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READ: Mark 1:29
CHALLENGE: Find God and Serve Others (Including your family)
Vv29-34 – As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
- PUT YOUR FAMILY FIRST
Jesus has just left the synagogue where he spiritually healed a person and now he goes to the home of Simon and Andrew which must be close by. This physical healing is right on the heals of the spiritual healing he had just done.
My job as a reader of the story is to think it through and make observations that are helpful and challenging to our lives. I notice, first of all. that they are living a truly normal life. What we’re seeing is not some mountain top experience, right? In other words, it didn’t result because they climbed up a mountain and joined a monastery. It was regular stuff that regular people do. And God was working in the regular stuff that regular people do. Society went to the synagogue and Jesus fit into to normal and wholesome patterns of life. And great things were happening in those normal life patterns! God still works on common paths.
After they were at the synagogue, they all went home for lunch. You go to church and come home for dinner – doesn’t get more traditional and normal than that. Sunday afternoon dinners were the most elaborate meals of the week for my family as we grew up. It was the one time a week where the family gathered around the dining room table. Every other day, it was normal dishes and the kitchen table.
So, they come home to eat and that was normal life. What wasn’t normal was that Peter’s mother in law had fallen ill so they tell Jesus about it. He then heals her instantly and that was something extraordinary in the ordinary path of life.
Another observation I made is that the disciples still had problems even though they were following God. Peter and Simon had laid down their fishing nets and left their old life behind in order to follow Jesus Christ. In addition, they had just been worshiping in the synagogue. Shouldn’t you get a pass on problems if you’re doing holy things? You pick up that cross and problems ought to part like the Red Sea while you walk on dry ground!! Apparently not the case and good to remember.
Does the Bible even hint that we’ll never have problems? No! Count it all joy when you fall into various trials. It’s WHEN, not IF. Paul wanted a sickness to leave him and God said, “My grace is sufficient”. Faith never rules out valleys, it just counts on God to help us through. Even in the murkiest shadows of death itself, God is with us.
(trans.) Let’s draw up a few lessons.
Lesson 1: God cares about your family too.
It’s not just strangers that are getting healed, in this case, it’s a close family member to Simon Peter. Let’s focus on that. James and John are brothers. Simon and Andrew are brothers in the home that belonged to them. The mother of Simon’s wife is there so we learn that Peter was a married man. Simon cares about his mother-in-law. Your family is important to you and your family is obviously important to God as well. Jesus takes their concerns to heart and heals her.
Family is a vital concept in the Bible where it references husbands and wives. It talks about raising children. One of the 10 Commandments regards how we treat our parents. We are encouraged to teach our children the right path. I think of miracles where a mother cried out for her child or a father sought Jesus for his daughter. We care about our families and we cry out to a God who also cares about our families.
Let that sink in for those who have a child that you’re concerned about. You feel the enormous weight. You wake up in the middle of the night thinking about their problems perhaps. It’s good to know that God cares about your family even more than you do. He’s watching out for us and protecting us and providing for us. That brings me comfort that God does powerful things in the context of family.
Lesson 2: Ministry Starts at Home
Peter’s concerned about his mother-in-law. After all, who’s going to cook them dinner? If you want to eat, you better get her going, Jesus! Her lentil soup is to die for. Kidding aside, I really don’t think they’re worried about Peter’s mother-in-law because of her cooking ability. They actually care about her and she them.
Mutual concern should be a hallmark in your family. It’s a place of acceptance. It’s a place of unconditional love. It’s a place where we work for the good of each other and not just ourselves. It takes unselfishness and humble consideration for others. And that means that everyone needs to be considerate and yield from time to time. Look at it like a giant traffic circle! But if we really care, we’re willing to serve them and their interests.
It’s interesting to me that one of the very first physical healings that Jesus does occurs in the setting of a home. It’s not on a stage. It’s not on the steps of the temple for all to see. It’s in the setting of a home with a small group of family members present.
This is his first miraculous physical healing recorded in Mark. First is very close to priority. It’s fair to see this as a pattern of importance of your home and family – start there. We guys love to conquer the world. We enjoy the accolades of co-workers. Because we derive so much significance in what the broader world thinks, we may focus on everything that exists outside of our home forgetting that our home is of FIRST IMPORTANCE! Ministry starts at home and it should never be trivialized.
Spending time with your family and helping them is the highest service there can be. I’ve lived long enough to know that at the end it’s your family that stands by your side. It’s probably not your former co-workers. Hopefully you’re close to them but the two cannot be equated as family importance far overshadows that.
Spend time with them. Do things that are important to them. You may feel like you’re not accomplishing anything huge, but it will be remembered. I’m sure my grandfather forgot about the day he was late to work because we begged him to play croquet with us out in the yard and he did. He made time for us. He may have forgotten but I never did. I don’t think he lived a whole long time past that so his time was short and he did something meaningful. Invest into your family every chance you get. Do things just for them. Making a difference there has got to be one of the most important things that we do.
If everyone out there loves us but our family is cold, something is not right. Perhaps we’re not valuing them the way that we should. Win at home. No sense in winning the world if we lose at home.
- TELL JESUS ABOUT IT
They immediately told Jesus. The first response to this crisis which fell to them was to turn to God. May this be our first response to the problems we encounter. Heartache, big decisions, finances, health, needs for wisdom and the like.
When you are concerned about something, talk to Jesus about it. Here’s what you shouldn’t do – don’t freak out. Be calm. Keep your wits about you and pray.
