The Miracles of Jesus 5-"Jesus Heals Peter's Mother–in–law

Miracle # 5 - “Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother–In–Law”

Summary: Fifth in a series on the miracles of Christ, here Jesus heals Peter’s mother in law.

series-The Miracles of Jesus

Scripture:Mark 1:29-34, Matthew 8:14-17, Luke 4:38-41
Date: 23 September 2018

Introduction

After casting out a demon of the possessed man in the synagogue at Capernaum, Jesus went directly to house of Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, they were accompanied, according to Mark, by James and John.

“The picture of Jesus in this miracle contrasts with that in the miracle accounts which immediately preceded it. There, Jesus was described as a figure with immense authority displayed both in his teaching and in his casting out of a demon. In this miracle, Jesus seems more of an ordinary man. He walked home from synagogue with his friends. He went into the house where he was staying, ready to eat a meal. When Jesus learned that Peter’s mother in law was sick, he sent in to see her. These are all ordinary acts – the acts of a common man. And then they remind us that while Jesus was truly God, he was also fully human.” 

[Larry Richards. “Every Miracle In the Bible.” (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Pub, 1998) p. 175.]

Peter lived at Capernaum, a fishing town on the Sea of Galilee. This is a very important statement here, proving that Peter was a married man. The Catholics contest this because it contradicts their beliefs, but it is obvious that Peter was married. This is substantiated by Paul, who said in 1 Corinthians 9:5, “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?”  Paul warned that some would forbid to marry, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils (2 Tim. 4:1-3). Commandments forbidding marriage are Satanic. The Word of God says expressly, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:4).

Scripture Reading

This miracle is told in three of the gospel accounts and because each writer adds some details of what happened in that room, I want us to read all three of them. Let us rise to our feet and together read

Mark 1:29-34

“Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. (30) But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. (31) So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. (32) At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. (33) And the whole city was gathered together at the door. (34) Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

Matthew 8:14-17

“Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. (15) So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. (16) When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, (17) that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses."

Now I want us to examine at some length the account in Luke 4:38-41, 

“Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. (39) So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.”

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. May the sweet Holy Spirit add His manifold blessings to our text in our hearing this morning.... Amen! You may be seated in God's Presence.

Sermon

So once inside the house, Jesus was told that Peter’s mother-in-law was ill.  Jesus was taken in to see the patient and in Mark’s account, he went up to her without a word, took her by the hand and raised her up. Luke states that Jesus “rebuked” the fever. These accounts do not conflict. Each writer chose to emphasize different details of the story in order to emphasize a different characteristic of Jesus. The Greek word for “rebuked” (epetimesan) is the same word that is used to describe how Jesus cast out the demon in the synagogue (Luke 4:35). This word has a technical meaning, it indicated a commanding word spoken by God or by his spokesman, by which evil powers are forced to submit.

Mark says she was suffering from a fever, and Luke, who by tradition was a doctor, called a “great” or “high” fever. There were three kinds of fever that were common in that day. First, Malta fever, was characterized by weakness, anemia and a wasting away. It lasted several months and usually ended in death. A second type was an intermittent fever, which is similar in nature to what is today known as “typhoid fever.” And the third type, was mosquito-born malaria, bred in the plains where the Jordan River meanders into the Sea of Galilee, which was a problem for the lakeside towns of Galilee.

Luke who was trained as a physician, as a man of science he used a technical term "Megalo" for a violent fever. We do not know the cause of this fever but the facts that it was high and the fact that the woman was too sick to get up suggest an extremely serious and perhaps life threatening illness. The demands of every life in that time did not allow most people the luxury of going to bed whenever they felt badly.

According to Dr. Bailey

Whatever this fever was attributable to—whether germs, virus, or a spirit—it left at the touch of the Almighty. It has been shown often that diseases shrivel up in the presence of the anointing of the Lord. Here is a beautiful portrait of a godly woman who ministered to the Lord and His servants after He healed her. There is a story of Saint Monica who looked upon her father as the Heavenly Father, and her brothers as the apostles. Viewing them as such, she served them in abject humility. May God grant us the reality of Philippians 2:3, that in lowliness of mind we esteem others better than ourselves, and that nothing should be done through strife or vainglory.

[Bailey Brian. J. "The Gospel of Matthew". Waverly : Zion Christian Publishers, 2000. Page 59] 

What we have before us in the accounts of this miracle is reality a double miracle. First of all, Jesus took her by the hand, lifted her up and the fever was immediately gone. And the second aspect of the miracle was according to Dr. Luke was that she was immediately infused with a complete restoration of her strength, she arose and “served them.” In all the accounts, the effect was immediate; the fever not only left her, but she was able to “serve them.”

There are several observations that should be made from the story of the cure of Peter’s mother-in-law. First, Peter had a wife. If as the Roman Catholic Church claims, Peter was the first Pope, then his marital status flies in the face of the enforced celibacy of all priests, including the Pope. In fact the requirement of celibate ministry denies what God has permitted. The apostle Paul rather pointedly says in 1 Corinthians 9:5, “Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas (Peter)?”

A second observation is that this miracle occurred in a private place not a public auditorium. This act of mercy on the part of Jesus was down simply in a home. Jesus can heal in private or Public. You should believe in His miraculous.

A third observation, is it is wrong to assume that if a person suffers some sickness or disease that they are suffering because of some sin in their lives. Sickness is also permitted by God for His glory and that His Son might be glorified also (John 11:4).

