Hi all! This month we are learning about the miracles Jesus performed. A  miracle is something that shouldn’t be able to happen, but God makes it happen, because God can do anything!

Today’s story comes from the Bible in Luke 13:10-17

When God created the world, He took 6 days to make everything, and then on the 7th day, He rested. He didn’t work…He just enjoyed what He had made. This was an example to us. God wants us to set some time apart to just enjoy what He has made. He knows our bodies get tired and need a break. So one day a week we take a break and just enjoy what God has made and spend time with Him. Usually where we live, this happens on Sunday. We don’t go to school or work, we go to church to be with God and we rest.

In Jesus’ day this day (called the Sabbath) happened on Saturday. The people were to rest.

Well, one Sabbath day Jesus was teaching (like your pastor does at your church on Sunday) and there was a woman there who had been crippled for a VERY long time. That meant her back was all hunched over and she couldn’t move very well. When Jesus saw her, He said, “Woman! You are all better!” He put His hands on her and right away, she was able to straighten her back, stand up and she was all better!

The leaders of the church (the Pharisees and some others), were very upset that Jesus had done this on the resting day. “You should only do work on the other 6 days. God said so!” they grumbled.

But Jesus answered. “Are you kidding me?! Don’t you still feed your animals on the Sabbath? You give them water? Isn’t it MUCH MORE important that this woman should be made better?!”

Another day when Jesus had made a man better on the Sabbath (Luke 6) He told the people, “I am Lord of the Sabbath and people are much more important than animals! It is ok to help people and do good on the Sabbath.”

The leaders were ashamed. They were trying to get Jesus in trouble by pointing out that He was not following the law but no matter how hard the leaders tried to trick Jesus, they never could (because who can ever trick God?!)

But Jesus was saying, it’s good to have a day of rest. God knows we need rest. But it’s more important to follow God’s heart, which is to help others…even if that happens on the Sabbath.

Thanks for joining us. Love to you all!