'After he left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them. At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Messiah. At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea (Lk. 4:38-44).'
In the Gospel of Luke, Simon Peter’s mother-in-law was cured before Jesus called Peter to follow him (Lk. 5:1-11). Jesus cured her instantaneously by his words alone. Jesus ‘rebuked the fever’ as if it were a demon. Out of compassion Jesus continued to perform other healings. He laid hands individually on each person and cured all who came to him. An encounter with Jesus is a personal one. As the demons were exorcised, they declared him to be the Son of God, the Messiah. Followers of Jesus only came to that realization after a long journey of faith, the Cross and the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus was rejected at Nazareth where he had grown up but the people in Capernaum did not want him to leave. The Kingdom of God was being ushered in by the preaching and mighty deeds of Jesus, the Holy one of God, the Messiah, who was anointed by God (I have been sent), and who is the reflection of God.
Almighty God, you can heal us of all infirmities brought about by our sin. You do not grant us everything we want but take care of our needs. Hear the prayers of your unworthy servants and lift us into the light of Christ so that through him, we may be made worthy of his promises and attain eternal life. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Jose M. Casciaro, Santiago Ausin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Vincente Balaguer, Francisco Varo, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (2017). The Navarre Bible - New Testament. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
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