A person who has newly recovered spiritual health must voluntarily devote themselves to service and ministry for the Lord, for the Lord’s church, and for brothers and sisters.

A person who has newly recovered spiritual health must voluntarily devote themselves to service and ministry for the Lord, for the Lord’s church, and for brothers and sisters.

 

 

  

“Jesus arose and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him on her behalf. He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her; and immediately she arose and waited on them” (Luke 4:38–39).

 

 

While meditating on this passage, I would like to receive the lessons given:

 

(1)   The biblical story of Jesus healing Simon (Peter)’s mother-in-law, who had been suffering from a high fever, is recorded not only in today’s text, Luke 4:38–39, but also in Matthew 8:14–15 and Mark 1:29–31: “Jesus came into Peter’s house and saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she arose and waited on Jesus” (Mt. 8:14–15).  “And immediately after they came out of the synagogue, they went into the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. He came to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she began waiting on them” (Mk. 1:29–31).  When comparing these three Scripture passages, several points come to mind:

 

(a)    First, Luke 4:38 says that the place Jesus went after leaving the synagogue was “Simon’s house,” Matthew 8:14 calls it “Peter’s house,” and Mark 1:29 calls it “the house of Simon and Andrew.”

 

(i)               Here, “Simon’s house” (Lk. 4:38) and “Peter’s house” (Mt. 8:14) refer to the same person [cf. “He appointed the twelve; to Simon He gave the name Peter”], so there is no problem.  But since Mark records it as “the house of Simon and Andrew” (Mk. 1:29), it seems that the house Jesus entered was the home where “Simon—whom He also named Peter—and his brother Andrew” (Lk. 6:14) lived together (Ref.: Hochma).

 

(b)   Second, Luke 4:38 and Matthew 8:14 speak as if Jesus went alone to the house of Simon (Peter) and Andrew, but Mark 1:29 states that He went “with James and John.”

 

(i)               “James and John” were brothers, “the sons of Zebedee” (Mk. 3:17), and also “partners with Simon” (Lk. 5:10).  Thus, Jesus going with them to the house of Simon (Peter) and Andrew means that in that house were the two brothers Peter and Andrew, and the two brothers James and John—four disciples of Jesus in total [Hochma notes that Jesus, together with His four disciples, left the synagogue and went directly to the house of Simon (Peter) and Andrew (Mt. 8:14; Lk. 4:38)].

 

·        This record that Jesus was with His four disciples appears only in Mark 13:3: “As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately.”  Mostly, Scripture records Jesus being with three disciples—Peter, John, and James (Mt. 17:1; Mk. 5:37, 9:2, 14:33; Lk. 8:51, 9:28).

 

(c)    Third, Luke 4:38 states, “Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever,” Matthew 8:14 says, “he saw his (Peter’s) mother-in-law lying sick with a fever,” and Mark 1:30 says, “Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever.”  In short, Peter’s mother-in-law was lying ill with a high fever.

 

(i)               Mark merely mentions the fact that she was lying sick (Mk. 1:30), but Luke, who was a physician, notes that she was afflicted with a “high fever” (Lk. 4:38).

·        Although her diagnosis is uncertain, Luke writes that she was “suffering from a high fever” (v. 38).  The phrase “was suffering” is translated from the Greek verb συνεχομένη, a technical medical term commonly used in Greek medical writings, the imperfect passive of συνέχω (“to be troubled,” “to be oppressed”), indicating that the fever was continuous.  It seems that Simon (Peter)’s mother-in-law had been plagued by a chronic illness and at the time was in a very serious condition (Hochma).

 

(ii)             From this, we learn that Simon (Peter) had a mother-in-law, meaning he was married.  In 1 Corinthians 9:5, the Apostle Paul mentions both Peter and Peter’s wife: “Do we not have the right to take along with us a believing wife, as do the other apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Peter?” (Korean Modern Bible).  From this, we can infer that Peter’s wife was alive at that time and accompanied his missionary travels (Hochma).

 

·        According to tradition, her name was Concordia or Perpetua.  The early church father Clement of Alexandria states that Peter and Philip had children, and that Peter always took his wife with him on his missionary journeys.  Like Peter, his wife also suffered martyrdom; when she was being led away to death before Peter’s eyes, he exhorted her to think only of the Lord (Hochma).

 

(d)   Fourth, Luke 4:38 states that “the people pleaded with Jesus to heal her (Peter’s mother-in-law),” and Mark 1:30 states that “they told Jesus about this situation (that she was lying sick).”  Matthew is silent about the involvement of “the people.”

