The Hunchback

THE HUNCHBACK

Luke 13:10-17

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. While taking a law class in personal injury litigation, I got into a car accident and had to wear a cervical collar. Two weeks later, I tripped over a wire and ended up on crutches.

2. When I hobbled into class shortly after these mishaps, I was greeted by a fellow student. "Welcome back," he said. "Or, are YOU our final exam?"

B. FAMOUS HUNCHBACKS

1. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, written by Victor Hugo, is the intriguing story of Quasimodo, a deformed, almost deaf, hunchback bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France in 1482.

2. When Quasimodo is publicly beaten and left in the sun, Esmeralda, a beautiful Gypsy dancer, kindly gives him water, saving his life, and he falls in love with her.

3. Later, Esmeralda is sentenced to death by hanging, wrongly, for attempted murder. As she is being led to the gallows, Quasimodo swings down by the bell rope of Notre Dame and carries her off to the cathedral under the law of sanctuary.

4. Thousands of the peasants of Paris surround the cathedral to rescue Esmeralda, but Quasimodo assumes they are there to hurt her, so he drives them off by pushing off gargoyles and large stonework pieces.

5. The King, seeing the chaos, vetoes the law of sanctuary and commands his troops to take Esmeralda out and hang her. She dies and Quasimodo cradles her in his arms until he dies of starvation. Sad ending! And that’s the story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

6. Today we’re going to look at another Hunchback story, this one with a good ending, found in the Bible. Read along with me.

C. TEXT

“On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. 14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” 15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” 17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing” Luke 13:10-17.

D. THESIS

Today we're looking at a woman whom Jesus set free. For many years she had been a captive. HER freedom points to how WE also can be set free & healed.

I. THE WOMAN’S TERRIBLE AFFLICTION

A. THE KJV SAYS SHE “WAS BOWED TOGETHER”

1. This describes her condition. She was affected by weakness of the spine, or tightening of the ligaments. She was bent over. She couldn’t look at others but only at herself.

2. David Brooks, in his book, “The Road to Character” (Random House, 2016) describes how Americans have shifted from a culture of humility to a culture called “the Big Me.” Between 1948 and 1954, psychologists asked 10,000 adolescents whether they considered themselves to be a very important person; 12 percent said, ‘yes.’ The same question was asked in 1989, and 80% of boys and 77% of girls said ‘yes.’ Psychologists now call this the “Narcissism test.”

3. Grant Brenner in his “Why Are Narcissistic People Prone to Depression?” [Psychology Today; 2020] shows the connection to depression. She was “BOWED TOWARD HERSELF;” the outward/ physical mirrored the spiritual state within. Her appearance was evidence of long, deep depression.

4. I wonder what each of us would look like, if our inner state was mirrored in our bodies? Would we be:

a. Dead persons? d. Shivering -- hot and cold

b. Blind e. Twisted/paralyzed

c. Maimed f. Subject to fits

4. Depression is real. There are 15-20 million people suffering from depression.

5. JOKE. A man had just had his annual physical exam and was waiting for the doctor's initial report. The doctor came in with his charts in his hand and said: "There's no reason why you can't live a completely normal life -- as long as you don't try to enjoy it!"

B. SHE COULDN’T LIFT UP HERSELF

1. Criticism wouldn't help. Advice? -- "Stand up straight!" "You'll get round shoulders." She was unable to help herself.