The Power of the King over Sickness

Introduction: How many of you have been sick before? Most of you know that I have faced my share of being sick within the last couple of months. How could you forget my cough or my voice? Right! Thank you for showing me grace. I went to Urgent Care three times, my family doctor once, and the E.R. once. I just couldn’t shake whatever it was that I had. I believe that I had both sickness and seasonal allergies. It was the pits.

The Top Sickness

1. Colds (respiratory conditions).

2. Flu.

3. Conjunctivitis (pink eye).

4. Mononucleosis (the kissing disease).

5. Strep throat (I hate this sickness).

6. RSV.

Do any of you enjoy being sick? I don’t! I hate being sick. Thank God that He designed the human body to have an amazing immune system.

Parallel passage: Mark 1:29–34; Luke 4:38–41

As we approach our text, we are going to see that the king has power over sickness.

I. Jesus came into Peter’s house – 8:14a

14 Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever.

In the last chapter, I mentioned to you that Peter’s house was in the city of Capernaum. Mark’s Gospel tells us that Peter and Andrew were from Bethsaida (which means “House of Fishing”), but apparently, they uprooted to follow Jesus and settled in Capernaum the headquarters for Jesus’ ministry.

Archeologists believe that they excavated Peter’s house. Today if you visited Capernaum, you would see that the Catholic Church has built a steel structure over the top of its ruins.

In Mark’s Gospel, we read,

“Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.” (Mark 1:29).

This event is taking place on the Sabbath. This is why they are coming out of the synagogue. They leave the place of worship and they come into a house.

II. He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever – 8:14b

14 Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever.

Underline the words, “He saw”. Those two words are important. Jesus' eyes were open to the needs of those around Him. How observant are we as people? Do we see the lepers (the untouchables) of society? Do we see those who are “dreadfully paralyzed”? Do we see those who are sick? How much of the needs of those around us do we see?

The words, “He saw” means He wasn’t going to ignore the situation. What good is it if all we do is see, but we don’t act upon the needs of those around us?

Jesus saw the need and He was going to act upon it. Jesus is going to touch Peter’s mother-in-law. Did you hear that? Peter had a mother-in-law which means that he was a married man. In 1 Corinthians 9:5, we read,

5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

Now, about Peter’s wife. We never read anything about Peter’s wife in the Bible. We know nothing about her. But we know Peter was married, why else would he want a mother-in-law?

III. He touched her hand, and the fever left – 8:15a

15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.

What do we have here? The King has power over sickness! Jesus saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying sick with a fever, and He acted upon what He saw. The New Living Translation reads, “with a high fever.” Jesus touched her hand, and the fever left her. Luke’s Gospel reads, “So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.” (Luke 4:39). Being touched by Jesus is better than taking a cold bath, swallowing an aspirin, or a Tylenol. Note that Peter’s mother-in-law was completely healed.

There is nothing like the power of a miracle touch from the hand of Jesus.

IV. She arose and served them – 8:15b

15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.

No sooner was this woman healed, than she began to serve.

Pastor Jon Courson wrote, “You can always tell a person who has been touched by Jesus because he will begin to minister.”

The New Living Translation reads, “Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.

There is a spiritual message for all of us here. We should serve as soon as we are healed spiritually (saved, born again). We are healed to SERVE! Where are you serving the Lord today?

Where can You Serve?

· Nursery

· Sunday school

· Music ministry

· Sound room

· Home groups

· Family Camp

· Security

· AWANA

· Youth Group

· Missions

· Trustees

· Special events

So, I ask you again, where are you serving the Lord? Everyone should be serving the Lord in some capacity.

Peter’s mother-in-law got up and she served. Even her weakness from having a high fever was gone. She took great care of Peter (her son-in-law), Jesus, and the disciples.

The First Three Miracles

In the first three miracles, Jesus heals a leper (an untouchable), a Gentile (a pagan), and a woman (viewed as insignificant in society). How is that for upsetting the status quo?

V. That night Jesus heals many others – 8:16

16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,

The Sabbath was ending. I have read that when anyone spotted two stars in the sky that the Sabbath was over. This is probably why we have the words in verse 16,

“When evening had come,”.

It was now Sunday! Jewish time went from Sundown to Sundown. The Sabbath was over, and a new day began. A new day of healing in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

We read,

They brought to Him many who were demon-possessed.

