Mark 1:29-31 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. (30) But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. (31) And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
In our text today, we find Jesus going to the home of Simon Peter. In previous verses, Jesus had been healing a number of people. It could be that he was escaping the crowds for the purpose of getting some relaxation. When they arrived, they find Peter's mother-in-law laying sick with a fever.
Today a fever is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, we now know that a fever generally means that the body is fighting an infection. However in that time, a common ordinary diseases could be deadly. The text does not explain how severely she was sick, just that she laid sick with a fever. Regardless, Jesus had compassion on her and healed her from her fever. For Jesus there is no miracle too big or too small.
Our focus for the text today is found in verse 31. It is the reaction of Peter's mother-in-law that is of interest. After being sick for a period of time, the text tells us she got up and ministered to them. It is common after getting well from any illness there is a period of rest and "catching up". But Simons mother-in-law did not rest. She got up and served Jesus. What do you imagine she might have done for them? I Imagine she probably cooked some food. Maybe even washed their feet (which would have been a custom). And most likely met other needs and serve them like a woman might have done during that time. This is significant for two reasons:
1. We can learn from the example of Simons mother-in-law. For those of us that are Christians, we too have been healed. We too ought to feel a sense of joy and relief that we are no longer burdened by our disease of sin. We two should desire to get up and serve Jesus, to show our gratitude.
2. There is no service too small for Jesus. Jesus did not require Simons mother-in-law to forsake her house and to go out to a foreign country to become a missionary. Serving him with her current talents was sufficient. In Matthew chapter 25 we find Jesus tells us, giving a cup of water, giving food, visiting the sick, and small acts of kindness's like that to ‘the least of these’ is doing it to Jesus. Sometimes, it seems that if people can't do something to heroic then they do not want to do anything. But Simons mother-in-law simply did what a woman did she served Jesus using her own talents and the resources at her disposal.
We need to learn from Simons mother-in-law, We too need to serve Jesus! We serve Jesus by serving others. We need to use our own talents, our own resources and do what we can. We need to look out to those that are in need and serve Jesus by serving them!
Reflecting His SON,
Dennis Hogan
Minister, North Hardin Church of Christ
1804 Sam Stewart Dr.
Radcliff, KY 40160
Questions, comments or further explanation? Contact me at: dennis.hogan@icloud.com
If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward
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