THE LITTLE CROOKED WOMAN

Between the covers of the Bible there is a story about a little crooked woman who had something so exciting happen to her during a Sabbath service that for hundreds of years, whenever people have read about it they have shivered with happiness.

For eighteen long years this little woman had been bent over double, and so frozen had her bones become that she could in no wise straighten up tall, but was forced to walk with her shoulders bent forward and her head thrust out straight. So it was that her body became moulded in the shape of our number 7. She could neither raise her shoulders nor lower them.

One might very easily come to believe that a person with such an affliction would never laugh or sing or lift up her heart in praise, but that was not true of the little crooked woman.

Though she was not able to lift up her head to look at the sun she often praised God for it. "For if I am not able to look up at the heavens in all their beauty, I can still feel the sun's warmth on my deformed bones," she would say joyfully.

And even though the little woman had not for many years been able to throw back her head to look at the beautiful green trees or to watch the birds flitting about in their shady branches, she still did not complain but would say, "I praise God because I can feel the breeze on my face and the song of the birds which I can hear plainly, makes my heart glad. God is so good to me."

One other thing for which she was most grateful was that being so very short she was able to look straight into the happy laughing faces of small boys and girls.

"Yes, God is very, very good to me," she would say after one of her happy visits with her little friends.

Then one day there was something more to give her joy, for news had circled about that Jesus of Nazareth would be speaking at the synagogue on the following Sabbath. So great was the little woman's happiness that she could hardly contain herself for the joy she felt in her heart.

"Even though I will not be able to straighten my shoulders so I can look up in His face I shall hear His voice," she thought gladly. "I shall be under the same roof with Him. Oh, what a pleasure it will be!"

The day Jesus was to arrive, the little crooked woman started out for the synagogue very early so that she would be very certain to find a place to stand. As she walked toward the place of worship, just barely did the thought pass through her mind that should Jesus desire He could even heal her of her sickness . . . but just as quickly as the thought came to her, she removed it for it was the Sabbath and would be against the Jewish rule for a healing to take place on the seventh day.

Dismissing such a thought from her mind, she contented herself with the joy there would be just in being near Jesus.

The steps leading up into the temple had never seemed so short. Going up steps always seemed to set fire to her joints so painful was it to climb, but this morning, with her thoughts on Jesus, she hardly noticed the pain.

Already the synagogue was packed and a few unkind people jostled against her as if to say, "You take up so much room with your head jutted out in front of you, it would have been better for all of us if you had stayed home."

But even sensing the unkindness of people did not mar the little crooked woman's delight.

What a wonderful kind speaking voice Jesus had! The little woman's heart seemed to melt with happiness and so intent was she in listening, that what He suddenly said and what immediately happened seemed like a dream . . . and not part of the service at all.

Jesus was speaking to the little crooked woman and she did not know it. Now this is most understandable because with her head thrust out straight she could not see Him for the crowd in front of her. All that she heard was, "Woman thou art loosed from thine infirmity . . . Woman, you are healed of your sickness."

"Someone is being healed," thought the little woman, "how perfectly wonderful!"

Then wonder of wonders the little woman felt the hands of Jesus on HER VERY OWN SHOULDERS and instantly at the touch of His hand a miracle happened. Her hard old bones softened and strength flowed through the joints in her shoulders . . . she could raise herself straight.

Hallelujah! Realizing what had happened to her, the little woman began crying with joy and praising God.

All eyes were now on Jesus and the woman. But suddenly the room was filled with anger and hostility as the Jewish leader pointed an accusing finger at Jesus. "There are six days of the week to work. Those are the days to heal. NOT THE SABBATH!"

For a moment the joyous woman became panic stricken. What if Jesus were to get in trouble because He had healed on the Sabbath? But she need not have worried.

Jesus turned quickly to the leader and answered him firmly. "You hypocrite," He said. "What are you saying? Don't you untie your cattle and take them out to drink on the Sabbath day? Then is it so wrong for me to free this poor woman whom Satan has had in his clutches for eighteen years?"

When Jesus said this everyone in the synagogue was ashamed. And many began to rejoice with the crooked woman who had been healed.

And today we, too, can rejoice as we remember that Jesus is the same today as He was yesterday . . . and the Bible tells us He will be the same forever.