A new way to be free

Free from “But that’s not the way.”

Luke 13:6–10 HCSB

And He told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil?’ “But he replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. Perhaps it will bear fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’ ” As He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath,

Interesting that this was the Story Jesus told right before he did an amazing thing.

Things are supposed to be done a certain way right. (talk about how it used to be)

Free from the stigma of being less.

Luke 13:11 HCSB

a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for over 18 years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.

Free to accept and rejoice.

Luke 13:12–13 HCSB

When Jesus saw her, He called out to her, “Woman, you are free of your disability.” Then He laid His hands on her, and instantly she was restored and began to glorify God.

Free to stay in bondage.

Luke 13:14 HCSB

But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded by telling the crowd, “There are six days when work should be done; therefore come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath day.”

God moved and the leaders didn’t care.

God healed and the leaders chose to stay bound.

God did something different and the leaders freaked out so they remained in bondage.

Free to do something NEW!

Luke 13:15–17 HCSB

But the Lord answered him and said, “Hypocrites! Doesn’t each one of you untie his ox or donkey from the feeding trough on the Sabbath and lead it to water? Satan has bound this woman, a daughter of Abraham, for 18 years—shouldn’t she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day?” When He had said these things, all His adversaries were humiliated, but the whole crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things He was doing.

Luke 12:22–23 HCSB

Then He said to His disciples: “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing.

Jesus challenged the religious leaders on their hypocrisy.

Jesus defended the work that was done

Jesus didn’t worry about stepping on their toes?

The people Rejoiced!

This Week’s Challenge

Step outside of your comfort zone!

Break some of your own rules of engagement!

Look for a situation that you would avoid because of how it would look to others and dive into it head first with the Love, Grace, and Mercy of Jesus.

We take on God’s Job

Free from Dogma

Luke 13:10–14 HCSB

As He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for over 18 years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called out to her, “Woman, you are free of your disability.” Then He laid His hands on her, and instantly she was restored and began to glorify God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded by telling the crowd, “There are six days when work should be done; therefore come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath day.”