Peter Brings Jesus Home
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Bring Jesus Home -
Bring Jesus Home -
Here’s the big idea : When you bring Jesus to your home great things happen.
Illustration of Jesus arriving at my home:
The bible left the shelf and was put on the table for reading
The morning was for prayer
Sunday was the Lord’s Day
Education of our Children was with a Christian world view
The 10% of my paycheck went to the church
When Christ enters your home - things change
Background:
So far in Mark, we’ve noted how Jesus establishes his authority as the Son of God.
So far in Mark, we’ve noted how Jesus establishes his authority as the Son of God.
says, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
Mark moves quickly from event to event in the first chapter to prove that Jesus is who He says He is.
• John the Baptist testifies that his job was to prepare the way for the Lord in verses 2-3 in fulfillment of the prophecies found in Isaiah and Malachi.
• At His baptism in verses 9-11, the heavens are torn open, the Holy Spirit descends visibly and the Father declares verbally, “You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased.”
• Jesus then conquers some terrible temptations from Satan, preaches real repentance and proclaims demanding discipleship in verses 12-20.
• He then goes to a synagogue service and shows His power over a demon by quieting him and casting him out in verses 21-28. We learned that Jesus doesn’t want our amazement; He wants our allegiance.
• In our passage today we’ll see the power of Christ displayed over physical diseases in verses 29-31.
1. The Setting.
1. The Setting.
29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
After the synagogue service everyone headed to Village Inn, only they didn’t have one. It was common for this service to end at noon and then people would gather in homes for Sabbath lunch.
The scene now moves from a public power encounter in the synagogue to a very private event in a home.
We know from that Simon and Andrew were originally from Bethsaida. It’s likely that Peter had purchased this home in Capernaum because that’s where they had moved their fishing business. Note that Peter still had a house and that he used his home for hospitality. He fully followed Christ and yet as a follower he was to care for his family and use His home for God’s glory and to make Jesus famous.
Archaeological excavations have uncovered a home in Capernaum that is near the site where the synagogue stood.
Ann and I have been to this house. Ancient writings have been discovered on the walls with the words “Lord” and “Christ” in Aramaic, Greek, Syriac and Latin. They’ve also found first century fish hooks and graffiti references to “Peter.” Tradition says that this house was only about 100 yards from the synagogue.
Picture here
Peter has no hesitation to bring his fishing buddies to his home after the synagogue service.
There is a lesson her on hospitality
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
1
Having people over; fellowship in comon bond
When Peter left everything to follow Christ that meant that he gave everything to Christ. Too often we categorize the spiritual and the secular.
We put worship and prayer and Bible study into the spiritual pile and things like work and hobbies and relationships and family into the secular pile. Listen.
When you repent and receive Christ, when you forsake all to follow Christ, it means that everything becomes spiritual – your family, your house, your possessions, your finances, your job, your hobbies, your relationships, your schoolwork, your activities, because everything matters to Jesus.
Peter’s priorities had changed when he met Jesus – the people in his life and all of his possessions now belonged to Jesus.
He could still enjoy them, but he had transferred ownership of everything to Him. Have you made this same transfer?
2. The Sickness.
2. The Sickness.
30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
We’re told in verse 30 that Peter had a mother-in-law.
That probably blows some of your minds because you’ve been taught that Peter was never married.
That’s something the Catholic Church advocates and since they believe Peter was the first pope, they restrict popes and priests from marrying.
5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
Cephas is the Armaic name for Peter. We see this in when Jesus says, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
clearly states that Peter had a wife: “Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?” Cephas is the Armaic name for Peter. We see this in when Jesus says, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). If you’d like to dive deeper into this, see :11and .
It’s clear that Peter was married and that he cared for his mother-in-law: “Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever…” The idea in Greek is a bit stronger than that she was just lying down with a fever. The sense is that this fever had so affected her that she was thrown into a sickbed without any hope of ever getting better.
It’s clear that Peter was married and that he cared for his mother-in-law: “Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever…”
The idea in Greek is a bit stronger than that she was just lying down with a fever. The sense is that this fever had so affected her that she was thrown into a sickbed without any hope of ever getting better.
