Matthew 8:14-15 - LASAGNE ANYONE? AND BY THE WAY, WHO WAS PETER’S WIFE?
My youngest grandson has some teeth coming through and he has a high temperature and feels miserable most of the day. He has his first birthday party on Saturday, and so we are praying for him to be well.
Jesus is good with fevers. In Matthew 8:14 it says He healed Peter’s Mother-in-law. Now I know that the woman was sick and I ought to be more concerned with the miracle that took place, but what really intrigues me is WHY DON’T WE HEAR ABOUT PETER’S WIFE? Why isn’t she mentioned?
In order to have a mother-in-law, Peter was obviously married, but we don’t even know her name, and it was his mother-in-law who got up after being healed by Jesus to prepare the meal, not Peter’s wife. WHO IS THIS MYSTERY WOMAN? And why didn’t she help with the meal? Was she a Christian too? Was Peter divorced? Was she away visiting someone at the time?
And there are other questions we could ask. Why did he have his mother-in-law at his home? Where was her home and husband? Now that intrigues me greatly, and the sad thing is that I will never know. Matthew is not as concerned as me about the questions that I want answered. Yes, I know that I will know in heaven, but by then I won’t be intrigued any longer, so what is the use of that? I guess I can take consolation in the fact that if it was important, God would have made sure it was included in the Bible.
Perhaps I should be more concerned with the fact that Jesus meets the needs of my family as He did with Peter’s family. Lord, thankyou that You visit me and that Your presence transforms my house into a home (actually my daughters house, but You know what I mean). I am part of Your family and You care for us and Your touch upon our lives is so welcome.
I like the intimacy of this brief mention of Peter’s mother-in-law being healed. It took place in Pete’s home. There was no crowd. Jesus wasn’t trying to earn any credit points with his fans or publicity with the paparazzi of his day. He was just into caring for a sick woman enough to heal her. And in case you were wondering, it wasn’t just because He was hungry and needed someone to prepare the meal. He wasn’t a chauvinist healer. Matthew 20:28 (NLT) says that Jesus came "not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many."
Jesus touched her and she was healed. I know how powerful it is when someone cares enough for me to touch me when they pray for me. There’s something so personal about a touch. It seems to bring the healing hand of Jesus to the wounded places in our lives.
One thing I like about Peter’s mother-in-law - she doesn’t spend any time convalescing. You could never call her a hypochondriac. She doesn’t even ask Peter to set the table! She just gets on with life. This isn’t even her house. Or maybe it was. Maybe she was a widow and Peter and his wife are looking after her. There I go again with getting off track. The fact is she got up and prepared a meal for those in the house. I like this woman. What did she cook I wonder? Lasagne perhaps? Stop!
Lord, You have touched my life. Give me opportunities to serve You and others.
God bless you Church as Jesus touches our lives and we serve Him and others.
Pastor Ross
