Rev. Johnson V.
5th June 2011

C S Lewis once said “You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage; but He is building a palace.” The Bible says that His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We may not understand God’s plan, but in time, we will see how He was weaving an intricate design in the tapestry of time.

History tells us that the incident recorded in Luke 13:11-17, took place on the east of the river Jordon. At first glance, the miracle witnessed here, seems ordinary. But nothing that the Bible records, is ever ordinary.

Historians tell us that the east side had a diverse and cross-cultural population, with people from many different nationalities residing there. The percentage of Jews in the east was much lower than on the west side, which had a more homogenous population. As a result, the temple was not exclusive to Jewish people alone. It is said that even Palestinians would be part of the worship service.

The east side also had political bearing. Herod the great, it is said, had a centre for retreat and relaxation in that area. According to historians, Herod later gifted this palace to his ex-wife, so that she could live in peace. This ex-wife was the daughter of an Arabic king from a neighbouring kingdom. The beautiful girl was married at the age of 13 to Herod, and it was more a political alliance than anything else. After a few years, she developed a degenerative muscular disorder that eventually left her stooped over completely. Herod divorced her and married his brother Philips’ wife. John the Baptist spoke out against this marriage and was captured and eventually killed for his views on this. When Herod divorced his wife, it is believed that she did not return to her fathers house, so as to not bring him shame. Instead she stayed on in the retreat center that Herod gave her, the centre on the east side of the Jordon. She lived there for many years. She sometimes even worshipped at the temple. Eighteen long years passed by. But there is an appointed time of God – praise God for the appointed times that He gives each of us. It was the appointed time for this woman.

The Son of God had arrived in the little town. Our Lord Jesus was probably the centre of attention in the synagogue and caused no little commotion. He preached at the synagogue on the Sabbath. And then the healing grace of the Trinity met the fragility of humanity. When our Lord Jesus saw her, He called her to Himself. There was hushed silence. No one speaks to royalty like that, even if she was an ex-queen. The crowd watched breathless as they waited for her to respond to His command. She obeyed. Our Lord continues to call us even today. He does not call us to Pentecostalism, to traditionalism or to self-righteousness. He calls us to Himself. Our everything is found in Him.

And then our Lord laid His hands on her. No one touches an ex-queen without following protocol. But our Lord is known to interrupt lives and turn everything around. And then He commanded her to straighten up. And to the glory of God, she was able to. The priests were unhappy with this interruption of their traditions, but our Lord responds by showing them that a life and the fight for freedom from bondage were more important that mere tradition.

Historians tell us that the ex-queen returned to her fathers’ house, where she lived for the rest of her days. When she heard that our Lord Jesus was crucified and resurrected, she called the disciples to visit her home. Thomas responded to her summons. After speaking with them, her father gave Thomas the use of one of his ships to sail around and spread the good news. That is how Thomas landed on India’s shores.

Sometimes we may not see all that God has planned in our lives. But we must know and believe, that His plans for our lives are not small. God’s plans for Herod’s ex-wife transcended that of her own healing or salvation for her immediate family. It extends to another nation, India, where billions have heard the good news and have responded to the love of Christ. God’s plans transcend generations and nations. Let us trust Him with our future, His ways are higher, His thoughts are better, His love is stronger. He is able.