Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 9

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 9

Narrated In 1 Gospel

Gospel Of Luke

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath." The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?" When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. (Luke 13:10-17)

“Crippled for 18 years” is usually what physicians of this era will call a “cold case” meaning “a patient for whom nothing can be done medically or surgically”. Well; they or their knowledge are not at fault at all, because here the cause is a spirit or evil spirit to be specific and not some disease. The KJV puts it like this: “And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. (Luke 13:11)”. A spirit of infirmity…that was the cause of her being bent and bowed.

There are many even now who spend much finances over such maladies and no cure comes from it because the cause is a “spirit of infirmity”. Spirits of infirmities do not respond to medicines. They have to be dealt with as Jesus or the apostles dealt with them. Sadly there are few who believe such things or have the power to do such things. Jesus said,” And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; (Mark 16:17)

We also read, “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. (Mark 16:20)”But then, some say this was not originally part of Mark 16 and so it is an addition. Whatever it be those who preach with the Lord’s power and those who experience deliverance through it, know and attest to the truth.

So here was Jesus, teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath and the woman afflicted by a spirit of infirmity happened to be there too. What a coincidence, some may say. No coincidences in God’s book, only appointments. Was she a regular? 18 years of sickness would make many believers stop going to church. Nothing to blame them, for we all know how difficult it is to worship when we are sick. Her problem was even more distressing. She was crippled and could not lift herself up. Perhaps the Sabbath worship was her sole hope in life to be comforted in her sufferings. Whatever it be, this was her day of deliverance, come what may, because Heaven had already said “YES”.

Things happened much too quickly for everyone including the lady & the synagogue ruler to grasp what was going on. Jesus did not seek permission but just did what the Father instructed him to do. Luke writes, “When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.”

That must have been audacious. In a flash, here was something spectacular happening. Imagine Jesus calling her forward, speaking to her, laying his hands on her, setting her free, she straightening up and praising God. All in a matter of a few moments. No long sermon, no stirring up of the faith. Just saying, “I have seen your suffering and I release you, here and now.”Heavenly power unleashed!!

Jesus created quite a ruckus that day. He knew that not all would be pleased but he had to do the father’s will. And immediately there was opposition. Luke writes, “Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” Meaning, I do not approve of such stuff, whether someone’s long standing distress is alleviated or not.”Sometimes believers become hard hearted not wanting to know the Father’s heart. And on this occasion Jesus did not back out but gave a hard hitting reply. He said, “"You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?"

Truly many sheep are kept bound by Satan and not released because some shepherds do not believe that deliverance from Satan matches their doctrines. God help them. Hypocrisy was dealt with very strongly by Jesus and the people understood. They believed the miracles that they saw and they believed the words of wisdom that flowed out of Jesus’ mouth. Luke ends the miracle by writing, “When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.”

The Bible says, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. (1 John 3:8b)” How very true.