Meditation on Mark 1:29–39
Feb. 8, 2015
As soon as they left the synagogue,
they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now
Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at
once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left
her, and she began to serve them.
That evening, at sunset, they
brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole
city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with
various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons
to speak, because they knew him.
In the morning, while it
was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he
prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found
him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He answered, ‘Let
us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there
also; for that is what I came out to do.’ And he went throughout Galilee,
proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
***
Is it surprising to any of you
that Simon has a mother-in-law? It’s hard to imagine any of the disciples being
married with families of their own, but here in Mark we learn that Simon—better
known as “Peter”—lives with his brother, Andrew, and his “mother-in-law.”
This is one of many passages in the Bible that I wish more details were
provided! We never learn Peter’s mother-in-law’s name. Also disappointing is
that we never learn Peter’s wife’s name—or anything about their children, if
they have any. But we do have in all three gospel accounts of this healing
story—in Matthew 8, Luke 4, and Mark 1—a humble picture of extended family
living together in the same modest home, owned by two fishermen.
The crisis in all three stories is that Simon’s mother-in-law has a
“fever.” In Luke, she seems even more seriously ill, with a “high fever.” Here
in Mark, we sense the serious nature of her illness when “they” tell Jesus
about her “at once”—as soon as they enter the home. In Luke, they “ask Jesus
about her”—meaning that they ask Jesus to heal her. For the disciples have just
learned of Jesus’ miraculous power when he casts demons out of a man in the
synagogue. Now the one needing healing is not a stranger—she is a member of the
disciples’ own family!
You can imagine the emotion of this scene. Here is an elderly widow in
bed with a “high fever” long before the medical advances of our age, long
before antibiotics, vaccines, and pain medications. She is likely in great
discomfort, perhaps close to death. Making this sadder still is that people
would be afraid to come close to her. In ancient times, fever meant demon
possession.
But Jesus is not afraid of demons. Nor is he worried about getting too
close. He “stands over her” and “rebukes” the fever in Luke. In Matthew and
Mark, he gets even closer. In Matthew, he “touches her hand” and here in Mark,
he “takes her by the hand.” He “lifts her up.” This phrase means much more than
Jesus helped her to stand. The verb Mark uses here, egeiro, is the same one he uses in 16:6 when he speaks of the
Resurrection. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James go to Jesus’ tomb,
and a young man in a white robe says, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for
Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised (lifted up)...”
***
I have read this healing story many times, but I have to tell you, if
you read this story when you are sick—as I did this week—you hear the story
very differently than when you are well. You can really imagine the discomfort
and discouragement she must be feeling. You can imagine her frustration and
helplessness. Her loneliness and fear—especially if she, too, believes she must
be possessed by demons. She may be losing all hope of ever being well—and
wondering what she did wrong for the Lord to punish her in this way.
But God is not punishing her. He will use her sickness for His glory—to
reveal His love and mercy through the healing work of His Son. And she won’t
even have to say, “Lord, take my hand.”
Friends, the simple message I have for you today is especially for all
who struggle with chronic illness, pain or disease. Our healing doesn’t depend
on us—on what we have done or haven’t done! You may worry that you haven’t been
healed because you haven’t prayed enough or that you lack faith! You may fear
that God doesn’t listen to your prayers. Or that He has stopped caring about
you! You may be convinced—or others may even be telling you—that you are sick
because you haven’t done enough to make yourself well! That somehow, your
illness is all your fault.
But to believe this is to misunderstand our loving and gracious God and
the Good News of the Gospel! Jesus died and rose again so that all who are broken will be made whole.
Jesus does not wait for Simon’s mother-in-law to approach him. He goes
to her. He doesn’t wait for her to reach out to him. He reaches out to her. He
doesn’t wait for her to ask if she wants to be healed. He doesn’t ask her if
she has faith! Or say that faith has healed her. He doesn’t talk to her about her sins or her
needing forgiveness. He doesn’t tell her to take up her mat and walk or go down
to the river and wash.
He takes her hand. He lifts her up!
***
In response to her healing in all three gospel accounts, Simon’s
mother-in-law begins to “serve them.” This reference is not to the menial labor
of “women’s work” in ancient times. Her healing stirs her to become a true
follower of Christ. Scholars call her the “first deacon,” gratefully joining
Christ in the radical announcement of the kingdom of God by being not only a
fisher of people, but a servant of all.
Sisters and brothers, let us turn now to the one who longs to take our
hands, lift us up, and make us whole.
Let us pray.
Holy One, we praise you and thank you for
your love, shown to us in the generous gift of your Son. Thank you for your
desire to be reconciled with us, though we are still sinners. Reassure us when
we struggle with illness and pain, that you are always with us and that you are
not punishing us. Wrap your arms around us and comfort us, reminding us that in
Christ, you are forever pleased with us! Help us to hear your voice as we pray
and know, deep down in our hearts, that you care about what hurts and
distresses us. We thank you that you have a good plan for us—to use what is sad
and painful in our lives for your purposes and the wellbeing of the world you
so love. Fill us with hope and joy, in the midst of our struggles. Take our
eyes off ourselves and empower us to become, like your Son, servant of all.
Help us to be strong and courageous as we wait for you to take us by the hand,
lift us up and make us whole. In Christ we pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment