Matthew 8:14, 15; Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38, 39
I love to talk and preach about what the Lord has done for us through in our salvation. It is my honor to declare His provision of forgiveness and cleansing from sin for all those who trust Him as their Savior.I love to talk and preach about what the Lord has done for us through in our salvation. It is my honor to declare His provision of forgiveness and cleansing from sin for all those who trust Him as their Savior.
We rejoice in what we have because of what Jesus Christ did at Calvary by the shedding of His own blood as a total complete payment for our sin.
But what does that do in the life of the one who has been saved? Let’s look a at a seemingly passing encounter in a very busy day of ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ.
THE LORD’S COMING TO PETER’S HOUSE
HIS DEPARTURE FROM THE SYNAGOGUE. Mark 1:29a
As we track this day of ministry in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, we find that He has been teaching at the synagogue, verse 21.
What was the synagogue? It was a meeting place for the Jews which arose during the Babylonian captivity. The synagogues existed to give a place to gather for public prayer and for the reading and teaching of the Scriptures.
In whatever city or town where there were at least ten Jewish men they could establish a synagogue. We find synagogues everywhere in Judea and Galilee but they were common throughout the Roman Empire where ever there was a sizable Jewish population. Larger cities could have several of them. The synagogue was a place, a building set aside for worship.
With that information in mind; occasionally someone will tell me that we should not have church buildings. Their reasoning is that they did not have church buildings in the first century.
But where do we often find the Lord Jesus Christ? We find Him teaching in the synagogue. It is notable that we do not find the Lord Jesus condemning the practice of meeting in or the building of synagogues.
(Luke 4:16) “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.”
In reading the Book of Acts where do we find the Apostle Paul teaching when he arrived in a new town? In the synagogue. We do not find the Apostle condemning the erecting of synagogues. The early believers continued to meet at the synagogue until they were turned away by the Jewish leadership.
In the First Century the believers did not put up buildings of their own because they were hounded and persecuted both by the Jews and the Romans. It was not until Christianity became legal that Christians first began to build their own buildings for worship and the preaching of the Word of God.
To get hung up on such things is to choke on a gnat. While the weightier things are left undone. Like what? What did the Lord Jesus go about doing?
(Mark 1:14-15) “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
What is to be our priority? Preaching the Gospel. BACK TO OUR LORD’S DAY OF MINISTRY. Mark 1:21-28 tells us that while Jesus is busy teaching at the Synagogue He delivers a man form an “unclean spirit,” some demon. According to the account in Matthew 8; He has also just healed the servant of a centurion. Now we find Him at the house of Peter and his brother Andrew.
They are accompanied by their old fishing partners, the brothers, James and John.
HIS COMING TO THE HOUSE OF PETER.
At Peter’s house there is a dear lady, his mother-in-law, that is sick with a fever. Luke’s account of this event calls it a “great fever.” This lady is very sick and yes guys, even the Apostle Peter had a mother-in-law.
Seriously, we find that tribulations can come even to those closest to the Lord. It is hard to find a house where there is not some fever of tribulation that troubles a household.
When we find ourselves in some trial we tend to listen to the subtle whispers of the wicked one as he tells us that God really isn’t good or that there must be something wrong in our lives because of this or that problem we are dealing with. Some today, teach that if we are sick we must be in sin. They proclaim that if you are in God’s will you are healthy and wealthy. That is a lie of Satan. What about the example of the Lord Jesus Christ?
(Matthew 8:20) “ And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
While He walked this earth the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and King of kings did not have a place to lay His own divine head.
This lady is suffering from an intense fever. Diseases of suchMark 1:29-31Matthew 8:14, 15 fever were quite prevalent in the first century. This dear lady may even have been suffering from malaria which is still common in many parts of the world.
THE PRAYERS OF FRIENDS.
In Luke 4:38 it says that this lady’s family and or friends “besought Him for her.”
They pleaded with the Lord to help their loved one. This is certainly an example to us of intercession to the Lord on behalf of the sick.
We see that their prayers were effectual and availed much for Peter’s mother-in-law’s sake.
THE LORD’S HEALING OF THE LADY
The Lord Jesus Christ graciously, compassionately heals this lady of her fever. Matthew says that He touched her hand and Mark tell us that He takes her by the hand and lifts her up from her sick bed. What a precious picture indeed the healing touch of the Master’s hand in the life of one in great need.
In Luke it says that He “rebukes the fever.” As He had commanded the blustery winds and waves to be calm He commands the fever to leave this lady. In all three it says that the fever immediately leaves her. Think a moment about the circumstances of this event.
This does not take place in the public view. This was not done to impress the crowds. It was simply the compassionate mercy of the Lord doing for someone in need with no one but a few family and friends to witness it.
THE LADY’S SERVICE UNTO THE LORD
THE LADY’S RESPONSE TO HER HEALING
The story does not end with the deliverance from the fever. No, Matthew, Mark and Luke say that when she was healed she arose and “ministered unto them.”
Two things happened “immediately” when Jesus healed this lady. 1.) Mark 1:31 “immediately the fever left her.” 2.) Luke 4:39b “and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.” Beloved things happen at Jesus’ command. There was a deliverance from a great fever that resulted in a dear lady’s immediate desire to serve. Upon receiving deliverance from her disease became a servant.
THE BELIEVER’S RESPONSE TO SALVATION
What is the proper response to being delivered from our deadly disease of sin? This does not appear in three of the four Gospels by accident. The Christian, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has been healed of the worst and most serious of all diseases. The believer is delivered from the terminal disease of sin and its resulting eternal death.
What should be our response to our eternal healing? We should arise from sin’s sick bed and serve. WHO SHOULD WE SERVE?
This dear lady served the Lord Jesus and His disciples. How about us who have been saved from death?
WE SHOULD SERVE THE LORD
She ministers to the needs of the Lord. Obviously, in response to what the Lord has done for us we should serve Him. My natural response to He who has healed me, saved me from destruction should be to lovingly serve Him. What are we doing for Jesus Christ?
WE SHOULD SERVE EACH OTHER
Notice what Mark 1:31 says. “She ministered unto them.” Not only are we to serve the Lord Jesus Christ we are to serve our fellow believers, the church. I exhort you, dears ones, to pray for and nurture the heart of a servant.The heart of a servant is a special heart. It is not natural.
It is worth our taking note of that:
1.) There is no task below a servant. The servant is willing to do what ever needs done. A pastor is very thankful to have folks in the church that when they recognize a need they take care of it.
2.) There is no way to offend a servant. Why, the servant does not get offended because he sees himself as a servant, not as someone high and mighty but lowly and humble.
3.) The servant does not complain about his service. Why? Because he is a servant.
4.) There is nothing a servant will not do for his Master. For the servant; his greatest joy is to serve his master.
When the master is such as our Lord Jesus Christ the servant loves his master. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “if you love Me, keep my commandments.”
I want to publicly thank every member of Metropolitan Baptist Church that serves their Savior and brothers and sisters. I appreciate you very much. Jesus is a wonderful Master and it is a great privilege to be in His service.
CONCLUSION:FIRST: Are you saved? Have you responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Have you repented (turned from and forsaken your sin) and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ?
SECOND: are you a servant?In reality. If you are saved you are the Lord’s servant. He paid for your sins with His blood.The question is are you serving Him? Are you serving your Master? Are you serving His church? No one, not one person should be in any position in the church that does not have a servant’s heart. No deacon, no trustee, no Sunday school teacher, and certainly not a pastor.
