Simon Peter's Mother-In-Law--Matthew 8:14-18: Luke 4:38-41
29-Immediately after leaving the synagogue they went
into the home of Simon and Andrew; James and John went with them. 30-Simon's mother-in-law was down in bed with a fever, and the first thing they did was to tell Him about her. 31-He went to her, took her hand, and helped her get up. The fever left her, and she began to wait on them.
32-In the evening when the sun had set, the people brought to Him all the sick and those possessed by demons. 33-The whole town had gathered at His door. 34-He healed many who were suffering from various sicknesses and drove out many demons, but He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
Introduction:
As these words come over the air to you I pray that they are words of hope, comfort, and healing. As I speak these words I can almost see so many of you. In what condition do these words greet you? In the silence of your bedroom or living room they find many of you in pain and weakness.
At one time in your life you had vigor and health. There was no place on the face of this earth that was beyond your reach. You could get on a plane and fly to any country or city on the globe. You could take a vacation to the farthest reaches of this beautiful country. BUT NOW! Now many of you are confined to a 7 foot by 3 foot bed. Your greatest journey is from the bedroom to the kitchen table to eat a meal. For some of you - you cannot even make that journey. Now you are unable to walk. You do not have the energy to get out of bed. Your body is ravaged by cancer, heart trouble, or some other illness. For some of you, few pay a visit to just say, “Hi” or to sit with you for a while and talk.
In my many years of ministry I have found that there are two groups of people you better make sure you keep your promise to. The elderly and the very young. If I ever said to my sainted mother, “Mom, I’ll be in Milwaukee on Tuesday and I’ll stop by after my meeting.” I know that if I didn’t show up, she would be at the back door, looking out the window, waiting, LONGING, ANTICIPATING my arrival. And if my meeting got too late and I didn’t get to stop by - her heart would be broken because she and I didn’t get a chance to share our lives together. That is true of the elderly and the same thing is true about the very young. If you make a promise to be with them - you better keep it or you will break their hearts.
Now many of you are sitting or lying there wondering, questioning, “WHO WANTS TO VISIT ME?” “WHO CARES FOR ME?”
Peter, the disciple of Jesus Christ once said, Cast all your cares upon Him (Jesus), for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7). It was this same Peter who, in our text today, brought Jesus to his own home, and upon arriving found his mother-in-law confined to a 7 foot by 3 foot bed. She was sick. Luke says she was very [MEGALiO] sick with a fever.
Let me sidetrack a little bid. It was Peter who walked with Jesus for three years. It was Peter who saw the miracles of Christ. Peter says Jesus heal the sick, cleansed lepers, give sight to the blind, make the lame walk, and even raise the dead. It was this Peter who took up the ministry of Jesus Christ, and by the power of Jesus Christ also did many miracles. Peter had first hand experience as a witness to the power, love, and compassion of Jesus Christ. Peter ought to know. He saw it with his own eyes. What does Peter say to you this morning? Cast all your cares upon Him (Jesus), for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7).
If no one visits you today, tomorrow, this week - you have a visitor who promised, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) That same Lord Jesus Christ who healed the sick and raised the dead is that same Lord who sits at your side right now. With love and compassion He has His hand upon your brow. It is this same Lord Jesus Christ who promised to never leave you or forsake you that also assures you that He cares for you. That my beloved listener, hold on to by Faith in the one who made the promise - Jesus Christ.
I. JESUS CAN & DOES HEAL There are two thoughts that I would like to bring out about our text this morning. One, Jesus can and does heal people. The other is, Jesus doesn’t always choose to heal but instead, lets the suffering continue for His own divine purposes and our benefit.
First, Jesus can and does heal. We can see in this mornings text that Jesus was willing and did heal Peter’s mother-in-law. Why? How many times haven’t you come through a severe illness only to be healed and after wards look back and say, Lord, thank You. I don’t know what I would have done without your presence and care?
I recently pulled my back. The pain was the most severe I’ve had in many years. I couldn’t tie my shoes. I couldn’t walk. I was a mess. After a visit to a physical therapist for six weeks my back loosened up. I will never forget one morning in the shower after I felt better. I was soaping and rinsing, singing and rejoicing, thanking God with tears that my back was finally healed.
So it is with the child of God. When healing comes, endless thanks and praises go up to God, for He not only healed you but proved that He cares for you.
