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What characterizes your response to Jesus? All of us will respond to him in one way or another. Will our response indicate our rejection of his word, or will it indicate our desire to trust and obey him?
Several different responses are seen in Luke 13:11-17. In what was one of the last appearances Jesus would make in a synagogue, the Lord saw a woman who was so ill she couldn’t stand up straight.
The first response was that of the healed woman. She was thankful and began to glorify God. If any of us were in her place would we not do the same? She responded in a very thoughtful and logical way.
The response of the ruler of the synagogue was completely different. According to Luke 13:14 the ruler became “indignant.” The word in the original language of the New Testament means, “to feel much pain.” Now, isn’t it interesting this woman who had been coming to the synagogue for 18 years in terrible pain was healed and rejoiced while this ruler was now the one to feel much pain? His pain came from his anger!
Anger has always been a response to Jesus or the truth he taught. Was he not crucified by angry men? Wasn’t Stephen stoned by angry men? Did not others persecute those in Christ for the same reason?
Then, there were the adversaries of Jesus in Luke 13:17 who were shamed by the truth of what Jesus said in Luke 13:15-16. Shame comes when a person is convicted by the truth. These who were opposed to Jesus heard his words and their hearts were bruised.
Lastly the crowd, like the healed woman, rejoiced.
There is division in these passages, isn’t there? Such is always the case when Jesus taught the truth. In John 7:43, the Bible said, “So there was a division among the people over him.” Didn’t Jesus tell his disciples that he had come not to send peace, but a sword? Did he not say that because of him family members would divide? “And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household,” (Matthew 10:36). The reason why is that people will respond to Jesus in trust and obedience and some will respond much like the Pharisees did.
So. How have you responded to Jesus?
John Henson
Grand Blanc Church of Christ
Grand Blanc, MI