Today's Reading:

Matthew 4:23-25
Matthew 8:14-17
Mark 1:21-39
Luke 4:31-44

Jesus chose and named disciples to help Him share the good news. His 12 closest disciples were called the apostles. We have read that Jesus called 6 of the 12 apostles so far. Of the 12, Peter is the only one the Gospels tell us was married. We know almost nothing of Peter’s wife. Scripture never calls her by name, describes her, or even explains their marriage. What we do know is that Peter’s mother-in-law was healed from a fever.

Jesus had just come to the house from driving out a demon in the synagogue. We are not given the reason why she was healed of her fever, just that He helped her up and the fever left. She immediately started to serve.

This is the grace. The same Lord that had the authority to drive out demons also helped one of His apostles’ family members. Jesus did not only call Peter; He took care of Peter’s family. The mission did not stop at the synagogue door. It came to the table, to the family behind the scenes. Jesus had healed in public, and now we are shown He also healed in the home. He cares not just for us, but for our families.

Scripture never says why Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. What do you think moved Him to do it, and what does that say about the kind of care He gives when no one is watching?

These four passages show Jesus teaching throughout Galilee, and cover the same sections of His early ministry, but they are unique in how they tell the story. Not only was Jesus teaching, but He was healing those with diseases, those who were suffering in pain, the demon-possessed, those who had seizures or were paralyzed, and many more ailments. The large crowds came from the entire region of Galilee, the Decapolis (Greek cities), and the capital, Jerusalem, to hear Him and be healed. Matthew grouped his stories by theme, while Mark and Luke arranged them by the day.

Jesus was teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath. The people were astonished because He taught with authority. While He was teaching, a man possessed with an impure spirit (demon) cried out, “What have you to do with us? Have you come to destroy us?” It was not the man speaking, but the spirit speaking on behalf of the other demons. Jesus rebuked the spirit and drove it from the man. Even the spirit obeyed Jesus, because of who He is, not because He used a stronger “spell.” The amazement came because the unclean spirit had obeyed. Note that the spirit already knew who Jesus was even before the people did (Mark 1:24). His word carried authority.  The kingdoms were clashing together, the heavenly realm and the earthly realm. God’s kingdom was at work, and the King was in the room; therefore, the evil spirits had to go. The evil spirits are on the losing side with Satan. In Mark 3:27, Jesus later stated that no one can plunder a strong man’s house unless he first binds the strong man. The crowd was just taught a new lesson: the spirit had met its Lord.

When the disciples and Jesus left the synagogue that afternoon, they went to Simon Peter’s house and learned that his mother-in-law was sick with a fever (possibly malaria). Luke was a physician and said she had a “high fever.” As soon as Jesus healed her, she got out of bed and started to serve her guests.

After the Sabbath ended at sunset (when the Jewish day’s ban on carrying and other work was over; it was a day of rest), the entire town gathered at Simon Peter’s front door. The people were now allowed to bring the sick without breaking Shabbat; this was the first moment they could go. Jesus healed many that night and drove out more demons.  Matthew said His healing of the sick fulfills Isaiah 53:4. In Mark 1:34, it noted that Jesus silenced the demons because they knew His identity, but they were the wrong witnesses. The “Messiah” and “Son of God” could be mistaken for a political king who would try to overthrow Rome. Jesus did not want the people to believe that was the type of king or role He came for.

Before the sunrise the next day, Jesus left Simon Peter’s house to find a quiet place to pray. The disciples and townspeople found Him and tried to keep Him from leaving. Jesus refused to stay and told them He had to go because He was on a mission to preach the good news of the kingdom. He then continued to travel throughout the region, preaching in the synagogues.

Today's Discussion question:

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