One of the miracles found in Luke’s Gospel was that of the healing of a crippled woman on the Sabbath, found in Luke 13:10-17. This is often called a ‘mirror miracle’ in that it replays the Sabbath healings of 4:31-41. This is an instantaneous healing miracle, unique to Luke’s gospel, and is the second miracle found in the Journey narrative of Luke’s gospel. It is significant as Jesus healed a woman in a culture where men shunned women. This miracle showed that Jesus had the power and authority to reverse the condition of the woman. The crowd recognises Jesus as the authoritative teacher seen in the wonderful things He was doing with the gracious hand of God.
This miracle follows on from Jesus telling the parable of the Spared fig tree, in which the nation of Israel is given one more chance to respond to his ministry. As Jesus was teaching on the Sabbath in one of the Synagogues. The woman had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years, an indicator of the severity of her condition. Although the woman had not asked to be healed, Jesus took initiative in this miracle, and called her forward saying, ‘“Woman, you are freed from your infirmary.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.’ Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath was met with the usual hostility from the leader of the synagogue, ‘Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath."’ However there is a reaction of praise to Jesus after he rebuked the Religious Leaders saying, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?"
Jesus performed this miracle to show that people can come to Jesus at any time for healing and restoration, even on the Sabbath and to show that compassion should have priority over traditions. According to Barrell, “The law was humanitarian, but the Pharisees interpretation was not.” Jesus shows his empathetic nature and shows compassion in His almighty power on behalf of the crippled woman and meeting her need. God’s compassion is always available and is unwavering. Jesus laid His hands on her to heal and to show that women were not unclean, or impure, and to identify with her. Barrell writes that, “Jesus was calling them to keep God’s law in its true interpretation.” The fact that Jesus performed this miracle shows that the ‘special time’ had come and that the Jews were experiencing the ‘Messianic Salvation’ and joy at the coming of God’s kingdom. It is an eschatological joy which comes with the Messianic Age. This miracle is proof of the Messianic times that were currently occurring, as Jesus allowed the lame to walk and the blind to see.
Another popular type of miracle was that of a nature miracle. Through the use of these nature miracles, Jesus is shown to be “all-powerful” as he has the power to command nature. Many scholars of Luke’s gospel feel that Luke used nature miracles so that his readers would recognise the power of God at work in Jesus.
A well-known nature miracle was that of the Calming of the Storm, found in Luke 8:22-25. Storms of this nature were very common in Galilee as it is around 700 feet below sea level. This miracle shows the power of Jesus over nature and also clearly highlights the importance of faith. According to Kodell, “The Early Christian community saw this story as a call to faith in Jesus who is present in the church during stormy times.” In this story, Jesus is angry with the apostles, as they should have known his great divine power, which shows that faith is a necessity to survive persecution and that through our faith Jesus will guide and protect us.
This is the second nature miracle in Luke and is the first in a series of miracles set around the Sea of Galilee before Jesus sent out the twelve. Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go to the other side of the Lake.” When the storm rises, the disciples become aware of their physical need, begin panicking and go to Jesus saying, “Master, master, we are perishing!” Jesus then woke up and “Rebuked the wind and rough water, and they subsided and it was calm again.” After this, Jesus rebuked the disciples asking “Where is your faith?” When the disciples realise that a miracle has taken place, they are both astounded and afraid. They further react by marvelling at and recognising the authority of Jesus, “Who is this that He commands even wind and water and they obey Him?” Banks writes that “In a now familiar pattern in the miracle stories, they respond with fear and amazement and ask a question about the implications of this miracle for the identity of Jesus.” This quote from the miracle story shows that where faith is missing, fear thrives. According to Banks, that when “Faced with their panic, Jesus challenges his disciples concerning the whereabouts of their faith.”
The calming of the storm provides evidence that Jesus is aware and is always available and willing to help. Through this miracle the disciples were convinced of the unique power authority that Jesus was in control of, and the character of Jesus himself. “He commands even wind and water, and they obey Him?” The disciples can trust Jesus because of who He is as what God used to do in the past, Jesus know does for us. This miracle shows that Jesus was much more than a prophet or a teacher, and also shows the greatness of the authority that they are to receive. This miracle will cause the disciples to realise that because of the Lord’s power there is no need to fear God, and to also reassure the reader that God has acted through Jesus because of the power which is now revealed. “While Luke’s miracle stories are clearly theological, they are also Christological, in that they also say something about Jesus himself,” writes Banks. The sudden stopping of the wind shows the unique power and character of God and showed the disciples who Jesus really was. This miracle shows that even when Jesus is not consciously with them, He can still meet their need. At the end of this miracle, Luke leaves the query unanswered as to who Jesus is. He is at least a prophet but this miracle shows that he is so much more than that, He has the power to restore order and in Him there is a real hope for the future.
Both these miracles can be seen as healing miracles, as through the calming of the storm, Jesus healed the disciples of their doubt, and He restored their faith in Him. These two miracles are also good teaching examples for Jesus as well as a chance for him to prove his power before the people and to help those in need. They form a lot for the basis of the Christian people’s beliefs about Jesus and help to strengthen many people’s faith in God. According to Banks, “Since God’s kingdom would come fully and finally only in the future, the miracles of Jesus are anticipations of the world-wide renewal which the future kingdom would usher in.