Loving Service

Reflection

And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother lying, and sick of a fever;

And he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she arose and ministered to them (Mathew 8:14-15).

Jesus did not come to Peter’s house himself.

He was forced to come.

Who did force Jesus?

Peter forced Jesus to come to his house.

Whose house is it?

It is Peter’s house.

Who is sick in Peter’s house?

Peter’s mother-in-law is sick in Peter’s house.

Why was Peter’s mother-in-law in Peter’s house?

What do you think?

First of all, Peter has a mother-in-law.

It means that he was married. He might have children too.

There is the problem.

What is the problem?

The problem is that Peter left everything family, work and so on to follow Jesus by ignoring the duties that he suppose to do to his family, his wife and his children.

The problem was very beautifully depicted with the sickness ‘fever.’

Fever is symbolic.

Fever is symbolically given.

There is fever.

Fever equal to some internal family problem.

It means that Mother-in-law has a fever.

Fever is not a sickness. Fever is a symptoms of some internal health problem.

It shows that fever has to be cured by addressing the real health problem.

How do we address to cure fever?

Fever needs antibiotics, good rest and light food.

In the same way, we can reflect that there was a problem in peter’s house since he left everything at the hand of his wife and followed Jesus.

We come to know that Peter’s Mother-in-law has come to Peter’s house to solve the problem.

so, what did Jesus do?

In fact, Jesus said nothing.

He did do something.

He just touched her with his arm or hand.

Jesus’ touch symbolises the encountering Jesus personally in our life.

She experienced love of Jesus in her life.

She might herself have thought that if I did not interfere, Peter would not come here to solve the problem.

In fact, there was a conflict in Peter’s family.

By inviting Jesus to his house, Peter expected the answer to the problem.

Jesus touched her that she got recovered.

What did it happen?

Fever left her instantly.

She started to serve.

Whom did she serve?

Some say him (Jesus), some others say them.

What is important?

The service that happened after encountering Jesus in her life.

Do we have experience in encountering Jesus that led to service?