Title: “People Rejoice for All the Glorious Things Jesus Does .”
Luke 13
10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
Introduction
A clergyman once met the comedian Groucho Marx. “Mr. Marx,” said the clergyman, “I want to thank you for all the enjoyment you’ve given to the world.”
The acid tongue Marx replied. “And I want to thank you for all the joy you have taken out of it!”
(Michael J. Brooks. “The Meaning of Christmas: Joy” Proclaim: The Pastor’s Journal for Biblical Preaching. The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Nashville, TN. O-N-D, 1989. P. 32.)
Those who are followers of Jesus observe HIM at work in the lives of others and rejoice when they see it. And those who are opponents of Jesus see the same events in the lives of others, deny it as a work of the Lord, and attempt to prevent it from recurring. This pattern can be observed in the pages of the New Testament, and this same pattern continues to be observed in 2002. This passage prompts those of us who are followers of Jesus to rejoice as HE does glorious things.
1. Reaction to Jesus Work that Does for Others. V. 14.
Explanation
This synagogue ruler had not anticipated the healing of the woman. She had been infirm for 18 years. Verse 18 says the ruler “answered with indignation.” Luke uses the word answered. The ruler’s response to the work Jesus had done was indignation. Guesses can be made as to the reason for the indignation. Perhaps, as ruler of the synagogue, he considered it inappropriate to do the work without consulting him. His task was to enlist people to read the scripture and pray and lead in worship in other ways. His permission for healing had not been sought. He was indignant.
Observe, also in verse 14, that the ruler of the synagogue says to the people, “there are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, not on the sabbath.” Can I ask a question? Why is he talking to the people? There is no evidence that this woman came to the synagogue expecting to be healed. She came to worship. She did not come to receive. She came to give. Had she not come to give, she would not have received. Why is he talking to the people? Had the people done something to bring about the healing of this woman? There is not any report of that here. The ruler’s indignation, expressed toward the people, is really indignation toward Jesus and for what HE has done.
And these people whom the ruler of the synagogue is addressing, had not come to be healed. They had come to worship on the sabbath, as they were commanded to do. The ruler says to them, “There are six days on which men are to do their work; in them therefore come and be healed...” This healing was not man’s work. In eighteen years no man has done the work. This is not the work of a man. This is the work of Jesus. And it was unexpected by the ruler of the synagogue. So he is indignant.
The reaction, the criticism of Jesus’ unexpected work may have come from some jealousy in the ruler. The power of the Lord had not such personal benefit to him, as it had to the crippled woman. Since he was regarded as such a good man by all the members of the synagogue, he could have expected that if the Lord was going to do anything for someone, it would be for him. Surely the one others regarded as the most religious would be the one for whom the Lord worked. He was mistaken; Jesus did not to a mighty work for him, but for someone else. That unexpected work of Jesus drew a reaction from the ruler of the synagogue.
The ruler was apparently not the only one to react. Observe, in verse 15, that Jesus says, “You hypocrites.” That is plural. Others were sucked in by his criticism of the unexpected work of Jesus.
Illustration
C. S. Lewis wrote, “Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is. If there are rats in a cellar, you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats; it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way, the suddenness of the provocation does not make me ill-tempered; it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am.”
Application
Jesus does not always work as you expect HIM to work. When Jesus works in a manner which was not expected, the way on which you react is important. There are occasions when others, who are not what you consider to be the most righteous people, receive the blessing of HIS mighty work. The reaction you and I make to that is important. The guidance of God comes to some people who are not disciplined in studying HIS written word, who are not serving in the church, who are spending every cent they receive on themselves and their selfish lusts, and who would not present the faith to someone who begged them to do so. When God’s guidance is clearly given to them so that you and they and everyone else knows God’s plan for their lives, be careful that you do not react as a hypocrite. Jesus does not always work as you expect HIM to work.
Our reaction to the work of Jesus, when we are critical of that, can uncover sin in our lives. On those occasions when something occurs that cannot be the work of a person, our response can be helpful to us. The out of the ordinary occurrences in life catch our attention. Develop the discipline of restraint in judging those disapprovingly. Not every time the Lord works is it for our benefit, even though we strive to live to please HIM. When others experience the miracle, your
17. Rejoice at Jesus Glorious Work. V. 17
Explanation
The people rejoiced over the glorious deeds that were being done by Jesus. They considered it “glorious.” It is a word that means “gorgeous” or “marvelous”. The work Jesus had done was beautiful to the people. Some considered it glorious because they knew the woman, they were her friends. Others of them considered it glorious, not because of a close friendship with the woman, but because they knew the woman had been unable to straighten for eighteen years. Some recognized the unique power that had been demonstrated. For many reasons, the people rejoiced.
Observe the seventeenth verse says that all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by HIM. The deduction that is easy to make from that is, “other glorious things” in addition to the healing of the woman, were done by Jesus. Those things are not detailed here. Their importance was no less than the straightening of the woman. Exceeding the importance of the other “glorious things” was the rejoicing of the people. The inner emotion of the people produced an external action, in response to what Jesus did.
There are even some occasions when those who know the Lord rejoice for the glorious things that they know Jesus is going to do!
Illustration
One grandmother, was sharing pictures of her grandchildren with another grandmother. The two of them took turns bragging. Finally, one asked the other the ages of her grandchildren.
Pointing at her pictures she answered, “The doctor is two, and the lawyer is four.”
Now, that was rejoicing at the glorious work of Jesus in faith!!!
(David Chancey. “What Makes a Home Happy?” Proclaim: The Pastor’s Journal for Biblical Preaching. The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Nashville, TN. AMJ, 1988. p. 32)
Application
It is people of faith who will rejoice at the glorious work of Jesus. A significant reason to come to worship on the Lord’s Day is to give expression to the joy that has been produced within you during the week, as you have seen the glorious things the Lord has done. External display is reasonable because of the emotion that is present in response to HIS work. Joy is expressed in many ways. One of the ways joy is expressed is through telling others. When something glorious occurs, it is not uncommon to talk about it. Church is clearly a place at which to talk about the glorious things the Lord does. Church is a place to look for the Lord to do glorious things. Guard against being like the ruler, who wanted only what was familiar. Laughter is another method of expressing joy. Churches are places where smiles are appropriate, because there is emotion inside those who have witnessed the Lord doing glorious things through the week. Church is a place to expect laughter. Singing is another excellent way to react to the glorious things the Lord has done.
It is not improper to rejoice at places other than the house of worship, when Jesus does glorious things.
Conclusion
Jesus has done glorious things! Let your face reflect your observation of those things. Talk with others, telling them the glorious things you see the Lord do. Sing. Laugh. Rejoice!