 

(i)               From this, I learn the lesson that we should bring before God and plead for our loved ones—family members or brothers and sisters—who are suffering with illness.

 

·        James 5:16–18: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  Elijah was a man just like us, but when he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.  Then he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”

 

-        Hymn “Heal Me Now, My Saviour”:

 

(v. 1)    Heal me now, my Savior, Jesus!  Touch and mend my ailing frame.

"I will heal all thy diseases."  That promise, Lord, I claim.  See me, Lord, expectant kneeling,  Confident in faith appealing.  Now, Thy mighty pow'r revealing, Lord, Heal! in Jesus' name!

(v. 2)    If it be Thy will's appointing, Lay Thy hand upon my brow.  On my head is Thine anointing.  That head in faith I bow.  All I have I give Thee, pleading Not my giving but my needing.  Now, my broken body heeding, Lord, touch! and heal it now.

(v. 3)    As my life is Thine forever, O my Lord, my Healer be!  All I own, all I endeavor, All, all be-longs to Thee.  Holy Spirit, now descending, Thy strong hand of pow'r extending.  Touch this form before Thee bending.  Lord, touch! and set it free.

(v. 4)    I believe, receive Thy healing.  Now by faith I stand restor'd!  Lord, for this, the Spirit's sealing, My praise shall be outpour'd.  Far and wide I'll go, con-fessing How the Lord, my need addressing.  Heal'd and seal'd me with His blessing!  Heal'd now, I thank Thee, Lord! Amen.

 

(e)    Fifth, Luke 4:39 says that Jesus “stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her.”  Matthew 8:15 says, “He touched her hand, and the fever left her,” and Mark 1:31 says, “He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. Immediately the fever left her.”

 

(i)               Luke records that Jesus “stood over” Peter’s mother-in-law (Lk. 4:39), meaning—according to the original text—that Jesus stood by the sick woman’s head, bending over to diagnose her (Hochma).

 

·        And Luke says that He “rebuked” the fever (v. 39), possibly because Luke viewed the cause of the fever as satanic activity (cf. Luke 13:16: “This woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years—should she not be set free on the Sabbath day?”) (Hochma).

 

(ii)             Matthew records that Jesus “touched her hand” (Mt. 8:15), and Mark records that He “took her by the hand and raised her up” (Mk. 1:31).  Such actions were characteristic of Jesus when healing the sick—[(v. 41) “Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched him”; (5:41) “Taking the girl by the hand, He said, ‘Talitha koum,’ which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise.’”]—revealing Jesus’ active love toward the afflicted (Hochma).

 

·        While meditating on this, I was reminded of Acts 3:6–8: “Peter said, ‘Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!’  And taking him by the right hand, he raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were strengthened.  He jumped to his feet and began to walk, and went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God.”

 

-        Seeing that Peter and John healed the lame man at the Beautiful Gate by taking him by the hand and raising him up, I believe Peter—who had personally witnessed Jesus take his mother-in-law by the hand and raise her up (Mk. 1:31)—did likewise.

 

(f)    Sixth and last, after being healed of the high fever, Peter’s mother-in-law “immediately rose and began to serve them [‘Jesus’ party’—Modern Translation]” (Lk. 4:39).  Mark also says she “served them [‘Jesus’ party’—Modern Translation]” (Mk. 1:31).  Matthew records that she “arose and served Jesus” (Mt. 8:15).

 

(i)               From a combined meditation, Peter’s mother-in-law was healed instantaneously and completely [the verb “ἀφῆκεν” (“left”) in Mark 1:31 is aorist, indicating that the fever left her immediately and completely (Hochma)].  And she “immediately arose” (Lk. 4:39)—even though a chronic illness with high fever would have exhausted and greatly weakened her; yet she rose at once and served, demonstrating that Jesus’ healing power was instantaneous and complete (Hochma).  She served Jesus (Mt. 8:15) and Jesus’ party (Mk. 1:31, Lk. 4:39) (Lk. 4:39; Mt. 8:15; Mk. 1:31).

 

·        The word “served” is the Greek διηκόνει (diēkonei), an imperfect verb indicating continuous, ongoing service (Hochma).

 

-        This fact—that the woman who had risen from her sickbed served Jesus and His companions—can be applied to our spiritual duty: namely, that a person who has recognized God’s grace and newly recovered spiritual health must voluntarily devote themselves to service and ministry for the Lord, for the Lord’s church, and for brothers and sisters (Ref.: Hochma).