“Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.” Luke 13:10-11 ESV
Reflection: is it possible to get physically ill from worry and fear?
Depression is one of the fastest growing diseases in our modern society. Not to get into various causes for depression, but we have probably all seen someone, or even experienced ourselves, the effects of it. Depression can be completely paralyzing, even physically disabling, and even get to a point where a person is questioning the purpose of life itself.
And it is nothing new.
In today’s story, we learn about a woman that for 18 years has had a condition which has caused her to be “bent over”, unable to walk up straight. Now, we don’t know for sure the cause of her condition – could of course be a number of physical things. But I want you to consider the possibility that this woman was actually deeply depressed. That she was carrying something, which manifested as “weight” causing her to be physically bent over.
From our focus verse, notice what happened next. “When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.” Luke 13:12-13 ESV And, Jesus adds the following explanation of what had happened to this woman, “And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”” Luke 13:16 ESVwe
Jesus explained that the cause of her condition was a “bondage of Satan”; in other words,
It was spiritual.
We often see this strong connection between spirits and diseases in the Bible. Remember back Luke chapter 9 and 10, where Jesus sends out disciples to share the gospel, he equipped them. “And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.”Luke 9:1-2 ESV.
In fact, the word used in our story for a “disabling” spirit, is “infirmity”, which is different than sickness. Matthew wrote “When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”” Matthew 8:16-17 NKJV.
We must realize that our experiences are more than just physical. Sometimes it is a spiritual bondage, as this woman experienced. The devil is a lier, and he wants to rob from us our joy in the Lord, to keep us in bondage, if he can. But as Jesus set the woman free, he can do the same for anyone dealing with depression today. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NKJV.