying that our freedom is gradually being eroded.  I think Jesus would appeal to common sense and common humanity.   We read daily about legislation which seems to make people suffer rather than give them freedom.   Jesus made a point that this woman had been bound for eighteen years.  Jesus gave her her freedom.  Jesus is concerned for our freedom too.  Whatever we may find in our lives, in body, mine or spirit that cripples us and binds us,  Jesus is ready to free us. We can even see the life of Jesus himself in this story. After he was crucified, he lay in the grave, bound for three days.  On the third day he rose from death. He was free.  There were those who opposed Jesus  in giving the woman her freedom, They thought Sabbath law was more important than healing a sick woman. Is there a message here for our own society?   

There is no need for us to spend Sunday in a gloomy and miserable way, like our grandparents did.  After all, even that old Victorian hymn that talks about all the land being quiet to keep the day of rest, ends with a verse of praise and joy, 

“Glory be to Jesus, let all his children say.

He rose again, he rose again, on this glad day.” 

Sunday is a day of joy as it is the weekly celebration of Christ’s resurrection. The Sabbath  was a day of joy  for the woman in the gospel story. She and her friends were filled with joy because Jesus healed her.   He brings joy and freedom to us also.