r back was terribly
bent.

"Do not be afraid," he said to her encouragingly; "come here!" She
hesitated.

_Does he realize that this is the Sabbath?_ Simon thought in alarm.

As though he were alone with the woman, Jesus laid his hand on her
twisted back and raised his eyes in prayer: "Father, I thank thee that
thou hearest me when I pray. Set this woman free, I beseech thee, from
the deformity which has bent her body these many years. This I ask in
order that she may know that thou hast sent me with thy message of
life." While Jesus was praying, Simon glanced at the elders of the
synagogue.

They were utterly amazed at what Jesus was doing. _Doesn't this Nazarene
know this is the Sabbath?_ wondered the minister.

Jesus had finished. He said, "You are freed from your infirmity." She
stood up straight. "May God be praised!" she exclaimed. There were tears
of joy in her eyes.

"God's blessing on you. Rabbi!" The woman's friends had been watching
from the balcony and now they ran down to the main floor of the
synagogue and gathered around her.

Amazed and outraged, the minister looked from the woman to Jesus and
back again. Angrily he turned to the people. "The Law says there are six
days in each week for work. That means there are six days for getting
healed. What more do you need? Why do you come on the Sabbath?"

Simon glanced at Jesus and almost shivered. Jesus had seen the distress
and embarrassment of the woman. "You hypocrite!" The man cringed. He had
not imagined Jesus would dare speak to him like this. "Do you scold this
woman for coming to be healed on the Sabbath? Every single one of you
will lead your ox to water as soon as you get home. If that isn't work,
what is?" His scorn bit into the elders like a whiplash. "You say the
Law allows you to give your cattle water. Hasn't this woman the right to
be healed? For eighteen years her body has been twisted. She is a child
of Abraham! Isn't she more important than any animal?" Jesus looked
right through the men. They felt like fish wriggling on a spear.

The friends of the woman stole triumphant glances at the elders. Simon
knew Jesus was getting into trouble, but it made no difference: his
Master was right!

Without another word, Jesus strode out of the synagogue. The people left
in the room felt suddenly cold, and all but the elders hastened away to
their homes.

Hardly wishing to look at one another, the elders sighed and sat down.
It was not just