When Jesus Saw Her

Come with me; I want to take you inside a story found only one place in the Word of God, Luke 13:10-13. Luke alone included it in his writings; perhaps because he was a physician, and as such was concerned about people's health. Is there an unknown underlying element, a reason we will find when we look into this account of a meeting that moved Jesus to do something without even being asked; action that came from the love and compassion of His Father's heart.

"And He (Jesus) was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, He called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And He laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God."

Jesus was known to spend each Sabbath teaching in one of the hundreds of synagogues throughout Israel as He traveled around the country. Just a side thought … I wonder if His subject this day could have perhaps been something to do with the doctrine of God's love and mercy.

The object lesson of that love presented itself to Jesus in the form of this woman in the synagogue that had a spirit of infirmity for the past eighteen years. She had an infirmity, a condition, which by divine permission from God had been brought upon her by an evil spirit, which was the cause of her condition.

When I say that it was by God's permission that Satan was allowed to inflict this infirmity upon this woman; I refer to the only reason I have found for the Book of Job being in the Bible … and that is to teach the Doctrine of God's Sovereignty and Providence.

It is to be observed in the Book of Job as well as other places in the Word that Satan is subject to the Sovereignty of God, and is dependent on His commands. But Satan, although incensed against mankind, and desiring to do harm is yet described as bound with a chain, and never dares to touch man unless God allows him access.

Therefore I assume with this woman's infirmity, as was also the case with Job, God allowed Satan … access to her.

In the Book of Job, a second conversation is recorded between God and Satan. God is basically saying to Satan … "I allowed you to take everything Job had, his possessions, his children, his health, and still you want more … his life. You want Me to destroy him without a reason." Job 2:3-6 (My translation)

Satan is urging God to afflict Job and would have had God do it Himself; but God afflicts not willingly; therefore, if it must be done, let Satan do it … who delights in such work. So God says … "He is in thy hand, do thy worst with him" … but gives him a limitation … "save his life. Afflict him, but not to death."

Ecclesiastes 3:1 … "To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven …"

God has a purpose for what He does and what He allows others to do and even a time when it is to be performed. God governs the world; but we cannot always see … the reasons for His conduct.

One of those reasons that we can't see, let alone understand, is why affliction is allowed to come to us. Sickness along with the sentence of death is part of the curse that God pronounced upon the world because of sin … and we are in it.

I don't believe God ever makes you sick.

But may I suggest there may be times … for whatever unknown reason … God gives the opportunity and the permission for Satan to bring sickness or disease to your body. Is God not sovereign? I think this may also be the underlying reason for this woman's infirmity.

Satan is one who delights in the opportunity and in the permission to inflict the tortures of sickness and disease on man, and who goes as far in producing misery as he is allowed … restrained from destroying man only by the express command of God.

There are times when God is the cause of how things work by intervening in our lives. At other times our decisions may be the indirect result of His influence at work on our lives to bring about "His Sovereign Will." I believe that God is sovereign over everything that happens in the world either by direct cause from His hand or the secondary causes He has already placed in nature … including the curse of sickness and disease operated by Satan.

God therefore is … ultimately responsible … for everything.

There is one point of truth and reality about the "Sovereignty of God" I want to nail down and feel I must hammer home. God must be in total control of everything created … everything. That's part of being Sovereign. If there is even one molecule that is not under His control, one tiny little speck running around in God's created universe that He is not in control of … just one … then that means that God is not in total control of what He made.

If anything is outside of His authority, outside of His control … including Satan and sickness; then He is no longer God over all things … and that can not be.

Now back to the woman in the synagogue.

Jesus always lived out the "will" of the Father; so if He healed this woman then it was the "will" of God to do so. But after He healed this woman, the leader of the synagogue became indignant because Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath, leading Jesus to respond in return with this question.

Luke 13:16 … " Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?"

