On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. 31 He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. 32 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. 33 The whole town was gathered at the door. 34 He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. 35 Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and those who were with him pursued him 37 and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” 39 So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.
Jesus had just left Capernaum where he astonished the people with his teaching, healing and exorcisms; 'All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him (Mk. 1:27).”' Fever in OT times was sometimes considered a punishment for sin (Lev. 26:15-16). Jesus took Peter’s Mother-in-Law who had a severe fever (Lk. 4:38) by the hand and raised her up (v. 31 NASB). Jesus freed her from the power of evil. She immediately began to serve them which showed the suddenness and completeness of the cure. Peter had a Mother-in-Law which meant that he was married when he was called by Jesus. Paul indicated that Peter’s wife accompanied him on his apostolic journeys; 'Do we not have the right to take along a Christian wife, as do the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? (1 Cor. 9:5).’
In the evening, Jesus healed many sick people and exorcised many evil spirits. In Mark, the demons recognized Jesus as the Son of God and Jesus forbade them to speak so as not to reveal his Messianic secret. ‘Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him! (Mk. 1:25). His disciples did not recognize that he was the Messiah, the Son of God, until after his passion and resurrection. The next morning Jesus went to a secluded place to pray. When Peter and the disciples found him, he explained that his purpose was to go to the villages throughout Galilee and preach about the kingdom of God. Prayer and preaching were fundamental components of Jesus’ ministry.
Almighty God, Grant us the desire to turn to you in prayer so that we may learn our purpose on this earth. Heal us of all illness that distracts us from accomplishing your will. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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