The phrase “lay ill,” means that she was flat on her back.
The word “fever” refers to “a fire in the bones.”
The word “fever” refers to “a fire in the bones.”
Because of the kinds of diseases that were prevalent in that marshy area around the Sea of Galilee at the time, it’s possible that she had malaria or typhoid fever.
In the Gospel According to Luke, we read that she had a mega, or “great fever.” This is not surprising that Luke would give us this diagnosis since he was a physician. It was common back then to categorize fevers as “small” or “great” so this tells us that she was in a life-threatening situation. It’s important to know that in the ancient world “fever” was a disease itself, not just a symptom.
Illustration - somone you love is sick and hurting
Are you aware that as part of our discipleship we’re called to care for our families?
8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
“…and immediately they told him about her.” I love how they told the Lord about the problem. In essence, they were interceding on her behalf.
“…and immediately they told him about her.” I love how they told the Lord about the problem. In essence, they were interceding on her behalf. They didn’t know what else to do or who else to go to. A crisis does that, doesn’t it? Even pagans will pray if the problem is big enough.
They didn’t know what else to do or who else to go to. A crisis does that, doesn’t it? Even pagans will pray if the problem is big enough.
How bad does it have to get before we will call on Jesus.
Namman - even go into the Jorden river
Hezikiah - prayer for healing
Will you or me interceede on somone’s behalf and bting Jesus to them.
3. The Savior.
3. The Savior.
31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
• He came. Don’t you love that Christ comes close to us in our time of need? Luke tells us that he came and “stood over her.” He didn’t stay at a distance but came near. Our greatest need when we’re hurting is to experience His presence.
18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
• He came. Don’t you love that Christ comes close to us in our time of need? Luke tells us that he came and “stood over her.” He didn’t stay at a distance but came near. Our greatest need when we’re hurting is to experience His presence. I love : “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and is attentive to their cry.”
• He touched. Jesus could have snapped his fingers or just said a word but instead He took her by the hand.
• He touched. Jesus could have snapped his fingers or just said a word but instead He took her by the hand. Jesus did the same with the blind man in : “He took the blind man by the hand.” There’s power in touch, isn’t there? It was a big deal for Jesus to touch her because according to the Talmud (a Jewish commentary on the Old Testament), touching anyone with a fever would have rendered one unclean. But with Jesus, the touch did not defile the healer, but healed the defiled! When Jesus touches someone, everything changes!
Jesus did the same with the blind man in : “He took the blind man by the hand.”
There’s power in touch, isn’t there? It was a big deal for Jesus to touch her because according to the Talmud (a Jewish commentary on the Old Testament), touching anyone with a fever would have rendered one unclean. But with Jesus, the touch did not defile the healer, but healed the defiled! When Jesus touches someone, everything changes!
• He lifted. I love that Jesus lifted her up. He came down so He could lift her up. She couldn’t get up on her own.
• Fever left. We have every indication that the fever left immediately, which was amazing in itself.
Christ came, He took her by the hand, and then He lifted her up and the fever left.
This is a big deal because Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would have a healing ministry in :
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, And the tongue of the dumb sing: For in the wilderness shall waters break out, And streams in the desert.
Is
4. The Serving Mark 1:31
4. The Serving Mark 1:31
31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
The end of verse 31 implies that she served them immediately: “and she began to serve them.”
But for Peter’s mother-in-law she was completely helpless and sicker than any other family member. And yet, there was no recovery time. She didn’t get better gradually. She was healed and went right into helper mode.
Anytime you encounter Jesus the natural response is to serve Him!
This word for “serve” is the word we get “deacon” from. It literally means to “wait on tables” and was also used of the angels ministering to Jesus at the end of His terrible temptation in the wilderness in .
Peter’s mother-in-law made her life immediately available to Jesus and His ministry. We have been saved to serve, healed to help and touched so that we touch others.
n, sickness and Satan!
Look what happens when Jesus enters your home.
Make Your Home Headquarters for Ministry
Let’s look now at the second half of our main idea from verses 32-34: “That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed 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.”
