• Does Jesus Live Here? Exegesis based on Mark 1:29-34 (also Matthew 8:14-17 and Luke 4:38-41) excerpted from There Are Demons In The Sea: Preaching The Message Of The Miracles by Richard Carl Hoefler (from SermonStudio).
• Israel's God Five-part reading of Isaiah 40:21-31 from In The Beginning Was The Word: Scriptures For The Lectionary Speaking Choir, Cycle B by Dallas A. Brauninger (from SermonStudio).
• A Treasure Hunt Children's sermon based on Mark 1:29-39 excerpted from The Giant Book Of Children's Sermons: Matthew To Revelation by Wesley T. Runk from SermonStudio.

Does Jesus Live Here?
Exegesis based on Mark 1:29-34 (also Matthew 8:14-17 and Luke 4:38-41) excerpted from There Are Demons In The Sea: Preaching The Message Of The Miracles by Richard Carl Hoefler (from SermonStudio).

The Healing Of Peter's Mother-In-Law

Mothers-in-law are much maligned and frequently victimized by cruel characterizations in the jokes of comedians. Not so, however, in Holy Scripture.

In the Old Testament one of the most beautiful stories told is about Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi. The worst fate that could befall a Hebrew woman happened to Naomi. She lost not only her husband but both of her sons as well. Yet her daughter-in-law Ruth clung to Naomi, and from this relationship we have the most popular words used at weddings to express devoted love between two persons: "For where you go, I will go, where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God."

Naomi proved to be a good and faithful mother-in-law, for it was her wise advice and careful coaching that enabled Ruth to become the wife of Boaz and eventually the great-grandmother of David, Israel's most illustrious ruler.

The miracle story we now consider is another illustration which shows that all mothers-in-law are not bad. Mark uses it as one of the earliest miracle stories of his Gospel. It is a simple story told in low key without flourishing details. But a breath of homely warmth flows through this brief narrative, and beneath the surface of what is said lies a strong assertion that this mother-in-law was deeply loved by her daughter's husband. Calvin calls this miracle a "home-specimen" of God's divine love and grace.1

He Healed Them All

The prelude to our story begins in the synagogue in the town of Capernaum. Jesus was teaching and the people who heard him were amazed. He wasn't like the teachers of the Law; instead he taught with authority. But the people were even more amazed when he healed a man possessed by an evil spirit.

Exhausted by this experience, Jesus left the synagogue and went straight to the home of Simon and Andrew with James and John. They were all looking forward to a leisurely dinner and some quiet moments of much-needed relaxation. But the events which followed show the day had hardly begun for our Lord.

No sooner did he arrive at the home of his friends than he was confronted with a concern demanding his attention: Simon's mother-in-law had taken to her bed with a fever. Despite his exhaustion, Jesus did not hesitate but immediately went to her, took the sick woman by the hand, and lifted her up. She was cured at once, rose from her bed, and gave the men hospitality, a sign that the fever had truly left her.

The news about Jesus -- his sensational performance in the synagogue and the instant hea1ing of Peter's mother-in-law -- spread like wildfire in the village. People came from everywhere in the region bringing their sick and infirm. Jesus did have the afternoon to himself, because the people waited until sunset when the Sabbath was over and they could safely engage in the labor of carrying their sick without breaking the Sabbath law. That is why Mark says, "When evening came, after the sun had set, people brought to Jesus all the sick and those who had demons." The crowd was so great, and the cases were so numerous, that it was impossible to bring them into the house. So Jesus went out to them. He worked late into the night casting out devils, healing the sick, laying his hands upon them. Without exception he dwelt with each person in need until it could be literally said, "He healed them all."

Three Accounts

Three accounts of this miracle are recorded by the Synoptists. The differences are slight. Mark and Luke place the account immediately after the story of the healing of the man with an evil spirit. In Matthew the healing of Peter's mother-in-law follows the story of the healing of the centurion's servant.

The most obvious difference in the three stories, as Van der Loos points out, is in the various ways Jesus heals the sick lady. Matthew writes, "He touched her hand"; Mark says, "He came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up"; Luke's version is, "He stood over her, and rebuked the fever."

Luke's account proves to be the most provocative to scholars, for as Van der Loos says, "It is quite clear that Luke has a demon in mind that had to be driven out."2

Scholars also speculate as to the exact nature of the disease that sent Peter's mother-in-law to bed. Many assume it was the common cold which could prove very serious in the time of Jesus. Sherman Johnson suggests that malaria was a possibility as this was a common malady in this part of the world.3 Van der Loos adds a different note to the discussion as he points out that "in the ancient world fever was regarded as an independent disease and not as a symptom accompanying all kinds of diseases."4

A Private Miracle

Barclay titles his discussion of the healing of Peter's mother-in-law a "Private Miracle."5 Herbert Lockyer picks up this thought to ask, "How many homes of the sick and diseased do those modern 'faith healers,' who exploit the suffering for their own financial gain, visit? Home visitation to receive the needy would be too humdrum for them. They require the intense emotion of a large packed hall or tent, with all the paraphernalia of mass psychology to stage their so-called miracles."6

Lockyer is perhaps too strong in his reaction to what he calls "faith healing racketeers," for there are undoubtedly faith healers who sincerely feel they are called to serve the Lord in this special way. And one can hardly deny the evidence of many who have been healed or at least helped by these mass meetings for healing. There are also many prayer groups within well-established churches which are effectively enriching their congregation's contribution to comforting the sick within their fellowship.

However, the point both Barclay and Lockyer make is significant to our understanding the uniqueness of this miracle story about the healing of Peter's mother-in-law. Here we see Jesus in the privacy of a home and the intimacy of a family environment performing a miracle. The personal and private aspect of this miracle story contributes importantly to its basic message and meaning, as we will see later.

A Bridge

Since this is Mark's first account of Jesus' healing of the sick, Rudolf Schnackenburg believes this little miracle "spans a bridge"7 to the other miracles Jesus will perform in the remainder of his ministry.

Mark here presents Jesus as not only the one sent to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom but also the healer of the sick and the infirm. Healings are not to be the main concern of his ministry, but Mark desires to establish such acts as signs being given that the demonic which causes man's infirmities is being cast out and overcome by the proclaimer of the Kingdom. In Schnackenburg's opinion, this concept is important, for it shows that the power of Satan is being broken as Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee. Healings, the driving out of demons, are signs that the Kingdom of God has come in Christ....click here to read the rest of the material

Suggestions:
Use in ordinary sequence with interested, lively voices as they
look around, addressing questions to the rest of the
congregation. Readers 1 through 4 stand in their pews as they
speak. Reader 5 stands at the lectern.
5 readers -- a variety of people including the pastor or lay
leader

Key:
1, 2, 3, & 4 =individuals sitting in the congregation
5 = pastor or lay leader

1: Have you not known?

2: Have you not heard?

3: Has it not been told you from the beginning?

4: Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

5: It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its
inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens
like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; who
brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as
nothing.

(5:) Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their
stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they
wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. To whom
then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One....click here for the rest reading