The audience was divided by gender. Sometimes, down the center of the room was a wall five or six feet high with the men on one side and the women on the other. In other cases, the arrangement placed the women in side galleries screened off by lattice work walls.

More about the un-named woman…….

Luke 13: 10-17

Verse 12              And when Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.”

Jesus saw her……..

The synagogue was usually constructed on the highest ground in the town.  It was constructed so that when worshipers entered or prayed, they would be facing Jerusalem.  Inside the building, on the Jerusalem end of the structure, was a special place reserved for the ark which was an ornamented chest which housed the sacred scrolls of the law when they were not in use.  In front of the ark was the eight branched lamp which was lighted only on great festival days and beside that was another lamp which was kept burning perpetually.  Nearest this area were the seats of honor.

Further toward the middle of the room was a raised platform where several men could stand and in the middle of the platform was a pulpit where the law could be read from the scroll.  The reader of the law would always stand as did all the people. A teacher would however sit down somewhere on the platform to teach those in attendance.

The audience was divided by gender.  Sometimes, down the center of the room was a wall five or six feet high with the men on one side and the women on the other.  In other cases, the arrangement placed the women in side galleries screened off by lattice work walls.

Jesus was teaching on that day and he was sitting down while he taught as was the custom.  I do not know if his hearers would be sitting or standing, but those in the seats of honor must have been sitting.  But what about the common people in attendance that day?  The men, who were the only ones who were purposely educated during that time, were most surely in closest proximity to Jesus as he taught.  The women, on the other hand, were farthest away from him.

Where exactly in the room was the woman who was bent over double?  How did she get there that day?  Did she walk to the highest point in the town viewing the dusty road all the way?  Was her condition painful?  It was for sure emotionally painful and most likely physically painful as well.  What was she thinking?  Was she hoping that Jesus would notice her and help her that day?  Did she put herself in view of him, or at least try to do so?  How was she treated by the others, the perhaps many others who were there and were sick as well?  How was she treated by the people who were well?  She was with the women somewhere, behind some kind of a wall.  Was she sitting among the crowd of women or standing?

Jesus saw her…..  What did he see?  He saw her physical condition, but he also saw the source of that condition.  He knew and saw the fact that Satan was behind the sickness that bound her.  Because of the healing ministry He had while living among us, there must have been many deformed and sick people in the worship service that day.  Why did her see this woman in particular?

It is BECAUSE her sickness was caused by a spirit from Satan.

1 John 3: 8b        ..the Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

There are a lot of troubling things going on around us.  God is aware of the source of every difficulty and Knows the way to healing and restoration.  Notice that the woman got herself into position as best she knew how and Jesus sought her out in the atmosphere of praise, worship and teaching that went on regularly in the building constructed for that purpose.  There He saw her…….. and more was to come.

Jesus sees you as well.  He knows you.  He understands everything about you and is completely familiar with the roots and the source of every troubling thing that is going on in your life.  If you are seeking the way forward in the company of those who praise, worship and exult the Living God, continue to do so.  He sees you and He knows.

Dear Lord, my Lord,  You know all things and You see everything clearly.  I love to be among the people of God, exulting You with a whole heart.  Yet, my heart and mind are clouded by the ugliness of troubling difficulties that often crowd their way into my desire to be wholly devoted to You.  See me Lord.  Destroy any work of the evil one in me so that I will be free to worship You in spirit and in truth.  Amen