The reason they waited until sundown was because they were prohibited from carrying anyone on the Sabbath, because that would have been considered work. Sabbath started at sundown on Friday and ended at sundown on Saturday. Actually, they had to wait until the first three stars were clearly visible in the sky.
I imagine it like a countdown clock before the start of a big event like the Cubs/Cards series. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the setting of the sun so they could bring battered people to Jesus. This makes me think of . When the sun sets “The sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.”
The people who came had all sorts of problems. Some were suffering from sickness and others were sabotaged by evil spirits. Some were diseased and others were demon possessed. Broken legs and broken hearts gathered outside the home. Some couldn’t walk so they were carried. Verse 32 says they were “brought,” which means, “to carry as a burden.”
The people who came had “various diseases,” which means manifold, or a wide variety. Remember this: Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. The older I get the more convinced I am that everyone is suffering – emotionally, mentally, physically or spiritually…or all the above.
According to verse 28 the fame of Jesus’ name spread throughout the region when Jesus cast out a demon and now that He has brought physical healing to Peter’s mother-in-law, crowds line up to see Him. In verse 33 we read that the “whole city” was gathered at the door of the house. The tense of the verb suggests that the crowds continued to come. People knew that Jesus was not only at Peter’s home but that He could help those who were hurting.
Can you imagine this scene as people pounded on Peter’s door? I wonder what it would look like if people gathered on our front lawns because we brought Jesus home with us from the service today? Here’s the deal: When Christ shows up, the crowds will be curious.
Verse 34 says that He “healed many.” What this means is that He doesn’t heal everyone in this life. In this world there will be woes and challenges and disease and cancer and fevers. And while we should pray for healing, we must realize that sometimes His will is to not heal.
Jesus silenced the demons because He didn’t want their testimony: “And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.” It’s interesting that the demons wanted to declare who Jesus was but were not permitted to do so. Jesus wants us to speak about Him, but many of us walk around muzzled.
Before we assume that all these people were putting their faith in Jesus, it must be pointed out that many just wanted a miracle. They wanted relief from pain and affliction but weren’t ready to repent and receive salvation. While Jesus healed many who were sick and cast out demons, He came for a different purpose, as we will see next weekend. He extended mercy but He was also on mission. He was merciful and missional.
I love the progression here that corresponds with our 4Gs. We’re to gather with God’s people to worship and then bring Jesus home with us so that we grow in our faith. We then give to others by serving and finally we go with the gospel to our neighbors and to the nations.
Action Steps
Let’s allow this passage to percolate in our lives. Here are some action steps.
1. Don’t allow your in-laws to become out-laws. Is there anything you need to do to reconcile this relationship?
2. Live out your faith wherever you are. Are you helping your children learn about Jesus? Are you taking Jesus to your workplace? Have you invited Him into your hobbies, your sports, and other activities? Do you take him to your campus with you?
3. Ask the Healer to bring healing to you and others. Sometimes Jesus heals miraculously. Other times he does it through doctors and medicine and surgeries. And sometimes we won’t receive healing until we’re in heaven. Let’s not be like Asa, who neglected to ask for healing in : “Yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians.”
4. Find somewhere to serve. The question should never be whether you will serve. The real question is where and when will you serve? We have not been lifted up only to lie back down. You can help us achieve our mission by serving in the Nursery, Children’s Ministry, Student Ministry, Celebrate Recovery, going on the mission trip to Puerto Rico, Pregnancy Resources or World Relief or someplace else in the community. The possibilities are endless because the needs are unending. If you’re saved, settle this truth: you’re a servant.
5. Repurpose your home as headquarters for ministry. Practice hospitality. Reach out to your neighbors. What one event can you plan within the next three months to use your home as a place for people to learn about God’s grace? What about a fall bonfire or a Cookie Exchange in December?
6. Ask the Savior to save you. We all have a sickness called sin and Satan is out to destroy us. Our fever is fatal and there’s no way we can help ourselves. We’ve fallen and we can’t get up. Ask Jesus to come and He’ll come. And He’ll touch you and then lift you up. Repent and receive Him into your life and then follow Him wholeheartedly. He died in your place, taking your punishment, His blood paying the price for all your sins. And then He rose from the dead on the third day, showing His power over sin, sickness and Satan!