Peter’s Mother In Law Healed, Plus Others Series

Harmony of the Gospels

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Capernaum

Peter’s Mother in Law Healed, Plus Others

(Isaiah 53:4) Matthew 8:14-17, Mark 1:24-34, Luke 4:38-41

Jesus' healing of Peter's mother-in-law is found in three of the gospels; only John omitted telling the story, but according to Mark 1:29 (see below), he was there.

Matthew

And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. (Matthew 8:14-15)

Peter was married and he was living in Capernaum. There are those who claim that Peter never married, but these verses prove that he did. Evidentially, he took Jesus home for dinner, but when they got there, his mother-in-law was sick with a fever. Jesus touched her and she was healed at that instant, because she got right up and cooked diner.

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick. (Matthew 8:16)

The word that is translated “devils” should be demons, because there is only one devil, but there are many demons.

Notice, that Matthew says that they brought many to Him. The Gospel records give us only a very few of the times where people were healed, but we continually read where many were healed. I believe that Jesus healed thousands, who were walking around as testimony to His ability to heal. That is why His enemies never questioned whether or not He could do miracles. They only asked Him how He had done them or they accused Him of getting His power from Satan.

This verse is a reference to Isaiah 53:4-5, “Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” This is one of the passages that modern faith healers use to sanction what they do, but I disagree, and I will tell you why. What do these verses say that we are healed of? It clearly states that we are healed of our transgressions and iniquities, and these are just two other words for sin. Peter confirms this in 1 Peter 2:24, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye are healed.”

Jesus atoned for our sins on the cross. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) It was our sins that was laid on Him, not our sickness and disease. There is no basis to contend that healing is part of the Atonement. Let me ask some questions that will illustrate this. Have you received your glorified body yet? Has the new earth, with the curse removed, arrived yet? We will have a new body and there will be a new earth and both are due to His death to atone for our sins, but this is not the time for them. Satan as a roaring lion, and sin, still dominate this world, so there is no release from sickness, because of the Atonement. Why did Paul urge Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach, instead of telling him to seek relief in the Atonement? Or why didn’t James claim healing in the Atonement, instead of telling the saints to call in the elders to pray? (See [1]James 5:13-15). Why did Paul retain his thorn in the flesh rather than seek healing in the Atonement? “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelation, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my affirmatives, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

It is not always God’s will to heal, but it may be His will to heal. Take your need for healing to the Great Physician and find out if it is His will to heal you. Don’t waste your time going to an auditorium to see a faith healer. I believe in divine healing, but whether or not we get healed, let’s give God the glory.