Is prayer just for a crisis situation? No. Perhaps we think something as slight as a fever is not a big enough concern, but they brought it to Jesus. Bring your concerns big and small. If it’s on your heart, talk to God. Cast all of your anxieties on him because he cares for you. You’re not going to be a bother. People came to Jesus with all sorts of things and Jesus did not drive people away.
However, it could be that you think the problem is so big that you don’t believe it’s possible to change. You might be feeling hopeless. Pray about that too! One of the stories that is so fascinating was when the disciples encountered a boy who was demon possessed and they could not drive it out. Jesus threw out the demon and they asked why they couldn’t and Jesus said, this kind comes out only by prayer. Sometimes the only way we’re ever going to change a situation is by praying about it. Jesus said that we can move mountains with our faith.
- WE ARE HEALED TO SERVE
- Simple Changes Are Huge
She had a fever and Jesus made it go away. She was completely healed and then she humbly served. A parallel passage in Luke says that she was very sick so this fever was bad news. However, this miracle is not as grand as healing a person born blind. It’s not as awesome as speaking away leprosy or casting out a demon. It’s not as big as raising Lazarus from the dead. It’s just a fever. Almost every one of us has had a fever before while none of us has had leprosy.
Peter’s mother-in-law is in bed and she has a fever. Jesus sent that fever packing immediately – that is a miracle. Still, with all the super cool things Jesus did, why even bother with something so small and trivial by comparison. Perhaps it’s to show us that God works in the simple things too. It’s not all total WOW stuff.
In Christianity, I have often seen a, “We want more God” element. It seems that people really want to experience something eye popping and jaw dropping. Why? Are the quiet regular miracles not enough for us? Why you spoiled Christian! What did Paul say, if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. That’s an incredible blessing. Strength through trials is not extraordinary but it is important. It’s manna!
I wonder what God thinks of a Christian’s desire to be constantly wowed? Like the children of Israel where manna was never enough. It’s like the Pharisees who kept begging for a sign. It was Thomas who wouldn’t believe unless he saw. God, wow me right now! I want to be blown away and if I’m not, I’ll look for a church where I am.
I’m wowed but perhaps I’m wowed by simple blessings like when a fever leaves! I appreciate the amazing gift of a family, of health, or a grandchild, of friends, of answered prayers. I just look around and I’m wowed. I believe that God has done so much for me already!
When I hear someone walk out of church and tell me that their life is changing – that’s awesome. Hopefully we’ve all experienced life change. We didn’t announce it. We didn’t put it on a social media post. You might wonder if it doesn’t happen on social media, did it truly happen?
I’ve seen people who told me that they could not drive by the church without coming into it. They drove by and drove by and it was an irresistible drawing to come in. It was never recorded in the annuls of any public record. It just happened, like this fever leaving this person.
I’ve seen God work in ways that would be unknown to all others but I clearly knew that God was reaching out to help me. Again, in the trenches, in the simplicity of living. Right where I lived in my home. In this quiet place. In a house. Apart from huge lights and impressive venues, a woman is healed of a fever. Simplicity. Never under estimate the power of the simple things God does.
I’ll take quiet hush of true change over hype any day of the week!
Where have you seen God? Perhaps He healed your family, mended a rift, answered a prayer. He’s saved you and that means that your sins were erased. Your debt was paid. What had pinned you down and left you nearly spiritually lifeless has been lifted and you are free. God has done things for all of us.
- We Are Healed to Serve
Jesus heals in an instant and now mom is on her feet serving her family. Never take that for granted, right? She’s healed and now she’s feeding the boys!
This word is a humble service word. It’s not reserved for just females. Jesus served and church leaders served and we all should serve. Let’s think about the beauty of this. Not all ministry is in the form of teaching the Bible. It’s not just about preaching or leading a small group or doing something overtly and obviously spiritual. Sometimes a spiritual thing is meeting a physical need. It’s making a meal for someone or showing up at a calling hours.
She used the talents that God gave her to benefit another human. How often are we told to feed the hungry and give water to the thirsty and watch out for the fatherless and the widow? Over and over again. You might assist someone and that is a spiritual thing to do.
Perhaps I do something just to help a person financially, that is not spiritual per se but when done for the Lord, it is a spiritual act! Sweeping a floor. Serving food at a funeral dinner to a grieving family. Collecting school supplies for Operation Christmas Child – these are just regular things but it’s spiritual service. And it’s making a difference.
And if we’re truly healed, we should be helping others. Let’s think about consumer vs producer. Zeke is a consumer. Everything is for him and about him. He gets his diaper changed. He gets fed. He gets dressed by parents. He gets carried. He gets catered to. He gets attention. And that’s wonderful for a 2 year old. What about a 22 year old? If mom is still helping you out like that? You need to move from from a consumer to a producer.
The same is true in church. We consume worship, sermons, children’s ministries, bible studies, events, and programming. However, as we mature, we become a producer. We’re healed to serve!
I’ve been told that the Adventure Clubs north and south both need more volunteers. It’s simple working with small groups. Simple teaching. Simple playing games and lives are impacted. I learned a lot in children’s ministries and you get a great opportunity to serve and to help out. People wonder what their mission is, what’s wrong with that one! That’s a great one.
We’re healed to serve! Please never underestimate the power of simple service. After this, what does Jesus do? He gets fed and after sunset he heals dozens of people.
That man that he healed in the synagogue was not the only one who had a problem obviously and the word has spread and people find Jesus in this home. Late into the night a work of God was going on. You have to work where God is working.
What about making bunk beds in Honduras. Pretty simple, right? You go ahead and you put a bed together. And then they deliver it to homes that need it. You have no idea what that means to the families that receive these beds. Its super powerful.
Simple healing and simple service are both profound and one will lead to the other!
You’re healed to serve!