Jesus Scroll Stone

Before I get into Luke 13 let me set the background for you. The stone in the picture above is very precious to me. Let me explain why. A few years ago my wife and I had the privilege of going on a tour of the Holy Land with a couple who happen to be some of our dearest friends. Over the course of our ten-day journey, we visited the Galilee region, the city of Jerusalem, and all of the major sites in the nation of Israel. We have been there a few times before but this was by far the best trip ever. The first reason it was we were able to spend time with our friends. It was phenomenal. We all had a wonderful time laughing, crying, ministering, eating, and taking in the grandeur of the land of the Bible.

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At the Church of Notre Dame in Jerusalem on David’s Citadel.

 

The other reason it was the best trip ever was that our tour guide was the former minister of tourism for the nation. With him, we had access to unique historic sites and archeological digs. It wasn’t just a cathedral type of trip. For instance, he took us to the high places to see the landscape of the land. From two different locations, we were able to view about 80% of the ground where the history of Israel took place. As we stood in these high spots our guide pointed out different historical locations of Bible events for hours at a time. Being a lover of Old Testament history (Kevin Connor, “What’s in the old concealed is in the new revealed.”) I was enamored by these locations. It was heaven.

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Standing in the midst of friends.

 

One afternoon we went to visit the Church of Magdala on the east side of the Sea of Galilee. If you ever go to the Holy Land you must visit this amazing place. In 2009 archaeologists unearthed the only first-century synagogue on the Sea of Galilee – one of only seven synagogues from this period in the world – along with the archaeological remains of the 2,000-year-old city of Magdala. The entire site is absolutely breathtaking.

During our visit, I had the wonderful opportunity to share from the Word of God in the Boat Chapel there on the grounds. As I spoke, behind me there was a view of the Sea of Galilee. It was so exciting. I got to preach in this unique boat-shaped pulpit/altar which was built to commemorate Jesus preaching from the boat in Luke 5:1-11.

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Preaching in the Boat Chapel in the Church of Magdala.

 

Which leads me to the amazing stone from the first picture at the beginning of this blog. On the grounds of the Church of Magdala is the original synagogue from Jesus’ day. At this archaeological discovery, we can see the stone where the scroll would be set for the reading of Tanakh (Old Testament). Now watch this…

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The stone, pictured in the center, where Jesus most likely read the Tanakh in the synagogue in Magdala.

 

Matthew 4:23 says, ” Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” By this scripture and many others, we know that Jesus taught throughout the Galilee region, and historians are certain that he taught and frequented this very spot.  For me, first I got to speak in the Boat Chapel (Catholic church) now we were able to sit where Jesus sat and read the Word of God to the people on that day. This was like a dream. I am still awestruck by this opportunity. 

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That is me in black sitting in the middle. I had the honor of sitting at the seat that Jesus sat in before the stone which held the scroll of the Tanakh.

 

This all leads me to Luke 13:10. It says, “Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.” I love this. Our story takes us to church. Verse 10 is very clear. One day Jesus goes to church. What an amazing idea that Jesus would be at church. He is in the church. Ministering the Word. Ministering to people. We should try that sometime. 🙂

On this particular day, Jesus is the guest speaker at the synagogue. He arrives on the right day at the right time with the right group of people. It says, Jesus, “is teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath.” Jesus was probably reading the verse for the day and possibly expounding upon it as he normally would do when he would visit the synagogues.

Now I would like to think that while He was speaking Jesus looked around the room and made eye contact with those sitting there. But in this case, not everyone was looking up at Jesus as He spoke. When we continue to read the story, we know that there was a woman who was not looking at Jesus. She was looking down. It wasn’t on purpose. She wasn’t trying to be rude. It was her condition.

Verse 11 says, “And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.” Because of this basic information, we know that this woman had to have been a member of the church in order to have a seat in the room. She was there with her infirmity looking down because of her condition.

Understand that everywhere that Jesus went there were huge crowds that would show up. They wanted to hear Him speak and to see Him do miracles. When He did His outdoor meetings they could have as many that would come because they were out in the open, but when Jesus went indoors there were limitations to how many people could be present with Him.

For example, in Mark 2 there was no room in the house where Jesus was teaching. So, the four friends of the paralytic man decided to bust through the roof of the house to get him to Jesus. There was no room. There was no access. But now in our text, Jesus was INSIDE THE CHURCH. Those who had access were the only ones who had access, including of all people this woman.

Again verse 11 says, “there was a woman with a spirit of infirmity 18 years who was bowed down and could not raise herself up.” What a statement! Let get the facts. This lady was in church. She was a churchgoing lady. She was a member. She was a believer. She probably was faithful. She was present in the room. When you do the math of 18 years of Sabbaths this woman probably heard at least 936 sermons while looking down. Yet she was still there.

She suffered from a spirit of infirmity. A spirit of infirmity is a spirit that weakens your ability to function the way God created you to function. It is a deforming, debilitating, incapacitating, and encumbering thing that touches the body and the soul. Possibly, somewhere sometime she had opened the door, made a decision or choice, had an unresolved sin, or a bad attitude, maybe an argument that never got settled, an offense that stuck, a reaction to something and she couldn’t let go, or she believed a lie of the enemy who gave her a satanic, demonic, counter-prophe-LIE.

