Reflection for the 11th Week after Pentecost, 2022
Scriptures: Psalm 103:1-8; Luke 13:10-17
Key Verse: “The entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that Jesus was doing.” (Luke 13:17b)
Who hates peace but loves division? Last week, we heard from Jesus that his coming wasn’t for peace but division. And this week, we got a perfect demonstration of what he meant. What Jesus did and said certainly caused a division between those who believed that they knew it all, namely the Torah, and those who disagreed with them. One group was shamed and the other one rejoiced.
Way before Jesus’ time, Jews had been using the Torah to guide them on how to live a life that pleases God. The Torah refers to the first five books in the Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Torah (תורה) in Hebrew can mean teaching, direction, guidance and law. And there are 613 commandments, called mitzvot (the plural form of mitzvah), recorded in the Torah that are observed by all practicing Jews. And among these 613 commandments, the 10 commandments are included, and Sabbath, of course, is given special status as a day set apart for God alone. It says in Genesis 2:1-3, “In it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.”
What happened in Luke 13 was that Jesus was accused of breaking laws concerning the Sabbath. So, what was Jesus’ view on taking a sabbath? In Mark 2:27, Jesus taught that the sabbath was made for humankind, not the other way around. If we think that humankind is made for the sabbath, we certainly devalue not only our own lives but also God’s love for us. The purpose of the Sabbath is for us to taste a world in which we do not have to work to fulfill all our needs.
This wasn’t the only time he was accused. Did Jesus actually break an Old Testament command? The word commandment in Hebrew, mitzvah, literally means a well intentioned deed with empathy and kindness. If Jesus’ action didn’t contradict the purpose of commandments, then what was the issue? Was it about the different interpretation of laws? What they probably had missed was that Jesus’ coming was not to abolish the law but to fulfill it as he said in Matthew 5:17. Shouldn’t his fulfilling the law include interpreting the law in a more life-giving way, which was God’s way?
This appears to be the real problem in today’s story. In Luke 13:14, it says that the leader of the synagogue was indignant. This leader saw what Jesus did was unjust, unfair, and unworthy. The leader took offense and felt indignant. Have you ever felt that way? Or have you been called out and accused of holding an incorrect and despicable view by others who believed that their views were much superior? This reminds me of the current ‘cancel culture’ that has been talked about on social media.
The term, cancel culture, is used to refer to a form of exclusion in which someone is called out and pushed out in social or professional circles whether it is online, on social media, or in person. In recent years, the cancel culture has been manipulated for personal gain in political or religious discourse, or used to attack those who dare to rock the boat of public opinion like what Jesus did at his time.
If you haven’t heard about the cancel culture, it might be helpful to see it in this way. If we categorize people calling out others into groups, there would be two major groups. One calls out others because they are asking for accountability; another group calls out others because they are looking for punishment.
How often do we see ourselves and others saying something or doing something without thinking it twice? People nowadays often do it carelessly and ruthlessly on social media. Then we see people calling out each other, which amplifies the depth of hate, discord, and ignorance. Such careless and ruthless words and behaviors perpetuate stereotyping and holding biases and prejudices against each other. For some, the ultimate motivation of calling out others is not holding each other accountable but looking for punishment by shaming others, demonizing them, and destroying their lives.
In Jesus’ time, Jews have put so much ambition into their law making. For them, obeying the laws and policing people around are the ways of showing their love, their faith, and their loyalty to God. The woman has spent 18 years bending down. The image of bending down is a reflection of their ways of treating the lives that God has given to them. It is a life full of pain and suffering. It is a constrained life without being able to see beyond the ground where she stands. It is a very limited view.
Right in front of their eyes, Jesus showed them a life-giving view. He healed her and restored her life back. Her sins were forgiven. Did everyone get it? No, they called out Jesus and couldn’t wait to see Jesus getting punishment. By contrast, Jesus called the leader out and wanted to hold him and anyone holding the same view accountable. Jesus said, “You hypocrites!” Yes, it is a word that we don’t want to use to call out anyone. None of us can but Jesus alone! Why?
Jesus held himself accountable by not only calling out whoever thinks they are superior to others, but also gave them time and opportunities to learn and to change. Jesus didn’t stop there but went to the cross to die for all, all who either loved him, hated him, or disowned him. On the day when Jesus was nailed on the cross, there were probably still many believing that Jesus finally was shamed and punished. It seemed to be a tragedy of hate crime, but for God, it was a victory of God’s saving plan.
While Jesus was investing in people through teaching, discipling, healing, nurturing by setting them free to live with dignity, the majority of religious leaders were securing and investing in their power and status by policing around. We don’t know why the woman was afflicted by the work of Satan for 18 years, which certainly was against the purpose of God’s redemption. Jesus was there to remind them that the woman was also a descendant of Abraham just as they were. Everyone’s life mattered to God. Jesus’ words and deeds brought division among them; some celebrated with and for the woman whose life had been restored; some chose to remain as “hypocrites” that canceled Jesus and proved he was wrong.
What is the work of Satan nowadays that may be bending us and preventing us from seeing the power of holding ourselves accountable vs the will of punishing others? The work of Satan certainly has been strengthening our current ‘cancel culture’ that unites people who believe that their lives and their views are superior to the rest. One body, many members as St. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:12. And all members are equally important in God’s eyes; all are saved together at once through the same cross. No one is superior to others; no one is ahead of anyone. In order to unite us, Jesus had to break his body first for us to consume so that we may be united in Him to celebrate the final peace only God can give. Thanks be to God. Amen.
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