THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

57A CRIPPLED WOMAN HEALED ON THE SABBATHLuke 13:10-17We know not who this woman was. Our Lord's saying that she was "a daughter ofAbraham" would lead us to infer that she was a true believer, but her name and history arehidden from us. We only know that when Jesus was "teaching in one of the synagogues on theSabbath," this woman was there.“ On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman wasthere who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bentover and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called herforward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’Then He put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up andpraised God” (13:10-13).This is the last time we ever hear of Jesus being in a synagogue because by this time theauthorities were watching His every move ready to pounce upon Him whenever they got achance.Various disorders were caused by evil spirits (4:33), such as mental disorders (Jn10:20), violent action (Lk 8:26-29), and bodily disease (13:11,16). In addition demons can steal,kill and destroy:“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may havelife, and have it to the full” (Jn 10:10).The Book of Job gives a portrait of this very thing:“ One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan alsocame with them. The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’Satan answered the Lord, ‘From roaming through the earth and going back andforth in it.’Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is noone on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shunsevil.’‘Does Job fear God for nothing?’ Satan replied. ‘ Have you not put a hedge aroundhim and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of hishands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretchout your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you toyour face.’