According to Luke’s account after the miracle Jesus stayed on in Peter’s house – which in all probability became the headquarters for His Galilean ministry. Then after sunset, people began to arrive at the house bringing with then all those who were sick (v. 40). “When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.”

From our Gentile perspective the reason why the people waited until sunset is not obvious at first. Verse thirty-one tells us that it was the Sabbath day. It was unlawful for the Jewish people to carry anything including the sick on the Sabbath. The Jewish “day” ends at sundown, so as soon as the sun had set the people of this region of Galilee bundled up their sick and brought them to Christ. While this literally happened, there is another thought behind this verse. At the “evening” or close of the Church Age, God is going to pour out His Spirit to heal all who come. What a privilege it will be to minister during the last day revival.

Jesus has just demonstrated that he could heal with just a word (v. 39), yet in the next verse Luke is careful to tell us (v. 40) that Jesus “laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.” Hands-on-healing was most unusual we see no mention of it in rabbinical literature or in the Old Testament. The method that Jesus used was radically new and was both symbolic of the outflow of divine power and a demonstration of the tenderness of Jesus. Every single person that evening felt the loving touch of the Master’s hand.

By telling us that he “healed every one of them” we are told that no disease was too difficult for Him and no disease was beyond His power to heal.

According to Dr. Bailey,

Here is an example of the Lord healing everyone who came to Him. This is in contrast to the teaching He gave at Nazareth about Elisha only healing one of many lepers in Israel in his time.
We must see that Jesus was moving under the direction of the Father. Therefore, we cannot stereotype God. “Wisdom is justified by her children.” In other words, wisdom is known to be wisdom by the fruit it produces. God will do whatever seems good to Himself. In humility, we must hear what God is saying at all times.
Another thought to consider here is the fact that the miracles were done at the setting of the sun. There is an important truth here. At the days end of this Church dispensation we should expect to see the power of God unleashed in such a way that at times all are healed to the glory of God.We must see that Jesus was moving under the direction of the Father. Therefore, we cannot stereotype God. “Wisdom is justified by her children.” In other words, wisdom is known to be wisdom by the fruit it produces. God will do whatever seems good to Himself. In humility, we must hear what God is saying at all times.
Another thought to consider here is the fact that the miracles were done at the setting of the sun. There is an important truth here. At the days end of this Church dispensation we should expect to see the power of God unleashed in such a way that at times all are healed to the glory of God.Another thought to consider here is the fact that the miracles were done at the setting of the sun. There is an important truth here. At the days end of this Church dispensation we should expect to see the power of God unleashed in such a way that at times all are healed to the glory of God.

[Bailey Brian. J. "The Gospel of Luke" . Waverly: Zion Christian Publishers, 1999. Pages 65]

The final observation that I would like to make from this miracle is that reflect what is so often true of our own experiences. The Lord’s miracles in our lives are often quiet and ordinary. It is the small miracles that are performed for us by our Lord, behind closed doors that allow ordinary people to carry on in their seemly ordinary lives that are the most significant miracles of all.

In verse forty-one we are told, “And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.” 

This is yet a further testimony to the fact that “the devils believe and tremble” (Jas. 2:19). From this passage we learn that Jesus healed many more people – people with “various kinds of sickness.”

Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53:4, “He himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases.”

Jesus continued by casting out demons, but Mark adds the curious detail that Jesus did not allow the demons to speak. Apparently the demons knew that he was "the Christ,” but he would not allow them to speak. According to Luke 4:31, the demons were continually crying out, "You are the Son of God.” It is possible that their shouts were not confessions but futile attempts to exercise mastery over Jesus by showing that they knew his name. But what ever the reasons for their shouts Jesus would not allow these representatives of the evil one to announce Him as the Messiah.

It had been a busy day and even busier evening for Jesus. According to verse forty-two sometime between 4:30 and 6:00 a.m. the Lord arose and slipped out of the house and went to a lonely place by the lake and there he began to pray. “Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; (43) but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." (44) And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.”

This was the year of His popularity when all men sought Him and desired His presence. This is the way it will be for us as well. There are times when we are appreciated and people desire to hear us, but later on, as in the ministry of Jesus, the message becomes unpalatable.

Application for today

In this passage we find a wonderful reminder that our lives and our ministries are not to be determined by the press of the crowd, or by what may be popular at the moment, but by what is the will of the Father. Although Jesus did heal many his purpose and his mission never changed, he came to declare the kingdom of God and to call men to it.

Charles Swindoll in his study guide on this story in Luke finds three principles worth remembering in this incident.

•Time alone, away from the demands of ministry, is neither selfish nor unimportant.•Others may not always understand our need to get away. People won’t set our boundaries for us; we must set them ourselves.•We must guard against a limited scope of ministry. The Lord may lead us to other places and we must go.

[Charles Swindoll. “The Origination of Something.” Bible Study Guide (Luke 1:1-6:49) (Anaheim, Calif.: Insight For Living, 1994) p. 106]

Jesus was personally the fulfillment of this prophecy of Isaiah 53:5, for “with His stripes we are healed.” As we receive salvation because we know He died for our sins, let us also receive His free gift of healing. Remember, He is the One “who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth [every single one of] thy diseases” (Psa. 103:3). Let us believe and receive both blessings of healing and forgiveness. Praise the Lord!

[Bailey Brian. J. "The Gospel of Matthew". Waverly : Zion Christian Publishers, 2000. Page 59]