The Letter of the Law
In today’s lesson, Jesus heals a terribly crippled woman. One would think that everyone would be overjoyed for the woman. But no, the keepers of the law ranted.
Couldn’t this miracle have waited until the Sabbath was over? Why didn’t Jesus send her away with a promise to meet up with her later, when the law allowed for miraculous healings.
Jesus sets the leaders straight. The work is sometimes more important than the letter of the law. Lighten up, folks. The woman is healed. Let’s rejoice with her—not make her feel guilty for finally finding relief from a life-long ailment.
The synagogue leaders were actually a bit embarrassed. This visiting teacher had outperformed them. They feel fenced in. To applaud Jesus was to highlight their shortcomings. They don’t know how to react. They retreat to the letter of the law.
We can be flexible in our interpretations as long as the end is a godly end. The law should serve its own purpose. Healing the sick is a good purpose—lawful on any other day of the week.
There is strength in being able to bend—to stoop down from our high positions of authority and do some hands on good in the world. Flexibility within the law can be a way of keeping the intent of the law.
Today’s object is a stalk of asparagus.
Have a few so you can demonstrate a chef’s trick.
The bottom of an asparagus stalk is often stiff and stringy. Sometimes it’s white and you can see the tough parts. Sometimes it’s not so easy to see.
The base of the stalk is not tasty and it is difficult to chew. It’s rather useless, but that’s the way asparagus comes!
Cooks are faced with a few choices:
- Cook the asparagus as is and let people figure out for themselves what’s inedible.
- Make an executive decision! Chop off the ends arbitrarily with a chef’s knife.
OR - Use a chef’s trick. Just snap the end of the asparagus. The worthless part of the asparagus will snap off and you will be left to serve the tender and flavorful part the vegetable—the part that bends without snapping. The flexible part is the useful part.
If you are still inclined to be a stickler for using the whole stalk of celery, you can always throw the ends in the vegetable stock. It’s up to you. Use your best judgment when doing the work of the Lord.
So there, that’s our metaphor for today’s interpretation of God’s law.