With this question … Jesus is verifying the fact that Satan was the cause of this infirmity. Did Satan wait for the opportunity to inflict this woman with this disease when God wasn't looking? Was God unaware of what Satan wanted to do; was He caught off guard … or was God fully responsible by allowing Satan access to her if only by the fact that He didn't prevent this infirmity … perhaps to fulfill His plan and purpose in her and Christ's lives.

I know; I'm aware that this sounds like a lot of … "what if's" … but who's to say.

Observe, although she lived with this infirmity she went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day to worship. Life had to be difficult and hard for her … but she went.

"When Jesus saw her, He called her to Him" … This speaks to the compassion, mercy and grace of God from the fact that it does not appear that she made any request of Him, or even had any expectation of healing from Him; but as God has proven many times … before she could call he answered.

She came to Him to be taught, to get food for her soul; but the mercy of Christ also gave this poor woman relief from her bodily infirmity. It was God's "will" that she should … "be in health, even as her soul prospereth." (3rd John 2)

"And He laid His hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God." Even if we only had this one example, it alone is enough to confirm that God heals; but that has never been in question.

The two questions most people seem to ask about healing are …

1.) "Is healing always God's will for us?" The obvious answer must be no; for if God always healed every time, in every circumstance, at every age we would never need to die, and that's not God's plan.

2.) "Why aren't we healed every time we pray?" This answer is much more complex than the first. Faith can play a part … "Do we really believe that what we believe is really real?" Then there's doubt and unbelief. Jesus asked Peter one time … "Why did you doubt?" Has He ever asked you the same thing?

In truth … "I don't know." The answer to both questions has to do with His plan and purpose for your life … "God's unrevealed will" … the secret things that only He knows.

Any sickness or disease we experience is just another opportunity for Jesus to show His love and compassion one more time as He did with this woman in the synagogue that Sabbath day many years ago. And even if He doesn't, things are still just and right.

But from what I see in this story and from what Job teaches; Satan is sometimes allowed to work his evil; but many times he is not given that permission … God's Sovereign Will determines which happens. I have no problem with that.

God is sovereign you know.

The Greatest Prayer Ever Prayed

In the 14th Chapter of Matthew, we find the disciples of Jesus in the middle of the Sea of Galilee … where Christ had sent them … as they followed His command to go before Him to the other side of this small sea. As they went they were met with a storm not unlike the one before that Jesus spoke peace unto when He calmed the wind and waves; but now here in the dark of night they were all alone, for this time He was not with them.

So it is today; it is no new thing for a disciple of Christ's to meet with storms in the discharge of his or her duty or to be sent to sea even when the Lord knows a storm is coming. Jesus leads His disciples first through small difficulties, and then to greater ones, and by doing so trains them by degrees to live by faith, and not by the mind of the flesh which is sense and reason.

The storms of life we encounter can bring fear, worry and doubt; but instead of looking at the storm, we need to look a little higher over the storm clouds knowing that if Jesus sent us out in it, then He is coming through the storm to be with us.

Jesus didn't come at the beginning of this storm; He let the disciples for several hours struggle on their own. Does this sound familiar? Have you found that in your own struggle with the storms in life, that God sometimes waits until your ship is just about ready to sink before He shows up and calms the storm?

They were all afraid, including Peter, the one thought to have the strongest faith and the greatest courage, but now together they all were gripped with fear. Those of us that say, I have faith, Lord I believe; will most likely someday say … Lord help my unbelief. Men so often show that they have not yet attained the faith needed when they fail in the exercise of that faith. By the lengthening out of a stormy trial, one will soon discover any weakness in his faith.

Maybe that's the point.

It was in this rough weather during the fourth watch of the night when Peter and the other disciples saw what they thought was a spirit walking on the water. But they heard a familiar voice that said … "It is I; be not afraid." It was Jesus.

We are about to see the characteristic rashness of Peter. He had less real faith than he supposed, and more eagerness than his faith would justify. He was undaunted in his willingness to follow his Lord, but still easily prone to failure. He was allowed to learn his true character while also learning of his dependence on Jesus; a lesson which all Christians are permitted sooner or later to learn as they experience their own failures.

