Getting Bent Out Of Shape

Getting Bent Out of Shape Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Mercy and Compassion; Legalism; Tradition; Sin; Kingdom of God / Luke 13:10-21 Introduction Strength comes from alignment - especially when it comes to lifting weights and working out. Without proper alignment we are actually in a weaker position and more prone to serious injury - perhaps even permanent injury. This is why we are told to lift with our legs and not with our back - because our legs are much stronger and in better alignment for the working of lifting heavy objects. In the gym don't be surprised as you look around and see people struggling to lift weight thats too heavy for them. We don't know why people do this but there is an idea around that suggests pride or just lack of knowledge. However when someone is lifting more than they should the first thing to go out the window is proper alignment and there with it the strength to correctly perform the exercise and lift the weight without undo and unnecessary strain or injury. If you look at someone lifting weights and exercising without alignment though the best way to describe them is that they are "Bent Out of Shape" - unaligned When someone gets offended or upset beyond reason we have a saying that they are all bent out of shape over nothing. Anytime someone is out of alignment emotionally or physically - they are bent out of shape Luke's Gospel brings us front and center with the spiritual side of this as well. What we will see this morning is that we can also - and more injuriously "get bent out of shape" spiritually. Those of us seeking to be CrossFit must take notice of our spiritual alignment with Jesus and guard ourselves from "getting bent out of shape" I think the best way for us to avoid getting bent out of shape is to recognize the ways we can get bent out of shape to begin with. Jesus's interaction in a synagogue here in Luke 13 shows us several ways we can "get bent out of shape" spiritually. Let's read our passage together and see how we get bent out of shape so that we can live our faith in such a way we avoid "getting bent out of shape" and out of alignment as disciple's of Jesus so we can be CrossFit Luke 13:10-12 CSB 10 As he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, 11 a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for over eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called out to her, "Woman, you are free of your disability." Luke 13:13-14 CSB 13 Then he laid his hands on her, and instantly she was restored and began to glorify God. 14 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." Luke 13:15-16 CSB 15 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? 16 Satan has bound this woman, a daughter of Abraham, for eighteen years-shouldn't she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day?" Luke 13:17-18 CSB 17 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. 18 He said, therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like, and what can I compare it to? Luke 13:19-21 CSB 19 It's like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches." 20 Again he said, "What can I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It's like leaven that a woman took and mixed into fifty pounds of flour until all of it was leavened." By Sin and its Effects Luke 13:10-11 CSB 10 As he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, 11 a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for over eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. Luke 13:12-13 CSB 12 When Jesus saw her, he called out to her, "Woman, you are free of your disability." 13 Then he laid his hands on her, and instantly she was restored and began to glorify God. Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath (as was the custom of the day). Interesting to note this will be the last time in the Gospel of Luke that we will find Jesus teaching in a synagogue. While teaching though a woman is amongst the congregation listening Luke tells us more about this woman - like the fact that she has been disabled by a spirit - literally a disabling spirit. This disability has affected her for over 18 years, it has her bent over unable to straighten up at all. Think of the experience of this woman - that she has endured for eighteen years. Longer than some marriages last these days, older than most of the kids here at the church. Medically a curvature of the spine that would prevent her from standing up straight. Modern opinion suggests spondylitus deformans. The discs in the spine degenerate, causing the bones to fuse together in a rigid mass. There is no suggestion that she is demon possessed - but the alluding to a disabling spirit suggests this is a Satanic attack. Verse 16 confirms the diagnosis as having a supernatural cause - IN THIS CASE - not every medical issue is from Satan but this particular one was This disease and all disease has a root cause though - SIN Sin takes the straight and makes it crooked so that it cannot be straight again Luke says that this woman could not straighten up again - the original language says that in her own strength she could not straighten up at all. That is the truth of the destruction of sin and the effects in this world. We cannot straighten up under our own strength sin gets us bent out of shape The condition of this woman was Satanic in origin and perhaps not due to her own sin - but sin none-the-less. I dopnt particularly believe