Sermon Snippet – The Formidable Force of Faith
INTRODUCTION – As Jesus journeys to Jerusalem to die on the Cross (Luke 9:51), He continues to minister to the needs of the people whom He encounters. His interaction with a suffering lady in Luke 13:10-17 reveals key concepts about the nature of faith in Him.
1. FAITH CONTRASTS WITH FAKENESS
This woman had experienced 18 years of crippling pain from a bent, arthritic spine. Each day was a real challenge, yet each day she lived in faith. When Jesus calls her “a daughter of Abraham” (verse 16), He is saying far more than the obvious, that she is Jewish; He is calling her a strong woman of faith. She demonstrates this faith by coming to worship; it would have been easy to give up along the way, but she still trudges her way to the house of worship. She expects to meet with God – and she does, literally! This passage of Scripture contrasts her extraordinary faith with the fakeness and falsity of the synagogue leader. Jesus calls this man a “hypocrite” – that is, an actor. He was a haughty man, scandalized by Jesus’ dismissal of the man-made Pharisaical law. Of course, other people’s hypocrisy is easier to comment on than our own; let us be certain that we are as sincere in our faith as this afflicted woman.
2. FAITH CASTS OUT FEAR
We all have legitimate concerns – health issues, family matters, financial struggles. However, we cannot be paralyzed by fear. Verse 12 tells us that Jesus “called her forward.” She is a woman in a man’s world, in an especially male environment (a first-century Jewish synagogue). No doubt she had received plenty of unwanted attention due to her visible physical infirmity. Also, as we studied last week, the prevailing attitude of the day was that bad things happened to bad people, that she somehow deserved to suffer. Despite these obstacles, she steps forward, even though each step also hurt. The curious may gawk, and the cynical may jeer. After 18 years, will we still step forward in faith? After 81 years?
3. FAITH CONCENTRATES OUR FOCUS
This woman’s faith “glorified God” (verse 13). Her faith is not in the synagogue or its leadership; it is also not in herself. Why did this woman keep coming back to a place led by such an insensitive man? The simple answer is that her faith is in God alone. Thus, she rightly expects the promised Messiah, and she also does the right thing in going to worship; for God is as real as her physical ailment. Real faith must be in the right object – not in man’s law (made by sinful men) but in the God Who saves. Faith will concentrate our focus upon Jesus Christ.
4. FAITH CONSTITUTES A FORMIDABLE FORCE
The religious leader is clearly uncomfortable in the presence of such simple, sincere faith. Most people are. However, some will be genuinely interested (verse 17). Also, fellow believers will be encouraged. Other than Jesus, the strongest person in this account is a disabled woman. Faith constitutes a formidable force.
CONCLUSION – Because of her physical condition, it was hard for this lady to look up (until, of course, Jesus heals her). Sometimes, it is hard for us to lift our heads to seek the face of our Savior God. Let us remember this woman of faith. What if she had given up that day? What if she had said, “Why bother? Nothing is ever going to change for the better!” She did not give in to her negative circumstances, and she did not give up. Because God is always at work, it is always too soon to give up. Jesus, God the Son, does not give up on us. Right now, He is ready to provide eternal spiritual healing to anyone who calls upon Him in faith.