Jesus Christ is now going to tackle the demonic world. In another chapter, we are going to see the power of the King over the demonic.

Demon Possession

Jesus heals not a few, but “many” who were demon-possessed. What is demon-possession? Demon possession happens when a lost soul opens their life up to the evil one. I believe that this happened to Judas Iscariot. We read in Luke 22:3,

3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.

Just because Judas was numbered among the twelve doesn’t mean that he was a part of the twelve. Satan works through lost people. He works through those who get involved in occult practices. Through those that use drugs, which is a doorway to the demonic world. And through those who practice wickedness, which we call paganism. We have a whole culture that is involved in demonic activity today. Openly!

Scripture teaches us that Christians can face demon oppression, but not demon possession (2 Corinthians 6:11-18). Christians can be attacked by the enemy. But God has not left us defenseless. He has provided us with the Armor of God in Ephesians 6.

We read in Ephesians 6:11–13,

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The Apostle Peter was oppressed. Jesus told him once in

Luke 22:31–32,

31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

Do you know what Peter’s issue was? Pride. He boasted that even if everyone else would forsake Jesus in His time of need. That he would stay by Jesus’ side. Pride allows the enemy to oppress you. Jesus prayed for Peter.

Next, notice the second half of verse 16. We read,

And healed all who were sick.

The power of the King over sickness is clearly seen in this verse. It’s not just Peter’s mother-in-law healed in this section of Scripture. We read,

“And healed all who were sick.”

Dr. McGee believed that Jesus may have healed thousands of people in these two chapters of Matthew.

VI. Jesus’ healing fulfills prophecy – 8:17

17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”

Isaiah 53:4-5 read,

4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Warren Wiersbe writes, “Jesus fulfilled this prophecy in His life and not on the cross. He bore means sickness and infirmities during His ministry on earth. To say that there is “healing in the atonement” and that every believer has the “right” to claim it, is to misinterpret Scripture. 1 Peter 2:24 applies this same truth to the forgiving of our sins which He bore on the cross. Sin and sickness do go together (Psalm 103:3) since sickness is a consequence of Adam’s sin and also an illustration of sin. But God is not obligated to heal all sickness. He is obligated to save all sinners who call upon Him.”

Faith healers love these verses in Matthew. They teach that all Christians if they have enough faith do not have to be ill, or to be inflicted by some disease. They teach that these verses tell us that physical healing is in the Atonement.

Zach Minton from the Rock Church in Spokane, who spoke at our recent Men’s Camp was talking about faith healers who claim that healing is in the Atonement while wearing their eyeglasses. Like, if you believe healing is in the Atonement why are you wearing glasses?

Dr. McGee in his commentary on Matthew makes some great comments. He writes,

“If healing is in the Atonement, then why did Paul encourage Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach’s sake (1 Timothy 5:23 “frequent infirmities”). If healing is in the Atonement, then why did James encourage the sick to call for the elders of the church to pray over them (James 5:13-18). If healing is in the Atonement, then why didn’t Paul claim it and be delivered from his thorn in the flesh? (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). If healing is in the Atonement, then why didn’t Epaphroditus claim it and be healed? (Philippians 2:25-27).” And then he concludes by saying, “Don’t go to the tent (meaning the tent of the faith healers), go to the Great Physician.” (Paraphrased in my own words).

In this text, we see the POWER of the King over SICKNESS! Now, please don’t forget the PURPOSE of the healing here in Matthew 8. It testified to the truth that Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be – the Son of God.

Conclusion: Here are the takeaway truth from Matthew 8:14-17,

1. Make it a habit in your life to worship God. For us, it’s on a Sunday. Go to Church to be the Church.

2. Allow room in your home for Jesus Christ.

· I heard about a family that set an extra chair at their dining table to remind them that Jesus is the unseen guest at every meal.

· I heard about a guy that when having his daily devotions would set an extra chair in the room to remind Himself that Jesus Christ was present.

3. Jesus sees needs, both spiritual and physical. God help us to be quick to see the needs of those around us.

4. Jesus has authority over sickness (fevers). Healing is still available today, so PRAY!

5. Jesus’ touch can make all the difference. My life is different because Jesus touched me. Transformed life!

6. Jesus’ miracles provide total healing. We have been HEALED completely – there are no half-healings with Jesus.

7. Jesus’ healing should motivate us to SERVE. Find your place in the Church to SERVE the Lord.