Luke 4:38-39 NIV
The scene: “Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon (Peter). Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So He bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.”
I had this thought as I was reading about this woman. Did she know Jesus, personally, prior to her healing? If she did, what were her thoughts of Jesus? I thought, perhaps this woman had some ill thoughts toward Jesus. After all, her son-in-law had made the decision to follow Jesus. Because of this, Simon had left home, and left his wife (her daughter) to manage the home duties. Following Jesus was not just living a daily life for Him, but living a daily life with Him. There is a thought for us all.
I love what Matthew and Mark say about this encounter. Matthew says, “Jesus TOUCHED this woman’s hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on them”. Mark says, “Jesus went to this woman, TOOK her hand and HELPED her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them”. (see Matthew 8:14-15 and Mark 1: 30-31)
Regardless of what she thought she felt about Jesus, before her encounter, she was thankful afterwards. After she was healed of her illness, she waited on them. She ministered to them. This was an expression of her gratitude for her health and her life. If she truly believed and followed Jesus before her healing, her faith was surely strengthened after her healing.
Mark 5:25-34 NIV
The scene: Jesus was in a hurry that day. He was on His way to respond to a great need. A man named Jairus had come to Jesus asking for His help. Jairus’ daughter was dying, and “he pleaded earnestly for Jesus to come and put His hands on her, so that she would be healed and live”. (see Mark 5:23) Jesus did go with Jairus, but something happened along the way.
There was a woman, who had been sick with bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered so much. The doctors could not help her. She had spent all her money on health care. Still, her condition was getting worse. I’m sure she must have been anemic, and cleanliness was of great concern for her. She had heard about this man named Jesus, and His healing miracles. So, when she heard He was coming she thought, “If I could only touch His cloak, I will be healed”. (Mark 5:28)
The Scripture says that Jesus felt power go from Him (when the woman touched Him) and he asked, Who touched me? He kept looking through the crowd of people around Him, until the woman fell at His feet. She was afraid and trembling as she told Jesus the truth. Jesus said to her, Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace, and be freed from your suffering. Her faith without doubt had made her whole. I can only imagine how she felt. She had not felt that good physically in many years. (see also Matthew 9:20-22 and Luke 8:43-48) Read the rest of Jairus’ encounter with Jesus in Mark 5:35-43.
Luke 13:10-13 NIV
The Scene: “On the 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.”
Again, we see a woman who had been suffering for many years. Her body was crippled, and I’m sure she must have been crippled in spirit also. Imagine not being able to stand up straight for eighteen years. The Scripture doesn’t say that this woman purposely came to see Jesus that day in the synagogue. It just says that she was there. I believe that she was there for Jesus’ purpose, to bind the grip of an eighteen year affliction, for the Glory of God. Luke 13:16 says, Satan kept this woman bound. Those everyday, ordinary people who were present that day, saw A Jesus Miracle. They had great reason to believe, have their faith strengthened, and rejoice with this woman. Those who debated with Jesus over healing on the Sabbath, could only see as far as themselves and were humiliated. “But the people were delighted with all the wonderful things that Jesus was doing.” (Luke 13:17)
Thoughts to Ponder
Be thankful for those times in your life, that your faith has been strengthened by your circumstances. Serve the Lord in your thankfulness. Write down a time that your faith has been strengthened by your circumstance. _________________________________________________
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Question to Ponder
Is your faith without doubt?
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These three woman were physically touched by Jesus. I believe that they were spiritually touched by Him also. You and I are touched by Jesus too. When we are touched by Him, life becomes extraordinary. We serve Him and we serve others extraordinarily, because we are touched by Him.
Luke 13:13 says that after the crippled woman was healed she straightened up and praised God.
Let’s All Straighten Up And Praise God! Amen
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