header

Meditate

"Meditate on these things, give yourself wholly to them, that your profiting may apprear to all"

The Gospel According to Mark
Peter's Mother-in-law

Scripture:
Mark 1:30-31
Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

Peter was married, we know this for sure because we meet his mother-in-law here. We also know the story of Peter's death at which time his wife also was led to her death.

Mother-in-law jokes are novel to our time. They existed in Jesus' day as well. A Roman writer, Juvenal, said that "You can't be happy while the mother-in-law is still alive." Mother-in-laws are notorious for being annoying irritations and "but-in-skys" to an otherwise calm marriage. Need an example? Try the current series "Everybody Loves Raymond." Ray Romano lives next door to his in-laws, which leads to loads of hilarious antics almost all of us can identify with.

One has to wonder if there is not some hidden humor in this passage as we have seen in other passages of Mark (see Mark 15:51-52). It was not customary for a mother-in-law to live in the house of her daughter. If her husband died the sons would take her to their homes. It can only be that she has no living son and perhaps Peter's wife is her only daughter. Peter's wife historically is known by the name of Rufina, and his mother-in-law is Rufa.

Jesus hears of her high fever and immediately takes her by the hand and raises her up, thus healing her instantaneously. A couple of things are important here.

  1. Jesus, in the context, is exercising authority. Mark is establishing the authority of Jesus over all things, demons, sickness, sea, storms, etc.
  2. Peter's mother-in-law found no comfort in being weak and sickly. She did not dote on being the center of pity and attention. Immediately, when she was heal she got up and served them.
There is a point to Jesus healing people. It is for God's glory not your own convenience or comfort. I learned from a noble pastor to ask people a couple of questions befor praying for their healing. The first one is, "Is there any reason the Lord should not heal you? In other words, is there sin in your life that would hinder him? The second is even better, "If the Lord heals you or when the Lord heals you what will you do with your healing?" This second question usually sets people back. They have never thought in terms of a healing being a sacred trust, but it is. If God grants you strength of body and mind how will you serve him with this renewed life? It is a fair question. If you are going to just consume it upon your own pleasure then why should God heal you at all? James says, "You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:2-3)

Has God granted you healing?

How then are you using your body, you mind, your talents, and your new-found energy, for his kingdom and not squandering it on your own?