THE HEALING OF PETER’S MOTHER-IN-LAW
“Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.” Matthew 8:14-15 (NKJV)
SYNOPTIC ACCOUNT:
“Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.” Mark 1:29-31 (NKJV)
The healing of Peter’s mother-in-law is a picture of the compassion and concern of Jesus. Our hearts are comforted when we read of Him "Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases". Psalms 103:3. (NKJV)
I. A PICTURE OF COMPASSION:
The synoptic account in Mark 1:30 reads “...and anon (immediately) they tell Him of her.”
1. Compassion on the part of His disciples in immediately telling Jesus of the need.
2. Compassion on the part of Jesus to immediately respond.
Great things tend to happen when God’s people intercede for one another.
II. A PICTURE OF THE HEALING POWER OF JESUS:
“...and immediately the fever left her.” Mark 1:31
God blesses His people in varying ways: sometimes “immediately” and at other times “progressively”. Which ever way He chooses to bless us is praiseworthy.
III. A PICTURE OF TRUE GRATITUDE:
“...and she arose and ministered unto them.” Healed not just to enjoy...but to serve!
We best express our thankfulness to God for His many blessings by reinforcing our verbal expression with deeds of service.
CONCLUSION:
This poem expresses the need of His healing touch to relieve some of the “fevers” we may experience in our daily life.
“He touched her hand, and the fever left her.”
He touched her hand as only He can,
With the wondrous skill of the Great Physician,
With the tender touch of the Son of Man,
And the fever-pain in the throbbing temples
Died out with the flush on brow and cheek,
And the lips that had been so parched and burning
Trembled with thanks that she could not speak,
And the eyes where the fever light had faded
Looked up, by her grateful tears made dim,
She arose and ministered in her household;
She arose and ministered unto Him.
“He touched her hand, and the fever left her.”
O blessed touch of the Man divine!
So beautiful to arise and serve Him
When the fever is gone from your life and mine.
It may be the fever of restless serving
With heart all thirsty for love and praise,
And eyes all aching and strained with yearning
Toward self-set goals in the future days.
Or it may be the fever of spirit anguish,
Some tempest of sorrow that does not down,
‘Till the cross at last is in meekness lifted
And the head stoops low for the thorny crown.
Or it may be a fever of pain and anger,
When the wounded spirit is hard to bear,
And only the Lord can draw forth the arrows
Left carelessly, cruelly rankling there.
Whatever the fever, His touch can heal it;
Whatever the tempest, His voice can still.
There is only a rest as we seek His pleasure,
There is only a rest as we choose His will.
And some day, after life’s fitful fever,
I think we shall say, in our home on high,
If the hands that He touched but did His bidding,
How little it matters what else went by!
Ah, Lord, Thou knowest us altogether,
Each heart’s sore sickness, whatever it be;
Touch Thou our hands! Let the fever leave us,
And so shall we minister unto Thee!
...Anonymous
