DAY FOUR | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16
Mark 1: 29-34
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
REFLECTION
I remember a time when my sister got very ill and began losing a lot of blood. It happened on weekend visit to my parents when she suddenly passed out. I remember my mom panicking, saying “I just don’t know what to do,” while my dad was casually searching WebMD for what to do when someone passes out from blood loss. Thankfully, my wife took authority and calmly and directly gave directions to get my sister to the car and to the hospital immediately. It was her direction that I believe saved my sister’s life.
We have already seen Jesus’ authority in the synagogue. He has shown authority with his teachings and shown his authority over the demons, but now we see him with authority as he speaks words of healing. In this case it was to Peter’s mother-in-law. And quickly we begin to see that part of the “Good News” Jesus brings is a stop to the nightmare. He came to rescue people from the effects of a fallen world, whether it be shrieking demons or the fever of a woman. Jesus dealt with them, with the gentle but deeply effective authority.
I’m reminded how often we can give away Jesus’ authority. We can be succumbed under the panic of being overwhelmed or controlled by the casualty of apathy. Either is denouncing Jesus’ authority. Peter’s mother-in-law shows us that when we live under the authority of Christ, our role is to get up and serve, working under Christ’s authority to continue the work of rescuing people from the effects of a fallen world in whatever ways we can.
Mark 1: 29-34
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
REFLECTION
I remember a time when my sister got very ill and began losing a lot of blood. It happened on weekend visit to my parents when she suddenly passed out. I remember my mom panicking, saying “I just don’t know what to do,” while my dad was casually searching WebMD for what to do when someone passes out from blood loss. Thankfully, my wife took authority and calmly and directly gave directions to get my sister to the car and to the hospital immediately. It was her direction that I believe saved my sister’s life.
We have already seen Jesus’ authority in the synagogue. He has shown authority with his teachings and shown his authority over the demons, but now we see him with authority as he speaks words of healing. In this case it was to Peter’s mother-in-law. And quickly we begin to see that part of the “Good News” Jesus brings is a stop to the nightmare. He came to rescue people from the effects of a fallen world, whether it be shrieking demons or the fever of a woman. Jesus dealt with them, with the gentle but deeply effective authority.
I’m reminded how often we can give away Jesus’ authority. We can be succumbed under the panic of being overwhelmed or controlled by the casualty of apathy. Either is denouncing Jesus’ authority. Peter’s mother-in-law shows us that when we live under the authority of Christ, our role is to get up and serve, working under Christ’s authority to continue the work of rescuing people from the effects of a fallen world in whatever ways we can.