She Reads Truth: Women In The Bible, Part 4:4 Day 9 of 10 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 leader 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 your 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 NIV) While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:12-17 NIV) Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. (Hebrews 7:23-28 NIV) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30 NIV) The Woman with a Disabling Spirit: He Sees You The text today is one that makes my heart giddy and stirs my affections for The Lord. Jesus was a busy man. Ministry was His thing. He utilizes rest well, but before He ever served Himself, He looked to the needs of others (Matthew 14:10-14). He split much of His time between teaching and healing. On many occasions, people were brought to Him (Matthew 4:23-24) by advocates (Luke 4:38, 5:18-19, 9:38) who cared for them. This story contrasts with the many brought by advocates because the woman today is not surrounded by her people. She is known for her ailment but there seems to be nobody FOR her. Jesus saw her. Think about that for a minute or ten. This woman was looked upon by Jesus. He saw her, had compassion on her, called her to Himself, and spoke freedom over her. And that same Jesus does the same for you and for me. Scripture tells us that Jesus is our High Priest, better than any other priest because, unlike human priests, His reign will never ever end. Jesus sits in heaven, continually advocating for us, not simply saying yes to our pleas, but asking God to work on our behalf (Hebrews 7:23-25). During His ministry, Jesus prayed over those with Him and for believers to come. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one. (John 17:15) We were never promised ease and earthly comfort. Just like this overlooked woman, Jesus offers us a way out of the evil ones grasp (Jude 24-25). I dont know your season, if you are surviving or thriving. But I do know that God is for you. He sees you. He sees YOU. Just in case youre sitting in unbelief, pretend Im sitting across the table or beside you right now. HE SEES YOU. Let that sink in. Walk in that freedom. Let go of the chains. Look at Jesus, and dont be surprised when you see that He is already looking at you.
Posted on: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 14:52:01 +0000
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