that this was the only time this woman was in the synagogue on the Sabbath. I feel led to see that she has been coming time and time again - perhaps regularly. Custom of the day though disease and disability brought a social stigma. Suffering remember was believed to be a curse or judgment from God. So though this woman attended regularly and was by all intents and purposes faithful (Jesus refers to her as a child of Abraham pointing to her faith not her heritage). Still faithfully attending and seeking God, not bitter, not done - just trusting what God chooses to do. She was largely ignored by the people. They ignored her and didn't want to see her, figuring she was getting justice and what she "deserved" Not all sin bends us over physically, but we are hobbled over in shame all the same Jesus however SAW her. He saw her in her condition and most importantly He saw this woman in her need. He saw her not with judgment and scorn, but with mercy and compassion. He called out to her in her condition. Mercy and compassion doesn't just see - we have learned this before - mercy and compassion ACT. So Jesus called out to her in her condition, her disability, her loneliness, her bent over shame. He set her free from her disability. Jesus sets us free from the disabling effects of sin - to the glory of God This right here should put to shame those who would say if you suffer or don't experience healing, that it's because you don't have enough faith. This woman didnt ask Jesus for healing or ask for healing at all - perhaps she had no faith for healing. She was healed because Jesus simply rules over disease and sin. Notice that the healing from Jesus is immediate and complete also. He spoke to her and touched her in her suffering. "If there is a man or a woman in any assembly of human beings, more in need than any other, that is the man or woman that Jesus is after." Perhaps you find yourself like this woman coming to church for years in a spiritual position of being bent out of shape - bent over under the weight and guilt of sin. Jesus sees you and wants to touch and heal you through the power of His Word. What are you bent out of shape over? Salvation? Need for forgiveness for your sins? Repent and come to His cross Sinful habits? Sexual sin, anger or bitterness? Doubt? Perhaps closet addictions Jesus WANTS to heal you! He sees you and knows your pain - you may hide it from others behind a feigned smile - but Jesus sees you! When Jesus touches your life - as He continues to touch your life as you encounter Him through worship and relationship - you will stand up straight unburdened by guilt and shame - not in your own power in His power and you will glorify God as this woman did! Jesus calls "Come to me all you who labor and are bent out of shape, and I will give you rest" By Tradition and Legalism Luke 13:14 CSB 14 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." Luke 13:15-16 CSB 15 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? 16 Satan has bound this woman, a daughter of Abraham, for eighteen years-shouldn't she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day?" Luke 13:17 CSB 17 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. You would think that there is no way anyone would be upset at this healing taking place, but you would be seriously wrong. The leader of the synagogue has decided that he would "get bent out of shape" over this travesty taking place under his watch. Don't be shocked to know some of the greatest critics of the workings of God through Jesus have been religious leaders. This is still true today also. They are the spiritual party-poopers and EVERY church has them at least one or two. You can identify them because when God is working they are critical and bent out of shape The leader of the synagogue was motivated and marked by indignation (anger and annoyance) - at seeing Jesus healing on the Sabbath What upsets us says more about our spiritual CrossFitness than anything else. Even if we mask that indignation This leader was upset - not that Jesus healed - but rather that He did it on the Sabbath day. Then not only that he directed his anger not at Jesus but to the people around, working to speak in such a way as to discredit Jesus and the miracle He just did. "There are six days when work should be done," he says. "Therefore come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath day." Exodus 20:9 CSB 9 You are to labor six days and do all your work, What this leader is suggesting is ludicrous and laughable. This woman has been coming to this synagogue and has had this disabling spirit for 18 years. He is suggesting she could have come (and anyone else for that matter) on any other day and been healed? Huh? So why wasnt she healed? Jesus responds by calling the leader and anyone who would agree with him, hypocrites. As strong of a rebuke as can be made against someone who is trying to maintain a holy, righteous appearance. Legalism and tradition will always lead you to hypocrisy Matthew 15:9 NKJV 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " The problem is not the Sabbath law, it came from God and was given as part of the ten commandments. Exodus 20:8-10 CSB 8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: 9 You are to labor six days and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You must not do any work-you, your son or daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the resident alien who is within your