Being a fisherman, Peter no doubt could swim very well; but after Jesus said to him … come … did not just dive in to swim to Jesus, but rather stepped out onto the water and begins to … walk on water … just as his Lord was doing.

Everyone knows the story, Peter begins to sink. I've heard many people say as if in judgment … Peter didn't have enough faith or he wouldn't have sunk. But they forget or else don't realize … Peter walked on water … have they?

But Jesus lets Peter begin to sink; teaching him that it was the hand of God reaching him through Jesus that was his real security. Upon the failing of his faith, Jesus did not immediately grab Peter and hold him up; but rather gave him time to cry out … "Lord, save me" … the greatest prayer ever prayed.

Matthew 14:30 … "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me."

Why do I say … it was the greatest prayer ever prayed? Because when your physical or spiritual life is in danger of being lost … "Lord, save me" … are the only words needed to be spoken. All Jesus needs to hear is a cry for help and He reaches out to save us.

Jesus gives Peter a mild rebuke when He says to him as they both walk on water back to the boat … "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

I've heard Him say the same thing to me on occasion.

Our faith may be real and true, and yet at the same time weak. Peter had faith enough to cause him to walk upon the water; yet, because it wasn't enough to carry him all the way, Jesus tells him he was … of little faith. That must be true if Jesus said it … but it's more faith than I've ever had.

The doubts and fears that discourage us are all because of the weakness of our faith. We doubt, because we are … of little faith. It is the business of faith and the work of faith to resolve and dispel doubts. We could believe more, if we would doubt less.

Jesus asked Peter … "Wherefore didst thou doubt?"

The word wherefore means … What reason was there for doubt? If we could just stop and think about our doubt or fear, when compared to our God … there would be no reason for doubt. This is exactly what Jesus was telling Peter.

It is true, that He is not pleased with weak faith. But it is just as true, that Jesus does not cast off or throw away weak believers.

God permits storms to arise … so we will put our faith on trial. If our faith is untried, untested, unproven, it becomes just our opinion, what we want to believe.

But when we know that Jesus can and will walk with us on the stormy wave that comes as well as on the calm … the storm makes no difference.

He who without faith sinks in the waters does so in the calm as well as in the storm; but he who by faith can walk upon them will do so in the storm as well as in the calm … unless circumstances only are looked at and the Lord is forgotten; if so … faith fails.

Remember Peter's words … "Lord, save me." That's all Jesus needs to hear.

Three Covenants

In the past history of man, God has made many agreements or contracts with His creation; in Scripture they are called "covenants." The most important covenant in the Bible is the "covenant of redemption." I find it interesting however, when looking at the "covenant of redemption," that this particular one does not refer to a covenant God has made with man, although it is "for" man.

In the "covenant of redemption" God is not in a partnership agreement with man. But rather it is a covenant God makes with … Himself. It is the agreement between all three persons of the Godhead to be involved in the redemption of man. In looking at the act of redemption itself, we see the activity of the Trinity in the same manner as we see during creation.

God the Father calls for the creation of the universe which includes our material earth, and by His Word speaks them into existence as the Spirit hovers over the waters and brings these things into being. The New Testament also tells us that it was through Christ, who was the working agent that made all things that were made. Creation had the full involvement of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

So when we look at the concept of redemption we see that it is also a work of the Trinity; all three persons of the Godhead being involved in the fulfillment of it.

It is the Father who initiates the plan of salvation; it is the Father who gives the eternal decrees of His will in all matters. It is the Father who sends the Son into the world to purchase our redemption for us.

After the Son has accomplished the act of redemption for us, there is still one thing left to do and that is … to have Christ's redemption applied to our personal lives. How will the work of redemption that Jesus purchased for us, do any good unless it is applied to our lives by the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the one who regenerates our human spirits and makes us alive in Christ. All three persons of the Trinity; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit has a role in our salvation; all three work in agreement, work in concert to plan, purchase and bring to fallen man redemption.

There are two more covenants involved in the "covenant of redemption" that I would like to quickly cover. The first is the "covenant of works" which was made between God and Adam before the fall. The second is the "covenant of grace" which God makes with Adam and his descendants after the fall.

