Luke 13:10-17 KJV
10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
11 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.
12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16 And 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?
17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

Will you be happy when your adversaries are put to shame. I often wonder if believer will understand it when Christ's returns their adversaries will be put to shame. The reality of his return no longer a mystery but visibly seen. What hard for people to understand is a miracle, but this was done before the crowd of witness within the synagogues. The woman had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. She was bowed together(arched over), she had a back that was no longer straight and it would of caused movement to be limited but not impossible. When Jesus called her to him he spoke the words of faith of saying you are loosen from your infirmities and then he laid his hands on her back. Now if you and I witnessed this what would our reaction be, especially if we like this person that was healed and knew her. She straighten up and was healed and was no longer hunched over. Her healing visible to all and the people rejoiced but someone complained that he was healing on the sabbath. Who was it the ruler of the synagogue, because there was six days in which to work, no reason for her not to come and be healed on days that were days of work. Jesus response was simple enough would you not lead your oxen to water on the sabbath? Then why not help a daughter of Abraham. He did not say a gentile, I sure if Jesus had the ruler would of been furious and maybe some in the crowd that was cheering and praising God.

What was the water she drank as the ox did, it was the water of healing, the water of faith. When I say drank, I do not literally mean drank here, but on faith she straighten up with the touch of Jesus hand, on faith the ox master took him to the watering hole. I had several miracles in my life and yet I read this and I struggle to grasp the audience reaction, because of what, the degree of her bend of her back? No I think it is the fact that with faith she straighten up, with encouragement of touch she grabbed hold of it and straighten up believing God for the impossibility. To witness a miracle is far different then experience one yourself. You have the reaction of the crowd, the reaction of the woman the reaction of the ruler of the synagogue who probably did not want to loose his position as ruler. He care more about his status, and the law then human compassion or what he just witness a real miracle of God. Then I wonder why the ruler had not believed. Then one has to remember this lady would of been consider unclean because of her illness in her back that did not allow her to straighten up. The ruler would of ignore her perhaps.

The problem with some people that only see their status has a garment of protection of what they used to consider people unclean or unworthy to communicate too. People knew there place in the land of Israel. They knew who was worthy to approach even their leaders. How they dressed, what they wore, how they presented themselves. These rulers of the synagogue, Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes and so for had order of who could talk to who. It be like someone talking to the Pope that was commoner. In our land it not suppose to be that way, but in a sense there is what some call a pecking order of who you talk to first. Most people do not talk to hierachy of the church organization unless they are in that particular church where that person attends. If you reach the hierachy some would say you way out of line to do so. However some of those leaders including the pope miss being with the regular folks and help in questions of faith.

Had this woman ever gone to the ruler for healing, a priest, a Pharisee or a Sadducee? The world may never know, but we know she suffered for eighteen years when this man named Jesus who was seen by many at the minimum a prophet, heal her. Jesus rebukes that leader as why did you not take care of this women in need for she was a daughter of Abraham. Why did you not pray or seen her to the pool for cleansing. Why not something, and yet there is rebuke and the ruler felt ashame. The simpleness of what Jesus wanted to know was why did you not pray for healing, why did she have to wait for him to do it. Many pastors wonder why their people only seem to seek them for prayer, in reality ever child of God has the power to make their request known to God for the healing of the saints, and healing for belief in others. The minister at the top of the ladder should be the one praying over those that are not being healed by the disciples of Jesus in the church who are in training for God's service, meaning they are saved and learning to follow Jesus. The minister at the top should be more prayed up and maybe already fasting, in spiritual mode for ministering to those that seem to have a more difficult cases. The disciples of Jesus can pray, request prayer by other believers, and should never feel alienated by doing so. Who is the hierachy of the church? Jesus, and you know if you gone to him you are a child of God. Yet the disciples of one case of casting out a demon from a boy, turned to Jesus why could we not cast the demon out. Jesus response was prayer and fasting was needed. In other words the simple prayer, the rebuke of the demonaic spirit, they had done nothing wrong in their attempts, but they did not know more prayer and fasting was needed in this particular case. Yet they knew healing was done by their hand, and Yet Jesus told them don't glory that you could heal, but praise God for the fact your name is written in the book of life.

Do we as believer believe when we pray for someone that God is going to do a miracle? Do we doubt like Thomas in Jesus ability to do all we ask. Do we lack faith as a disciple and follower of Jesus. The ruler of the synagogue should of had enough faith in God to see this woman healed. Some would say pray until healing comes, claim it til healing comes and others say I will live with my infirmities as Paul did believing it is a thorn in his flesh, meaning someone or something to remind them of their humanity here on earth and something are just have to be done in God's timing, for he has a reason for our suffering. Just has he did for the suffering of Jesus. Can you bear your cross, endure your suffering and be a witness for Jesus. James 5 say to bring all that are sick and afflicted to the elders of the church and they will be healed. Sometimes I wonder does James and Paul line up with what Jesus taught his disciples. Yet believe it or not there were those not healed even at the time of Jesus because of unbelief. The question is do we believe we can be healed or are we resigned to our life style. I wonder sometimes then I read not only about faith but God's timing and see a woman hunched over in this story waiting 18 years for healing. It was not a lack of faith, but God's timing to do what to bring shame to the ruler of the synagogue. To bring him to repentance in his heart if possible. Her suffering for the rulers salvation.

Devil you just got smacked. If you hang around you get smacked again. Not one person can deal with the shame we feel when healing does not occur in our timing, or in our lack of faith, and when as a believer one does not hold to faith God is still able, but his reason for delay might not be known to us, and but we need to learn to wait for the day of our healing and Christ return. Where our healing is the devil is going to be smacked once more.

Dear Heavenly Father, those who are sick in body, need physical healing, I lifte them up to you, not even knowing their name. That if they reading about miracles that you will touch them restore them, provide for them the faith they need to carry on. If it be a miracle, or just a faith booster of why not now but later, you know why then, Lord just strengthen your people for your glory and honor. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Luke 10:20 KJV
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Matthew 17:14-21 KJV
14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

2 Corinthians 12:7-11 KJV
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

James 5:13-16 KJV
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.