city gates. The problem is two fold - the extraneous interpretation and application of the Sabbath law and then the priority of the Sabbath law over a person. The tradition of the Rabbis in the day so strictly interpreted the Sabbath so as not to ever come close to violating it. So much trouble in the history of the Jews and the nation of Israel that the Rabbis and all believed were simply because of violations of the Sabbath law (70 years of exile for not giving the land its sabbath) 2 Chronicles 36:21 CSB 21 This fulfilled the word of the LORD through Jeremiah, and the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation until seventy years were fulfilled. Their strict interpretation took what was supposed to be a blessing from God to His people became a burden. The observance of this became priority even over the people - but not animals This is why Jesus in His rebuke exposed their hypocrisy in the application of the Sabbath law Doesn't each of you untie his ox or donkey from the feeding trough on the Sabbath and lead it to water? This woman - a daughter of Abraham - was bound (likewise) by Satan. For eighteen years, shouldn't she also be untied on the Sabbath day? If God allows you to care for animals wouldn't He also allow for us to care for people on the Sabbath? Isn't she worth more than animals? Legalism and tradition keeping us from helping and caring for people is not from God God made all of man in His image and the lack of concern and the type of religious thinking that cares so little for human misery and suffering is damnable It is far too easy for us to use traditions and legalism as a reason for not caring for others. Legalism and tradition prioritizes rules and regulations over people and relationships. Religious practice and traditions before mercy and compassion Matthew 9:13 CSB 13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners." Jesus says what I did was consistent with what you do for animals - the only difference is I did it for a daughter of Abraham. Jesus is consistent with God who desires mercy and compassion above sacrifice - religion or tradition. Who are you in this passage? The one whom Jesus has healed and set free? The religious critic bent out of shape over what was done? How it was done, when it was done, for whom it was done? Dont get bent out of shape by splitting hairs in the details - Get excited and rejoice not only about what God is doing in your life but also in the lives of others Isaiah 12:5 CSB 5 Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things. Let this be known throughout the earth. By the Kingdom of God Luke 13:18-19 CSB 18 He said, therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like, and what can I compare it to? 19 It's like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches." Luke 13:20-21 CSB 20 Again he said, "What can I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It's like leaven that a woman took and mixed into fifty pounds of flour until all of it was leavened." Certainly this truth about the Kingdom of God wouldnt get anyone bent out of shape and surely not anyone who is in the church and considers themselves to be a disciple of Jesus. Unfortunately this particular topic and truth perhaps can cause us to get the most bent out of shape. It comes from finite minds trying to imagine and decide for God how He will will work and what He will do. God is infinite and we could never possibly contain Him or His works in our minds and we need to be ok with that or we will get bent out of shape over what God is doing with His kingdom and how He has chosen to bring it about. As varied as Jesus's teachings are, the central message is always there and always remains the same. He continues to underscore that He has come to establish a kingdom - His Kingdom - the Kingdom of God. In this kingdom there is a new way to live in relationship with God. Jesus uses two symbols to describe what the kingdom of God is like - not exhaustively but in context here with the idea of not getting bent out of shape because it doesnt fit with how we feel it should be. Jesus first describes the kingdom of God by comparing it to a mustard seed. This mustard seed a man took and sowed - planted in his garden. This seed grew and became a tree with the birds of the sky nesting in it. In order to make sense of this simile we must understand a few things. The mustard seed is one of the tiniest of seeds but its has great power to produce a tree ten to twelve feet tall. Tall enough for the bird of the sky to nest in its branches. The birds of the sky represents the Gentiles The mustard seed is the tiniest of seeds you can barely see it in your hand but produced a massive tree usually in one season. The mustard seed is proverbial for rapid and amazing growth. The parable lesson is found in the difference from the beginnings - tiny seed and the end result - massive tree housing the birds of the sky Jesus's point is this - the kingdom will have a seemingly tiny and insignificant beginning but that will not be indicative of the explosive potential for the future. The Jews were bent out of shape for this beginning did not jive with their idea of the kingdom the Messiah would usher in, but they did not know that would be His second coming The birds of the sky is stressed in the Synoptic Gospels and rather than only stressing the size of the tree as some would assume - I believe is indicative of the inclusivity of the kingdom as well. Jews believed they were God's chosen people - and they were - but they thought they were the only people God chose and loved and would eventually save and bring into His kingdom Jesus I believe here is alluding to several passages Psalm 104:12 CSB 12 The birds of the sky live beside the springs; they make their voices heard among the foliage. Daniel 4:9-10 CSB 9 "Belteshazzar, head of the magicians, because I know that you have the spirit of the holy gods and that no mystery puzzles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I saw, and its interpretation. 