The Life and Ministry of Christ, Part 34
We are in the last months of Christ’s ministry. After raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus went to the city of Ephraim. We are not told how long He was there, Mark takes up the narrative and shows the healing of a woman that was crippled by a spirit of infirmity from the Devil. This miracle happened in a synagogue before Jesus started toward Jerusalem.
Woman Healed of Her Infirmity – Luke 13:10-17
Luke 13:10–11 NKJV Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.
Part of Jesus’ mission among the people was to loose people from the crippling influences. Later in the text, Jesus said the infirmity and deformity was a direct result of Satan’s work. This spirit of infirmity was more than a sick attitude about life. Many physical problems are a direct result of unhealthy thoughts, emotions or attitudes. A lack of forgiveness, jealousy, hatred, and envy can effect one’s health. To receive healing, the heart must be cleansed. Jesus told the paralyzed man, “your sins are forgiven you,” and then he was healed, (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:16-26). What was happening in this woman was a direct result of Satan’s activity to destroy her wellbeing.
In James, sin and sickness are somehow related.
James 5:14–15 NKJV Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Prayer, confession, forgiveness, and healing are connected. There are three Biblical reasons for sickness: Satan, human decisions, and the fall and sin of Adam and Eve. Ultimately, all sickness is the result of the curse from Adam and Eve’s sin. Had they not sinned, Satan would not have access, the curse would not affect all things, and there would be no death.
Psalm 31:9-10 AMP Have mercy and be gracious unto me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; with grief my eye is weakened, also my inner self and my body. For my life is spent with sorrow and my years with sighing; my strength has failed because of my iniquity, and even my bones have wasted away.
David realized that the source of sorrow, sighing, the loss of strength and bones wasting away was of his own iniquity. Sin destroys emotional and physical strength. Many of life’s problems are caused by personal sin. God has provided relief for the curse of sin.
Isaiah 35:10 AMP And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Every born again person has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. It is the children’s portion for sorrow and sighing to be replaced with joy and gladness, (Matthew 15:26). In Luke 13, the woman had a spirit of infirmity and was bound for eighteen years and could not raise herself up. This demonstrates the awful power of Satan to afflict the body as well as the soul and spirit. The story of this woman shows that some physical disorders occur when people are oppressed or possessed by demons.
Luke 13:12-13 NKJV But 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.
Jesus did not wait for her to ask for help but He took the initiative, called her to come to Him and released and healed her from the infirmity. This seems quite significant that Jesus took action before the woman called for help. He both spoke “you are loosed from your infirmity,” and “laid His hands on her.” She was immediately made straight and glorified God.
Watch the attitude of the ruler of the synagogue when the woman was healed.
Luke 13:14 NKJV But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”
Remember the Pharisees and Jewish leaders felt that Jesus did not have the authority to do these things. They were professional religionists who had no real concern for the problems of the people. The ruler of the synagogue was captivated by the technical points of the law, but had no compassion, mercy, or concern for the suffering of the people. We should consider why God gave the Sabbath.
Mark 2:27–28 NIV84 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Throughout the Lord’s ministry, He was confronted with controversy over the Sabbath. The Sabbath was established as part of the covenant of God with His people to communicate grace, holiness and His authority. The Sabbath was made for man to bring rest and to testify of God’s redemption. The Lord continued doing miracles on the Sabbath to demonstrate God’s concern for human needs.
Luke 13:15-16 NKJV The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”
Jesus was saying, “You think more of your ox or donkey than you do of people.” Why not release this woman who had been bound by Satan for eighteen years?
Luke 13:17 NKJV And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.
The way into the Kingdom is a narrow door – Luke 13:23-30
Luke 13:22-24 NKJV And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”
We want to know the answer to this question: “Are only a few people going to be saved?”
Matthew 7:13 NKJV Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
Why is the door or gate narrow? In an earlier study, Jesus said He was the door or gate and if anyone would enter they must come by or through Him. All ways or paths do not lead to salvation and heaven. Most paths end in destruction. We must enter salvation on God’s terms.
Ezekiel 18:23 NKJV Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?
2 Peter 3:9 NKJV The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 NKJV For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
After Jesus responded to the question, He gave a story of a man who was giving a feast.
Luke 13:25 NIV84 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
After the banquet had commenced, the door had been closed and no one else could come in. Notice what the next verse says about who was knocking, when they were knocking and why will they not be given entrance.
Luke 13:26-27 NIV84 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with You, and You taught in our streets.’ “But He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from Me, all you evildoers!’
Jesus’ ministry among the people gave them an opportunity to respond to His invitation, there would come a time it would be too late and they would not be allowed entrance. Most of them thought that because they were Abraham’s descendants they would be granted entrance into the kingdom. Jesus was saying that faith in Him is necessary for salvation. God’s amazing grace has made it possible for any who will come to be saved.
Revelation 22:17 NKJV And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Jesus is making it clear in this story that we should take advantage of the opportunity to respond. (Hebrews 3:7-8, 15; 2 Corinthians 6:2) According to the text, those who came after the door was shut said, “We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.” God had given ample opportunity for them to come.
Luke 13:28 NIV84 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.”
These are sad words for those who have had fellowship with Christ but refused to respond.
What must one do to be saved?
John 3:16 NKJV For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 14:6 NKJV Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Acts 16:31 NKJV So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
1 John 1:9 NKJV If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The path to God’s salvation is clear. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Confess that He is your Savior and that He has been raised from the dead. Confess your sins and accept His forgiveness and cleansing.
Luke 13:29-30 NIV84 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.
Although many in the world will not be saved, people from all over the world will be saved. Revelation 7 talks about those who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:9–10 NKJV After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Revelation 7:17 NKJV For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Multitudes of people from all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues will be saved and will stand before the throne of God in heaven. After giving this story, Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees again.
Luke 13:31–32 NKJV On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’
We are beginning to see the impact of the plot to kill Jesus. Regardless of their plans, He was not going to discontinue His ministry.
He would continue until He was perfected on the third day.
Hebrews 2:10 NKJV For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Luke 24:46 NKJV Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.”
Acts 10:40 NKJV Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly…
Notice the depth of the Lord’s love and compassion for Jerusalem.
Luke 13:34 NKJV “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!”
Luke 13:35 NKJV See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
Listen to what was said when Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and the crowds hailed Him with shouts of praise.
John 12:12–13 NKJV The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” (Luke 19:37-38; Matthew 21:1-9; Mark 11:1-10)
If we are not healed before we ask the Lord, what should we do? What does the scripture say we should do to bring healing and deliverance?
Why are all people not saved since Jesus died for the sins of the world?