Jesus Speaks to Women: Woman, You Are Set Free!

10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 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. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 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?”

17 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

Do you keep the Sabbath?  That is such a controversial question, isn't it?  I am SO not an expert on this topic.  That's why I am going to stay away from it because, no matter what I'd say...I'm probably going to be wrong.  I trust God's Grace on this one, and I pray the Holy Spirit guides us through this topic in our own faith walk.

In this passage above, the issue of keeping the Sabbath is at the core of the story.  However, I am going to look at another thing/person that is also a crucial part of this event: a woman...

Once again, in the midst of a great teaching moment, a woman is at the center.  Not a queen or anybody important...just a simple woman who had been bent over, as if in a permanent bow to the evil spirit that kept her captive for 18 years, is the person who Jesus approaches to perform this healing miracle.  Did she earn it?  No, she did not.  Did she asked for it? There is no record of her pleading for a healing.  This miracle was a gift from Jesus.  Once again, we see another instance of Jesus being the initiator...the One Who Sees...the One Who Sets Free!

I LOVE Jesus' words to this poor woman:  "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity."  

WOW!

The precious words of Christ are like a soothing balm that takes care of anything that might be wrong in our world, isn't it?  How I long to hear His voice saying that to me!

But, He does!  We are that woman, bent over in life, bowing down to the wrong things, unable to stand up straight to see the Way, the Truth and the Life!  Until He speaks to us and touches us and pronounces us free, there isn't much we can do other than drag ourselves around, physically, spiritually and emotionally crippled...thinking that this is it...and that no one would ever see us, let alone help us...

Jesus does see us, and not only that, but He comes to us and heals us by the Power of His Mighty Hand!  No matter what!  

Today, I just want to rest on this truth, and let it sink into the darkest corners of my soul, so the Light of His Presence may take away any shadows of death still remaining in there.  Praised be His Holy Name!