Conclusion Of A Nation Lost, But Not All

Shortly afterward Jesus is teaching in a synagogue on a Sabbath. There he sees a woman who, because of a demon afflicting here, has been bent double for 18 years. Compassionately, Jesus addresses her: "Woman,you are released from your weakness." At that he lays his hands on her, and instantly she straightens up and begins glorifying God.

The presiding officer of the synagogue, however, is angry. "There are six days on which work ought to be done," he protests. "On them, therefore, come and be cured, and not on the sabbath day." The officer thus acknowledges Jesus' power to heal but condemns the people for coming to be healed on the Sabbath! "Hypocrites," Jesus answered, "does not each one of you on the Sabbath untie his bull or his ass from the stall and lead it away to give it a drink? Was it not due, then, for this woman who is a daughter of Abraham, and whom Satan held bound, look! eighteen years, to be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?"

Well, on hearing this, those opposing Jesus begin to feel shame. The crowd, however, rejoice at all the glorious things they see Jesus do. In response Jesus repeats two prophetic illustrations regarding the Kingdom of God, ones that he told from a boat on the Sea of Galilee about a year earlier. Luke 13:1-21; Ecclesiastes 9:11; Matthew 13:31-33.

Next time: The Sheepfolds And The Shepherd

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991