10 In the visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this: There was a tree in the middle of the earth, and it was very tall. Daniel 4:11-12 CSB 11 The tree grew large and strong; its top reached to the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and on it was food for all. Wild animals found shelter under it, the birds of the sky lived in its branches, and every creature was fed from it. Daniel 4:13-14 CSB 13 "As I was lying in my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 He called out loudly: Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it, and the birds from its branches. Daniel 4:15 CSB 15 But leave the stump with its roots in the ground and with a band of iron and bronze around it in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with dew from the sky and share the plants of the earth with the animals. Ezekiel 17:23 CSB 23 I will plant it on Israel's high mountain so that it may bear branches, produce fruit, and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches. These passages all allude to the birds being of ALL humanity among God's people Jesus next describes the kingdom of God by comparing it to leaven. Leaven that is then taken by a woman and mixed into fifty pounds of flour until all of it was leavened. Again lets see if we can break down the simile and understand the lesson about the kingdom of God. Some would say the leaven represents sin or evil - simply because leaven has always represented that, but I think precisely because it has always represented that is why Jesus chose to use it. Because unless they desired to understand they would get bent out of shape at God plan for His kingdom. Leaven used to rise dough and once added its influence and change cannot be stopped until the process is done. I believe instead here represents internal growth, change or influence. I believe this is a picture of the growth from the Gospel and the kingdom of God growing through what some would see as sinful and evil but God using for His glory as they are changed through the Gospel People get bent out of shape over Gods kingdom, how it grows and who is included in it They have been doing this since God sent His Messiah to leaven the dough of humanity on the cross Conclusion Not only can Satan bend people over but we get ourselves bent out of shape under the weight of sin sorrow and suffering. We cannot straighten up of our own power - Jesus Christ is the only one who can set the prisoner free so we can stand straight again - glory to God As I spoke earlier of Jesus referring to this woman as a daughter of Abraham meaning a woman of faith. For eighteen years she was bound physically by the enemy. Nonetheless she was there that day in the synagogue. What would she have missed if she had stayed home that day? What have we missed by staying home? We can all point to times we dont feel like going to church but when we go anyway those are special times where Christ sees us and ministers to us. People walk around needlessly crippled spiritually because they are not in the company of believers not in the place where Jesus is The synagogue leader was more bent out of shape than the woman was. She was afflicted bodily but it was his heart that was bent out of shape - blinded by tradition and legalism he opposed the Son of God! Satan comes to put people in bondage and bend us over and cripple us - Jesus came so we could be set free - true freedom only comes through Jesus Christ. The Sabbath that God wants to give us is a rest for our hearts and it comes from grace not obeying legalism God has set His kingdom in motion through Jesus Christ - His kingdom is a refuge for all the birds - people of the world. Dont get bent out of shape because His kingdom doesnt fit your ideas of who God should or shouldnt save and who He uses regardless of their past Gods kingdom is like yeast it works on the inside and works until everything through to the outside is permeated with inner righteousness from the sacrifice of Christ Jesus which we are going to remember this morning as we partake of communion. Communion Communion itself was an idea that Jews left their following Jesus because they got bent out of shape over the idea of what communion represents. John 6:53-54 CSB 53 So Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. 54 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day, John 6:55 CSB 55 because my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. John 6:60-61 CSB 60 Therefore, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, "This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?" 61 Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, "Does this offend you? John 6:66 CSB 66 From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 CSB 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11:25-26 CSB 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:52 PM October 31, 2020.