The "covenant of works" refers to the fact that God places Adam and Eve in a state of probation and promises them everlasting life by eating the fruit from the tree of life … if … they can keep the one command that God requires of them; do not eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The destiny of the human race is dependent upon their obedience or disobedience according to the terms of this "covenant of works." If they pass their probation, if they are obedient, if their works are pleasing to God, then they may stay in the Garden and eat of the tree of life for all of eternity. But they fail miserably; and with that failure, they and their descendants fall into a state of ruin and are in need of redemption.

Once the "covenant of works" is broken, God did not just let the human race perish; but spared Adam and Eve and gave them a way to be redeemed. God does this on the basis of a new promise of grace in that they will be redeemed by another man, the second Adam so to speak, Jesus the Son of God.

Why couldn't the first Adam somehow "work" to redeem his and Eve's fallen state? Sinful man can never meet the requirement needed to satisfy a Holy God's justice. Only God Himself was equal to the task. This is why God had to make … "a covenant with Himself."

Keep in mind, for God to enter into any covenant with man, the creature that He made, to make any promises to that creature, under whatever conditions He chooses to place that creature under, is already … an act of grace.

Remember, God is not required to give, nor does He owe His creation anything; in fact everything He gives is from His grace. The point is … that even the "covenant of works" and its promises are founded on "the covenant of grace."

Now here is where I want to bring both "works" and "grace" together. God accepted both "works" and "grace" as equals only in His Son Jesus. Jesus becomes the second Adam; and as such God places Him back under the very same obligation of the "covenant of works" that the first Adam could not obey.

We are not just saved by the death of Christ, but also by His life of obedience that fulfilled all of the terms of the first Adam's "covenant of works." Adam could not keep the covenant, but the man Jesus did. So, in the final analysis, we are "saved by works" … not ours … but Christ's.

But I thought we are "justified by faith" alone? Justification by faith alone means … justification by putting our faith in Christ alone … because Christ alone has fulfilled the "covenant of works." You can say it this way … we will never be saved by our works; only by the "works" of Christ.

Therefore the "covenant of grace" does not nullify the "covenant of works" … but fulfills the "covenant of works." The works of Christ and the grace of God fit together as one like a hand in a glove to accomplish the "covenant of redemption" God made with Himself.

To Whom It May Concern

This is an open letter … "To Whom It May Concern." If you are reading this letter then you are the one it was designed to reach. I hope my words contain only the truth and will be easily understood; that you will be able to receive them with more than just mental assent, an exercise in thought; but also that this truth will be planted deep in your inner being, what is called your spirit and soul.

I have talked to many people, good people, good moral people, who because of the good, clean moral life they are living … never think of themselves as sinners needing salvation. I completely understand the thought process that reason plays when you say to yourself …

"I'm a good person; I don't take the name of the Lord in vain, I'm not caught up in the visible outward sins; I don't smoke, drink, chew or run around with those who do. I'm faithful to my spouse, don't steal or cheat on my taxes; I try to be understanding of others and care for those in need by giving … etc. I think I'm a good person … I believe in God. Why do I need salvation?"
My response to that is … yes you are … by the world's standard you are a good person and that's wonderful. But that isn't enough; if it was then Jesus died … for nothing.

A morally good man may think he has obtained righteousness by what he does or doesn't do, but in time will find that he has no foundation to stand on, especially before God. I don't care if you are the most perfect creature in all of creation; in and of yourself, you do not merit or deserve anything from God. He owes us nothing. But God loves us and gives us undeserved grace and mercy anyway.

I've heard other people say, "I just don't feel the need for Christ in my life. He made me as I am and He loves me. I'm happy with my life." Well, let me say this; if you believe in even the smallest chance that there is a Holy God of judgment, and that He is going to hold each person accountable for sin … but you feel that you have met God's requirement of no sin in your life … then you are right, you don't need Jesus.