But our text also says that Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law so that those who saw it would listen to Him and believe. Jesus used this woman to get the message of salvation out. So you are in bed or in rough shape. How have you used your illness to tell others about Jesus? Do you mope all the time? Do you curse God? Are you sour at the world to the point that others see you and question if you believe, HE CARES FOR YOU? Your illness is your chance to let your Faith out. I know it’s tough. But an ungodly world is looking at you under the microscope of whether you love Christ enough to suffer for Him as you tell about Him.
The point is, Jesus can and does heal. While you wait, how do you glorify Him like Job did when he said, Though God kill me, yet I will trust in Him. [Job 13:15]
II. JESUS DOESN’T ALWAYS CHOOSE TO HEAL
Some of you are not going to get better. You know that. What should you think? How should you respond to a loving God who still cares for you and is with you?
Even if you must suffer and Jesus chooses not to heal you, the same message applies and was said above. In your terminal illness, how are you proving to the world that He is yours and you belong to Him (Jesus)? Glorify His holy name even in the pain, a withering body, or a life that is fading away. Declare that in all things, God is good!
But there’s another reason why Jesus chooses not to heal. We're not going to make it - in this world. We are all going to suffer and die one day. What a tragedy, but the story was written by us. The Bible clearly says, The wages of sin is death. [Romans 6:23] But St. Paul went on to say in the same breath, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. ETERNAL LIFE AWAITS US!
Every evil, nasty, profane, painful thing in life is the result of sin. EVEN SICKNESS AND DEATH! But you see, God doesn’t want sorrow, pain, and suffering for you. GOD WANTS YOU HOME, WITH HIM, AT HIS SIDE, IN PARADISE!
Sometimes we forget that when we are healthy. So, when the right time comes, we experience sorrow, pain, and suffering so that we don’t get too comfortable with this world. You don’t belong here. God has a special place for you where there is no sorrow, pain, and suffering. It’s in His House - Heaven. Suffering and sickness are our inspiration to want out of this world and to be with the Lord in Heaven.
For some of you, while you wait for Him, know this
Jesus Christ not only promised to be with you while you suffer,
Jesus Christ also assures you that He cares for you.
And how do you know that? Jesus suffered and died for you. Jesus rose to give you that place with Him in Heaven. Yes, the Holy Gospel tells us
The Gospel
- Jesus died on the cross as payment and punishment for our sins. By His suffering and death we are forgiven of all our sins
- Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday to prove He is the Lord of life and death. Jesus once said, Because I live, you shall live also [John 14:19].
For you who must suffer now, the best is yet to come. Cling to the Savior who made it all possible for you.
Conclusion:
I would like to close with a lesson my sainted Daddy taught me. Years ago he was in Mt. Sinai getting ready for heart surgery. I was young in the ministry at that time and I thought, in my arrogance, I would visit my father the night before his surgery to give him some spiritual strength. In that somewhat dark hospital room I sat with Dad and we talked. But as we talked I realized that I was having more trouble talking than he was, knowing what tomorrow would bring. I didn’t want to leave him. I wanted to stay with my father who had always helped me. Now I wanted to help him and I couldn’t find the words.
After about an hour I knew it was time to leave. I read the Bible to him, we had our sacred devotion there in the hospital, we prayed and it was time for me to leave. I hugged him and kissed him. Then I made my way to the door. I took one more look at him past the half opened hospital room door and there, in the sacredness of the night, my father saw I was in trouble - again. Here I was going to give him strength and I couldn’t. I stood there crying like a baby. And then my father taught me a lesson I will never forget. He said to me, Don, I’m going to be allright tomorrow. DON! Whatever happens I will be just fine.
He said no more. I closed the door and left. The nurses in the hallways must have thought I was a freak of ministry. There I was. A MAN OF GOD! Weeping uncontrollably as I walked down the hallway. Halfway down the hall - I UNDERSTOOD! My father became my Pastor. He saw my stress, my sorrow, and my pain. My father was saying to me
DON! Whatever happens tomorrow, I will be just fine.
- If I die I will be with the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven.
- If I live, I will be with you for a while.
DON! Whatever happens tomorrow, I will be just fine.
I want my father’s message to ring in your ears, to stick in your mind, and to embed itself in your heart.
Jesus Christ cares for you!
Jesus Christ is with you!
So, no matter what happens tomorrow, YOU will be just
fine.
May the Savior, Jesus Christ be with you in whatever you must go through in life. He’s got you covered. When this all ends, - YOU SHALL BE WITH HIM IN HIS HOME FOREVER!
