The Mother-in-law of Simon Peter
We live in a hurting world that is polluted with not only sickness and diseases it is also polluted with sin. The mother-in-law of Simon Peter helps us better understand the healing power of Jesus. Because Jesus healed Peter’s mother in law we know that Jesus has the authority to heal disease.
Matthew 8:14-15; Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38:39
Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee and saw Simon Peter and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. They immediately dropped their nets and followed Jesus. When Jesus had gone a little further he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother who also were in the ship mending their nets. They also were called ad they also followed Jesus. They went into Capernaum and it was on the Sabbath day. Jesus went into the synagogue and taught.
They were astonished at the doctrine of Jesus. He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. There as a man who had an unclean spirit and cried out saying; îLet us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. (Mark 1:24). Jesus rebuked him telling him to hold his peace, and come out of the man. The unclean spirit obeyed and left. Immediately the fame of Jesus spread abroad throughout all the region around about Galilee.
When Jesus arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house with Simon Peter his brother Andrew, with James and John. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they requested Jesus to help her. This was shortly after they had been called as disciples and the fame of Jesus was spreading. Jesus stood over her and Jesus touched her hand and Jesus rebuked the fever; and it left her, immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
The mother-in-law of Simon Peter was the first woman who ministered to Jesus. Jesus rebuked the fever; and it left her, immediately she arose and ministered unto them. Immediately she ministered to them. I have had many fevers in my life where I have had to minister to guests in my home. It is not an easy task to achieve. The mother-in-law of Peter must have been weak and not feeling like ministering to others yet she did.
It was the Sabbath day and the meal had to be prepared. There would have been at least seven people to prepare for. Jesus, Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, the wife of Simon Peter, and the mother-in-law. The Jewish Sabbath, or Shabbat, has always been a time to get refreshed, relax and reflect on the past week or what is going to happen the next week. It was important to prepare ahead of time anything to help facilitate the meal going smoothly as well as to minimize the amount of work that had to be done. The Jewish Sabbath lasted from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday.
There are many among us that will say that is just something one does when there are company in their home. The younger women of today probably cannot understand that concept. When I was growing up, in the 1050’s, there was always a big family meal after church. A nice roast, chicken and dumplings, or yummy fried chicken. That was the time of sit down family meals together. I have tried to continue this practice as the years have moved forward and the family has grown and includes grandchildren and in-laws. What makes it possible is there are so many more people helping produce great meals.
Imagine having a high fever unable to get out of bed then being touched by the loving hands of Jesus. Wow! There was no need for recovering the mother-in-law of Simon Peter got up and started serving and ministering to the guest and family in the home. The most important information we receive from this healing is Peter’s mother-in-law did not ask to be touch or healed. It was by the grace of Jesus this miracle happened.
The mother-in-law of Simon Peter was the first healing miracle that was reported in the book of Mark. It is not by accident that the mother-in-law of Simon Peter was healed by Jesus right after He had left the synagogue where He taught and had performed an astounding miracle. Jesus has chosen His first four disciples. Soon there would be twelve disciples who would be following Jesus, they would go where He goes, eat what Jesus would eat, sleep when and where Jesus slept. They would learn by observation the many different healing’s of those who were afflicted with various diseases, and how Jesus cast out many demons. They would hear the teachings about the Kingdom of God, and how people could enter into the Kingdom of God. When Jesus had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. (Matthew 10:1).
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35).
The mother-in-law of Simon Peter helps us better understand the healing power of Jesus. Because Jesus healed Peter’s mother in law we know that Jesus has the authority to heal disease. Because of the fever of the mother-in-law and the healing power of Jesus we remember Jesus died on a cross to pay the punishment for the wrongs that we have done. He suffered for us. Then, Jesus was buried. The greatest news if all is that three days later, Jesus came back to life. Because He is alive, we know that He can take away all our sins. This miracle shows us that if we believe in Jesus, one day, He will take us to heaven with Him.
We live in such a hurting world today that is tainted by sin, sickness, disease, and death this has always been and will always be with us. We are fallen beings, with physical bodies prone to disease and illness. Some sickness is simply a result of the natural course of things in this world. Sickness can also be the result of an evil attack. The Bible describes several instances when physical suffering was caused by Satan and his demons we will see more of these later in the Miracles of Jesus. (Matthew 17:14-18; Luke 13:10-16).
Even when sickness is not directly from the LORD God, He will still use it according to His perfect will. We must all have faith and trust in the powers of Jesus and most of all in His love for us.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “The Mother-in-law of Simon Peter:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1933,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2016, January) “The Mother-in-law of Simon Peter:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1933,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “The Mother-in-law of Simon Peter:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1933, (accessed).