But if you aren’t sinless, if you have committed even one sin then you qualify as a sinner and will stand before God in judgment. In God's eye, sin is sin; it doesn't matter if it's a small lie or murder, if you have broken one of His commandments it's the same as if you have broken all of them … sorry.

You see, it's not so much that a commandment has been broken; but rather it's what the consequence of that sin brings. Sin breaks our relationship with God the Father and because He is Holy, this Holiness in the presence of sin … any sin … causes Him to separate Himself from us and that sin.

But God has made a way to restore that relationship … His name is Jesus.

If for no other reason than the fear of God's judgment and to escape eternal Hell, I would recommend crying out to Jesus for help. In Bible theology it's called the cry of … attrition … having been motivated to escape from the punishment for sin. In my opinion that is a valid reason. I say whatever it takes … it's that important.

Perhaps a better way is called … contrition … and that stems from having an awareness that we have done wrong and have sinned against God which in turn brings true repentance of the heart and soul.

There is one underlying thread found throughout the Word of God and that is … all have sinned and all need a savior.

This is the state of all mankind; all have sinned because of the sinful nature passed on to us from Adam. We are not guilty because of Adam's personal sin, but our bodies of flesh, our human nature is polluted from that original sin, and whether we know it or not, we are condemned with an appointment for natural death and then the judgment.

"How can that be" … you never even asked to be born. You just woke up in your birthday suit screaming at the top of your lungs one day. Why will each one of us be judged for something we didn't have any control over?

I don't know … but I do know that because Adam's sin nature is born in each one of us, and by our yielding to that sin nature we all commit sin and become sinners. This is the case with the whole world and all who dwell in it. All have sinned.

Jesus was the only man in whom this spiritual law from Adam didn't affect; the reason being … His father wasn't made of flesh … His father didn't pass down the sin nature to Jesus because His father was God Himself. Jesus was the Word of God covered with human flesh like we are, yet without sin. This was the main reason Jesus could live a sinless life; and by doing so He became the one perfect sacrifice to be offered for sin. Only God could meet God's demands.

This open letter is not written to enter into a theological discourse on how Jesus, as God in the form of human flesh fulfilled His mission to … "seek and save those who were lost." In other words, to bring salvation to you and me. He just did.

What is salvation? How can we know that all our sin, past, present and future has been taken care of? What must I do to be "Saved?"

The Apostle Paul was asked one time by his jailer, the most important question a man can ask … "What must I do to be saved?"

Paul's answer was … "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved."

How do you believe on Jesus? Salvation must be personal; and it starts with …

1.) Believe … in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God. It's more than just knowing a fact of history and agreeing mentally that Jesus once lived.

2.) Know … that all have sinned, including you, and because of personal sin, a personal savior is needed.

3.) Understand … that salvation is a free gift, you can't earn it, and you don't deserve it … you are saved only by God's grace through faith in what Jesus has already done, His death on the cross.

4.) No other name … has been given whereby we must be saved. It is because the blood of Jesus only … cleanses us from all our sin. Call on that name.

5.) Repent … of sin and from sin by thinking differently, changing your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct and purpose in life.

6.) You must be born again … Jesus said, born again from above, through His Spirit, His Life that He gives you. Paul said it this way … "You are a new creature in Christ Jesus, old things have passed away, all things have become new."

7.) By Faith … in Jesus. Jesus said … "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by me." There's only one way, no matter what you think, and that only way is Jesus.

You may say … "I don't believe there is only one way." Well, you may not believe in the law of gravity … but that doesn't mean it's not true.

I have listed only seven steps, I'm sure more could be listed; but if "To Whom It May Concern" will take these steps and believe that Jesus, as the Son of God lived, died and arose with power over death, Hell and the grave, you will receive salvation, you will be born again. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. It's called the good news of the Gospel.

God will no longer be able to see your sin or hold you accountable for it. Why? Because God took all your sin and placed it on His Son Jesus who was willing to be judged guilty of all sin, yours and mind. He died for us so that we wouldn't have to.

Salvation. It's a costly free gift … paid in full by Jesus … so why turn it down?