-March 28, 2022-
Good morning, happy Monday,
“Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.”
(Luke 4:38-39).
This account of the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law is also found in Matthew 8:15-16 and Mark 1:29-31. It is always good to compare the account in all three places. From reading all of them, we discover that Andrew, Peter’s brother also lived there in the same house, and when Jesus came over that day, James and John were with Him. Luke, a physician by profession, is the one gospel writer who noted that she had a high fever. In fact it must have been a very serious situation, most likely life threatening.
We also note how they made request of Jesus to heal her as He had so many other people. The word “they” referred to Peter and Andrew, and the rest present there. It is always hard to see our loved ones suffer spiritually, physically, mentally, or emotionally. Often we would rather suffer ourselves than to see them suffer. Our part is them to bring them to Jesus in prayer. He is the Great Physician. He doesn’t always choose to heal someone physically, depending on His will. Here He healed Peter’s mother-in-law immediately. He stood over her and rebuked the fever and took it away. Just as the wind and waves obeyed Jesus, so too, the fever obeyed also.
In Mark’s account, he mentions that Jesus took her by the hand and lifted her up. Once she was healed she served them, in particular Jesus. Imagine the joy that permeated the walls of the that house that day! The one that was close to death, was now full of life and joy. When someone we love gets saved, there is great joy; and when the Lord heals them of some condition, we are so very happy.
The Lord loves us and our family members. He is concerned about what concerns us, especially the people we love, our family and friends. The Holy Spirit makes careful note that Peter was married and his wife had a mother and they lived together. There are those in the Roman Catholic Church who believe that Peter was the first pope. How do they explain this? This the only time that Peter’s mother-in-law is mentioned in Scripture. We don’t know whatever happened to her later on. I am confident we will see her in heaven.
Let us love our family and friends and pray for them. The most important thing is that they get saved but their other needs are important as well. People need the Lord, and His touch in their lives.
Have a blessed day bringing those we love to Jesus in prayer. He will touch and change their lives. Stay safe and healthy.
In His eternal love and care,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 