“There was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 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” (Luke 13: 11-13).

Consider this miracle:

(1) The woman was bound; we, through fear of death, have been all our lifetime subject to bondage.

(2) Satan had bound the woman; Satan has also set snares for our feet and brought us into captivity.

(3) She could in nowise lift herself up; our iniquities have taken hold of us so that we are not able to look up (Ps. 40:12).

(4) With a word and a touch Jesus set the woman free; we have the same merciful High Priest now in the heavens, who is touched with the feeling of our weaknesses. The same word will deliver us from evil.

Why were the miracles of healing recorded, which were performed by Jesus? John tells us. Not simply to show that He can heal disease, but to show His power over sin. “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (Jn. 20:31). They are recorded simply as object lessons of Christ’s love, of His willingness to relieve, and of His power over the works of Satan, whether in the body or in the soul.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Lk. 11: 9,10).

“If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:19).

Waggoner, Christ and His Righteousness, pp. 89,90