Apostle Dr. Peggy Elliott

     Although we often expect mothers to be superhuman, she is not.  She will have good times and bad and there are times, like any other human, when a mother becomes physically ill and cannot care for her family.   

     Simon Peter, a Roman soldier had his mother-in-law living at his home. This was not an unusual arrangement in those days. Family members lived together as a natural aspect of caring for all generations.  Thus, they assisted one another in their everyday activities. 

     Peter had his wife's mother with him in his family, which is an example to remember the importance of being kind to our relations.   One day, Peter's mother-in-law became stricken with fever. The healing of the mother of Peter's wife is one of the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels, reported in Matthew 8:14–15, Mark 1:29-31, and Luke 4:38-41.

 
     As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So, he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to wait on them.  Mark 1:29–31

     Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So, he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.  Luke 4:38–41.

     Let’s dig a little deeper to understand the cultural and historical nature of a first-century man to a woman.  For the culture of first century Palestine, this was a counter-cultural relationship at best. A man had an obligation to his own mother and sister, but not to his mother-in-law or sister-in-law.  

     Peter showed great concern for his ill-stricken mother-in-law.  By all societal norms, he should have been at great odds with her, but this was not the case with Peter.  His mother-in-law was an integral member of the family, rather than the outsider agitator that society would have dictated. In this relationship, we see love, inclusion, and a breaking down of barriers between two people who were by all societal beliefs opposed to one another.

     The scripture does not tell us how severe her temperature was.  We just know that it was a high fever.  During this century, no one in the household would have had access to today’s fever relievers such as Tylenol or over-the-counter aspirins.  Nor did Peter have access to an urgent care facility.  Peter was a close friend to Jesus, so, he had direct access to the one who heals.  It does not tell us how hurriedly Jesus goes to Peter’s mother-in-law, but I believe that Jesus went quickly to bring healing to Peter’s relative.  His going quickly showed how compassionate our Lord was to a family member of a dear friend.

     There is another cast of significant players in the telling of this story as recorded in Mark 1: 29-31 and Luke 4:38-41.  It was the disciples who told Jesus that Peter’s mother-in-law was ill and asked him to go quickly to heal her.  With compassion, Jesus immediately responded.  This is a great example of how we are to bear one another’s burdens, pray for one another and act when needed

      The bible doesn’t tell us how she got the fever, nor how long she had it.  All it tells us is that a mother-in-law was sick, and Jesus healed her.  Mark 1:31 says, “And immediately the fever left her.” Glory!  When Jesus heals, and he always does, either here on earth or in heaven, his healing may be instantly or progressively.  One of my favorite gospel songs regarding healing is, “He Touched Me.”  The very touch of Jesus Christ, whether it be our heart or our body, brings healing. 

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He Touched Me   by The Bill Gaither Trio  

Written by: William J. Gaither

Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Shackled by a heavy burden,
'Neath a load of guilt and shame.
Then the hand of Jesus touched me,
And now I am no longer the same.
He touched me, Oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole.
Since I met this blessed Savior,
Since He cleansed and made me whole,
I will never cease to praise Him,
I'll shout it while eternity rolls.
He touched me, Oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole.
Songwriters: William J. Gaither
© CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP

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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