Christian Freedom

Are we truly free or still in bondage? Let’s learn that being saved from sickness and bondage to vain traditions are somewhat similar. Let’s discuss healing, slavery to man-made religious rules and freedom in Luke 13:10-17.

Healed

Luke 13:10 One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11 he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” 13 Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!

In the synagogue on the Sabbath, Jesus saw a woman with a spirit of weakness, some kind of muscular disorder, caused by evil forces. He released her, set free from the sickness, touching her appropriately to encourage her faith and she was made straight and praised God for her healing.

Literally, Jesus healed a woman with a weakness caused by an evil spirit. By analogy, she was freed on the day of freedom from work. Morally, Jesus, as creator of the Sabbath, taught appropriate conduct for that day. Prophetically, the Sabbath pictured our day of eternal rest from ubiquitous wickedness.

Jesus healed through word and touch. James (5:13-16) mentions faith, prayer and anointing oil. Naaman dipped in the Jordan seven times. Jesus mixed spit and dirt. Faith is not always mandated. Paul sent cloths to the sick (Acts 19:11-12). The Bible mentions many ways that healing was done.

Literally, God heals us, not our prayer efforts or olive oil. By analogy, our care for the sick represents the hands of Jesus, who heals. Morally, we must not draw attention to ourselves. Mystically, any healing in this life is only temporary, symbolizing the permanent healing we receive in eternity.

Released

Luke 13:14-17 But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.” 15 But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? 16 This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?” 17 This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did.

Jesus set a woman free on the Sabbath day, but the synagogue leader could only see the bondage to man-made rules. Jesus bluntly addresses the hypocrisy of cattle set free to be watered on the Sabbath, so clearly this “daughter of Abraham” should be set free of her crippling disease.

Literally, the teaching freeing cattle shamed the synagogue leader. By analogy, many man-made rules are called into question. Morally, any interpretation of Scripture that causes more bondage and less freedom is questionable. Prophetically, are church traditions sometimes become more Pharisaic than Christ-like? Christianity is a religion of freedom not bondage.

This is a story of two people in bondage, a woman in bondage to a crippling spirit and a synagogue leader in bondage to human traditions and the letter of the law. Both needed freedom. One was released from bondage to the devil; one needed release from bondage to legalism.

Literally, both needed healing in different ways. Morally, the Sabbath was a day of freedom from seven workdays in Egypt. By analogy, human society tends to enforce a yoke of bondage, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Prophetically, only Jesus can truly free us from the human proclivity to enslave each other.

The Church is built upon the traditions of the apostles, but some added traditions are bondage not freedom. Jesus came to save us from slavery to sin and sickness and man-made rules. Let’s live in the freedom of Christ.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.