Luke 13:10-13 10And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11And behold, there was a woman who had had a spirit of weakness for eighteen years and was bent over and not able to straighten herself completely. 12When Jesus saw her, he called and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your weakness.” 13And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.
Luke’s account indicates a shift in the time and location of Jesus’ ministry, though where are not specifically described. The key reference point of the story is the day being a Sabbath. The Jewish synagogue was the “gathering place” for Jews in the towns and villages outside of Jerusalem. Every Sabbath, a portion of the Scriptures was read and someone would give a teaching. Jesus had the practice of teaching in the synagogues on a regular basis. As the story progresses, the event at this synagogue recalls the growing tension between Jesus and the Pharisees and other legalistic Jews who were mentioned in chapter 12. The response to Jesus is what the disciples and crowds need to avoid. The type of attitude of the legalists represented the unfruitful fig tree of the previous parable.
The woman in the synagogue had a difficult situation with a bent back, which can be caused by different things, including hereditary, poor nutrition, or poor bone density. Luke uses the description of a spirit of weakness. The so-called spirit is not called evil, but many ancient people believed disabilities and sicknesses were caused by demons. It is a bit surprising that Luke as a doctor would attach spiritual forces to disabilities, but we should not read our modern understanding of medical conditions back into the ancient world but try to understand the situation from ancient perspectives. This woman had a debilitating condition that would not allow her to stand up straight. Her suffering for eighteen years emphasizes the miracle that was about to take place. That she was in the synagogue in the first place indicates that she had faith in God.
In the case of this healing, Jesus took the initiative to reach out to this woman. His compassion for her is implied in the story. The miracle took place by Jesus laying his hands upon the woman. That she praised God as a result further indicates her faith. Jesus could also have healed the woman intentionally to get the attention of the rest of the worshippers in the synagogue. Those gathered there had probably seen the woman for many years and knew that her condition was beyond hope. This healing would have got everyone’s attention and made news in the local village. The healing sets up the controversy that comes in the next passage.
God does not heal all disabilities. Many people suffer from debilitating situations. We do not have much information about this woman, but she was a seeker of God and had gone to the synagogue that day for a reason. God can give additional strength, hope, and peace to those with disabilities. Though this lifetime is challenging for all people, those who suffer physically can experience spiritual healing that will give them hope for resurrection power in the future.
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