We wish the story here would have ended another way. Yes, it was the sabbath (always meant to be a beautiful day for God's people!). And even on the sabbath people become sick or continue to be sick. Jesus notices a woman, all hunched over, obviously one who had been ill for a long time. He is a merciful Lord, so he takes the initiative to call her over and lay his hands on her. In these gracious acts, the woman is healed on the spot. Her body is straightened again, and she praises God for God's goodness.

From here on, I say, we wish the story would have ended another way. Wouldn't it have been nice if all the people standing around witnessing this touching scene could have joined the woman in praising God for God's goodness? Indeed, the whole idea of worshiping a loving God on the sabbath …