When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Luke 13:12-13
To me, this is one of those real “Bible” moments, Jesus reaching out to heal someone. There are several things about this interaction we need to be aware of in order to understand the depth of Christ’s love and compassion. Let’s look at the situation more carefully.
First, it occurs as part of Sabbath worship (Luke 13:10). This woman has come to be part of the family of God even in her pain. Rather than separate herself because of her condition, she came willing to praise God in spite of it.
Second, it tells us “Jesus put His hands on her”. While Jesus doesn’t need to touch us physically to heal us, His action is one of caring, and that is an essential part of healing. Jesus reached out to her as He does to all of us, wanting us to come to Him and be healed.
Finally, it says she straightened up and praised God. Giving thanks to the One who made us for healing is right and necessary, for without Him we can do nothing. While we may be tools in His hands, we cannot heal anyone alone.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the healing love you send. Help us to be part of Your work in the world, offering compassion and comfort to all. Amen.