Today we are going to be meditating on an often read but commonly misunderstood or neglected account in scripture, and it is the woman who was bent over for eighteen years.
There are a lot of truths and details in this account that when meditated on carry the freedom from the chains of the enemy. For we shall know the truth and the truth shall make us free. So today if you are suffering from an infirmity, if you feel shackled by the enemy, or if you know someone in that circumstance, then this message will especially bless you today.
So our scripture today is found in Luke 13:10-13:
“And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
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.
And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said to her, Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.
And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.”
Now, the woman’s particular condition is peculiar in that it kept her in bondage, it kept her in a helpless state. Try performing normal daily tasks when you are always bent over and you will find that even the simplest things become difficult. So it is safe to assume that the woman could not enjoy even the most basic of life’s pleasures. See the enemy always wants to keep pleasure from you. Sure sin will come to you with the promise of pleasure, but in the end will only cause you pain.
What I want to focus your attention on now though is the deeper truths here, because remember that everything in the Bible has a manifold purpose – meaning that it always has a superficial truth on the surface and the always one or more deeper truths for those who really study and meditate on.
See the Bible makes mention in several passages in several different ways that the body, our physical selves manifest whatever is in the spirit, 3rd John 1:2: is one instance:
“Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.”
So it is safe to assume that we will prosper and be in health as our soul prospers.
Now I must point out here that we are not talking out sin! But the condition of this woman does reveal one thing about her soul, that it is not prospering!
So why is it not prospering, let’s look at verse twelve…When Jesus saw her, He called her to Him. She was far from Him. I submit to you that this is a picture of the state of her soul. See it is totally possible for someone to be in church and faithfully attend every week but still be far from Jesus. Never assume that just because someone has perfect attendance in church that they are perfectly secure with Jesus.
And again, this has nothing to do with sin or judging this woman! But analysing the state of her soul, to diagnose her problem. Jesus knew it immediately. And look now how as He shows His perfect love for her and desire to help her. He sees her, and calls Him over to Himself, ready not to judge her, but to speak His words of healing to her; words that give life and peace to her dying spirit.
Now look at the last verse thirteen, He laid His caring, loving and healing hands on her and a transformation is made… she is made straight and glorifies God. Now to me, the most noticeable thing here is not the transformation of her body, but the transformation of her spirit. She went from someone far from Jesus to one who was glorying Him publicly for all to see. Isn’t it amazing?
Now the last time that I taught on this, I received some questions which I would like to address. Some have asked why Jesus called her to Him when He could’ve went over to her. The answer is because He wanted her to demonstrate some faith and desire for Him, not just her healing, but for Him.
See, Jesus loves everyone, and wants to heal everyone and indeed has made healing available to everyone through the finished work on the cross. But not everyone wants, there are people in the Bible who wanted nothing to do with Jesus and even drove Him out of the city. There are likewise people today who feel the same way. There was a time in my own life where I was quite far from Jesus and was very ill and near death. I didn’t want anything to do with Him, but He called me to Him and I finally got it through my head to answer.
See a relationship takes two willing parties… so does communication. You call someone on the telephone, one person dials the number, but the other person still has to answer the call for it to work.
My friends, today Jesus is calling to each of you. He has made all of His blessings available to you, including freedom from infirmities, and all manner of health and healing is for you because of His payment in your place for all of your sins. He carried all of your sicknesses, diseases and infirmities on the cross at Calvary. Today He is calling to you, He is saying today you are loosed from your infirmity, respond and answer His call today right where you are, there is no distance in prayer.
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