Luke 13:10 Now HE was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when JESUS saw her, HE called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” And HE laid HIS hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised GOD.
DISCUSSION
JESUS was a teacher. HE spoke in parables in order to try to open his listener’s minds and hearts to the word of GOD. HE taught “by example” in the way HE loved others, in the way that HE “saw” people who suffered. In the way HE extended HIMSELF to the poor and to people in need--the lost, the ignored, the poor, those bonds by sickness and sin.
HE taught lessons of service, sacrifice, compassion and community in a world that favored, “separation,” “racial bias,” “religious bias,” “elitism” “self-interest,” and “bondage.”
The synagogue was a Jewish place of worship. It was the place where the religious leaders often gathered. However, the prominent sects of Judaism during the time of CHRIST---the Pharisees, the Sadducees and Essenes [some might even include the Zealots], however believed themselves “separate” from each other and often the people.
The name “Pharisee” by definition meant “separated one” for they saw themselves as Hebrews who “separated themselves” from every kind of impurity, according the Mosaic law of purity. The Pharisees were so caught up in the “letter of the law”-- ritualistic hand washing, avoiding “sin” and “sinners”-- that they often missed “the SPIRIT of GOD’s law,” which JESUS demonstrated and lived.
According to Smith’s Bible Dictionary, there were seven kinds of Pharisees. One group was the “Bleeders. The Bleeders avoided looking at women, shut their eyes and so bump their heads.” The Pharisee probably walked by this woman every day, as if she were part of the dirt on the road. They did not “see” the woman and some, like the “Bleeders” would have looked away or intentionally crossed over to the other side. This woman was not part of “their world” or “their community.” The idea that someone would interact in public with this woman, extend a hand to this woman must have been an “incomprehensible lesson” for the Pharisee. Many a Pharisee would vehemently proclaim to love GOD and the Mosaic law---but not this woman.
When JESUS had compassion for this bent over woman, HE was teaching a lesson on love. HE was trying to show that in order to love GOD, we must love “one another,” including “the lost,” and “the bent over.” HE also wanted us to know that no matter “how bent over” and “bent out of shape” we may be, HE can lift our burdens, straighten out our lives and set us free.
THINGS THAT AFFECT POSTURE
In “7 Surprising Things That Affect Your Posture,” Jennifer Landis, lists the following things that can cause bad posture:
- Texting: When a person is texting or constantly looking down at a phone their head
is often at a 60 degree angle, which according to Landis, puts about 60 lbs. of weight
on the neck and shoulders. This kind of posture can lead to tension headaches, back pain
and disc problems. - Sleeping Incorrectly: According to Landis, since people sit or stand in “unhealthy positions,” sleeping curved up like a “C” probably is not “helping your back.” According to Landis, sleep on your back is the healthiest sleep position. She also suggests avoiding propping yourself on pillow, working on a laptop or watching TV in bed, since these
kind of activities are often bad, or strain the neck. - Standing: Merely standing does not necessarily mean you have good posture.
Standing “correctly” is not just lifting your head but also engaging your core. It is
good to raise your chest or your chin, but your whole body has to be involved as well. - Sitting: Many of us have “poor” sitting positions. We often sit hunched over, stare
down at screens, which strain the neck, and simply sit too long. - Driving: According to Landis, the average American commutes 25.5 minutes
to and from work. Many have longer commutes. That’s a lot of sitting. Often people
sit too far from the gas peddles or twist their hips. The body is doing a number of things
when a person drives, so it is important to have good posture. - Carrying Bags and Purses: According to Landis, the average woman’s purse or the
average briefcase weights about 6 lbs, which doesn’t help the neck, back or shoulders.
Landis suggest trying to alternate the weight during the day, rolling the back and the
neck during the day and at the end of the day to stretch the muscles. - Stress: Landis says that our bodies tend to often mirror our emotional state. People
“under a lot of stress,” tend to look and walk weighed down, slouched over and
often head down, leading to poor posture.
See, “7 Surprising Things That Affect Your Posture,” Jennifer Landis, https://www.thedailypositive.com/surprising-things-that-affect-your-posture/.
One of the reasons why exercise is important is that you strength your core, the low back, and abdominal muscles that connect your spine and pelvis. Weight lifting, doing tai chi, yoga, Pilates, and other exercises can help you achieve a stronger core, improve your balance and lead to better posture.
The Pilates Roll-Up
One simple exercise that can strengthen your core is the Pilates roll-up:
- Lie on your back with your legs straight and your feet flexed, with your arms reaching
overhead on the floor and your low back pressed into the floor. - Breathe slowly in and out, on the next exhale, pull your navel in and using your core,
roll yourself up in slow motion, one vertebrae at a time, until your hand reach forward
and your abdominals are pulled in. Then slowly roll yourself down, one vertebrae at
a time until you end up in your start position. - Repeat 3-5 times, adding more repetitions as your core gets stronger.
- If that feels “too easy,” cross your arms over your chest as you roll up.
If you have a medical condition or feel you need a more personalized exercise program consult your personal physician, who may, in turn, refer you to a physical therapist.
Remember, it’s never too late to work on your posture.
LEARNING THE LESSONS OF JESUS
There are times when life can cause us to be bent over. Sometimes we are bent over about jobs, exams, children, illness, family problems, financial problems, loneliness or uncertainty. If so, we can all derive comfort knowing that JESUS “sees” us. HE knows and HE cares. More importantly, HE can set us free. I Philippians 4:11-13.
We also must to be mindful of those “bent over” in our communities. We must not ignore the suffering of people on the street, sex trafficking, those suffering from addiction, living under freeways or the thousands of men and women in jails and prisons all over the world.
It is easy to ignore a lot of things as we drive back to our comfortable neighborhoods or enter our comfortable homes or places of worship. It is easy to forget about the suffering of a lot of people all over the world. But we cannot afford to have this kind of “bent” mentality. If we love GOD, we are mandated to also love one another, which compels us to act, to see and extend a helping hand. See, 1 John 4: 20-21.
Today, pray we learn the lessons of JESUS. Pray that we not only see those who are bent, but we demonstrate the SPIRIT of LOVE, toward those around us. Pray that we not separate ourselves or forget the suffering of others. Pray that we also allow GOD to heal our own bent and broken places.
One day, we must all “stand” before a giving GOD and give an account.
Let’s all exercise good posture and a loving SPIRIT now and BE BLESSED!
