He Heals the Lame Woman

["Click here for Luke's account"]

This records the healing of a woman who had been physically deformed for 18 years. Notice where He was. He was in a Synagogue on the Sabbath and He was teaching. Teaching was a continual thing for Jesus. He taught wherever He could, whenever He could. He continually confirmed the doctrine that He lived. He preached a doctrine of "charity", and an opportunity for charity presented it's self.

She had a deformity brought on by an evil spirit, by divine permission. She was bent over and could not straighten up. She had been this way for 18 years and was therefore considered incurable. It made every movement painful and extremely difficult yet she was there at the synagogue worshipping because it was the Sabbath.

Notice Jesus called her to him; she apparently did not seek his healing. She had come to seek spiritual healing for her soul and received physical healing also. Notice He laid His hands upon her and she was immediately cured. This cure and the speed of it represents the work of God's Grace upon the souls of people.

1. In the conversion of sinners. Complete and immediate.
2. In the comfort of those who are hurting. Whatever the trouble, whatever the loss, Jesus heals and in due time, restores you upright from being bent over with grief.
3. In the effect of the cure on the soul of the woman. She glorified God and gave Him the phrase for her cure.

Notice the offence that was taken at this by the Ruler of the Synagogue. He objected to the healing of this poor woman on the basis that it was the Sabbath. Surly the very miraculous nature of it should have served to counteract his objection, but the spirit of bigotry and enmity to Christ and His ministry will close the eyes of many to common sense and understanding. In the Law, works of "piety" were allowed on the Sabbath Day, surly this was a work of piety.

Notice the justification Jesus gave for what He did. Didn't they take their cattle from the stable to the watering hole on the Sabbath? Cattle were required to rest on the Sabbath Day but not required to fast or go without water. This woman was a daughter of Abraham, she was their sister, surly she deserved no less than their cattle. She was one whom Satan had bound and only the power of God could break her affliction. She had been afflicted for 18 years, surly you would not have wanted her to remain so even for one more day.

Notice the effect that this had on those who heard and observed what He had done.

1. Those who had condemned Him were ashamed. They were silenced. They didn't have a word to say for themselves. Unfortunately, it was not a shame that led to repentance but rather to indignation.
2. The rest of the people rejoiced for all the things that He had done. The shame of His enemies only added to their joy. It was that way then and even more so today. Every thing that honors Christ should bring joy to the Christian.

Verses 18 thru 21 record two comparisons that Jesus made to help them to understand what the Kingdom of God was like and how it would progress with the preaching of the Gospel. This was a total mystery to them at this time so He undertook to explain it by using things that they did understand.

1. The sowing of a grain of mustard seed. How could something that they thought would appear great be compared to something as small as a grain of mustard seed? How could something that they thought would appear suddenly and with great power, take so long to grow? But Jesus said they were mistaken in their understanding of the Kingdom. It will be like a grain of mustard seed, a little at first, yet when sown on good soil, will in time produce a great tree. Many were turned away from the Gospel by what they perceived to be small and not holding much promise of success. Here Jesus was explaining to them that like a grain of mustard seed, it would began small but would, in time, grow to a great movement, and people would fly, as it were, to the protection of it's branches, like birds to a large tree.
2. Then the Kingdom of Heaven shall be like "leaven", "You expect that it will grow by external means, by subduing nations and defeating armies, but it will work silently, from within like leaven. A little leaven, leavens the whole loaf, so shall the Gospel slowly spread through out the world to those who are prepared to receive it.

Then Jesus went through the cities and villages, teaching as he made His way toward Jerusalem.

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