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.”
Apart from about two recorded accounts where Jesus administered healing remotely, all other ministrations of healing took place in close range: He spoke a word over the sick or bound; He touched them with His loving hands; He even formed a totally new set of eyes at some point. In other words, by being present at Jesus’ meetings, those who were sick received their healing right there! A touching case in point is that of a woman who was bent over for eighteen years! The Word says, she “…could in no way raise herself up” (Luk 13:11 NKJV). Thankfully, though deformed, she could walk; and of all places, she went to God’s house. Hallelujah!
Yes, though she was in a bad shape physically (and most likely emotionally too), she was present at the gathering of God’s people in His presence. It was right there that “…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’, as in our text. Hallelujah! Indeed, her physical presence in the synagogue that day secured her deliverance. A similar thing happened to Hannah (1 Sam 1). Though she was a woman of a sorrowful spirit, she kept going to Shiloh one year after another.
One blessed day, “…as she continued praying before the LORD…Eli [the high priest] watched her mouth. Then Eli answered and said, ‘Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him'” (1 Sam 1:12, 17 NKJV). That marked the change in her ordeal, forever! The Bible says, “Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God” (Psa 92:13 NKJV). Hallelujah! Whether it is to be freed from a pressing burden—like the woman whom Jesus set free—or nurturing the desire to conceive a seed, an idea, or a dream, true flourishing takes place in the manifested presence of the LORD. Love His presence—regardless of any odds!
Pst. Emmanuel