It was some kind of action or event in her life that swung open the door of her soul and left her vulnerable for an attack from the spirit of infirmity. BTW: Satan doesn’t prophesy, but he sure can prophe-LIE. Things like…Disease runs in your family. Poverty is your portion. Divorce is what your father and mother chose and it chooses you. You are going to be nervous, have mental breakdowns, have several addictions. Etc. Etc. He is the father of lies. Somewhere somehow the gate opened and infirmity came in.

It’s amazing because we know exactly WHEN it happened to her. The Bible gives us the details. 18 years before this day a demonic attack came against her. Something happened then that caused her to bend forward and stay stuck. It was a spiritual thing that had physical effects. It manifested in her body. Imagine 18 years of being stuck. There is an exact moment in time that is connected to this infirmity. She was STUCK IN THAT MOMENT in time. Never to move beyond it. Imagine 18 years ago. It was like 2002. Something happened and you haven’t been able to move beyond it. You are still there.

In life, there are certain times that we can mark that changed us. How many remember when you graduated high school? Got Saved? Married? Hurt? Car accident? An attack? You can name it and date it. For this woman 18 years ago she was STUCK in a position that would alter her existence.

In fact, the Bible uses these words: she was BENT OVER. In Greek this phrase literally means to be forced down. Isn’t that the work of the enemy to force you down. To make you look down at all times. Her perspective was down. It was low. All she saw was the ground. All she could see was the earthly. And then the condition worsens. It says, “she could in no way raise herself up.” This was beyond her…strength, ability,  and faith. She couldn’t fix it.

But thank God, Jesus was in the house. It says in verse 12, “Jesus saw her.” She was on His radar. Forgetting all the religious protocols, Jesus stopped the service and called her out. He said, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” He spoke the words she was longing to hear…and this was at church. She had been there 936+ times before this and never heard these words until now. To those who are reading this now, there is an until now moment that you are about to enter into. Somethings might have been hanging on, lingering and hindering your life, but you are entering a moment when Jesus arrives.

I love this story because in the Greek the word Jesus used for SET FREE is a legal term. It is the word: apolou. It means to loose from. To grant acquittal. To release. To dismiss. It is in the perfect tense. This means it already took place and now she is going to enjoy the effects of what already is. Jesus just speaks to her situation a word that already is. Her deliverance already is available. He speaks what His Father speaks to Him. It is already is. Let me tell somebody: God will do it! Let me encourage you right now. 1 Thes. 5:24 says, “Faithful is He who called you, and He will also do it.” God will do it.

The next part of this story is exciting. Jesus lays His hands on her. He followed through and imparted the ANOINTING that she needed. Immediately, the Bible says, “She straightened up.” 18 years of bondage was broken with just one touch of the anointing. This is the FIX that FIXES what is FIXED. But thank God it is fixed no more. You are stuck no more. You are forced down no more. Jesus did it!

So, my question to you is, what do you do when something like this happens? Your life has changed. Your prayers have been answered. You came in one way, but you are going out another. My guess is, most likely, you have to take a moment to give Him some praise. That is what this verse says, “She began to glorify God.”

This lady started to worship like she couldn’t worship before. I see her doing a lap around the sanctuary. I see her waving her hands, lifting her feet, rocking back and forth, and giving God a mighty praise. She takes a praise break. Like the old song goes, “Look what the Lord has done! He healed my body. He touch my mind. He saved me just in time. I am going to praise Him. Look what the Lord has done.” This lady goes to church at the church.

Imagine after all these years she is worshipping UPRIGHT. When I think of this woman it reminds me of Psalm 111:1,  “I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the UPRIGHT, and in the congregation.” This verse says, UPRIGHT, not UPTIGHT. Some of you have been UPTIGHT long enough. Now its time to get upright and to give Him glory.

As we finish this, I believe that Jesus is in the HOUSE to deal with infirmity. He is in your house. He is right where you are at. Jesus is with you. Right now He is weakening demonic forces that have forced you one way or another. Things that have been twisted in your life. Things that have forced you downward. Things that have kept you stuck.

You can’t go around forced down any longer. It might not be physical for you, but it represents what you are going through. It is an attack that has manifested in the mental, emotional, relational, or financial parts of your life. It is tiresome. It is wearisome. It has not gone away. Its been there for a very long time. Too long. It has created other issues. It has limited you. It has embarrassed you. But I got news for you, enough is enough. Jesus is in the house and when Jesus is in the house change takes place.

The Fix that Fixes what is Fixed…Is Jesus. I have a new name for Him. He is the Fix Fixer.

In grace, Patrick Kiteley

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Follow-Through-Enter-Into:

Personally: Name one area in your life where you have experienced infirmity (the inability to raise yourself up)? (Confide)

Practically: Boldy, ask Jesus to speak to you and to touch your life.  (Decide)

Prayerfully: Father God, I ask you to touch my life. I need you, Holy Spirit, to fix what has been fixed so I may be free to live and to glorify You. In Jesus’ name, Amen! (Applied)

Scripture Reading: Luke 13:10-17