God uses the Insignificant, Mark 1:29-31

Introduction

Have you ever had one of those, “Wow, I never saw that coming kind of incidents in your life?” As I was studying for this message this morning I got a phone call from someone who I have known for some time. I know her situation so I answered instead of letting her leave a voice mail and then calling her back. It was a seemingly innocent call, I thought. But in the midst of our conversation she asked me about heaven, if it was real, how I know and how to get there. So I had a very good opportunity to share the gospel with her. Then just as abruptly as she brought it up, she changed the subject. Now this is an example of what I believe is a good application of our text today. A call that seems to be insignificant became significant because there was an opportunity to share the hope we have in Jesus. To share who He is. Time will tell if it was truly significant for her. It was for me because it gave me an opportunity to share the gospel and that is always significant.

Our text is . But there is a lot more going on than just the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law. The surrounding context gives us clues as to why this is even in the Bible. and share this event. They really don’t add much except that Luke gives us the technical diagnosis of her fever. But right before this we are told that Jesus and His four newly chosen Disciples, Peter, Andrew, John and James, had went down to Capernaum. Which is what anyone who goes to Capernaum does because it is over 600’ below sea level. Capernaum is on the northwest shore of the sea of Galilee. I think that is more than just a directional statement but a spiritual statement too. They were at the bottom and that is where Jesus goes to begin His ministry. Here they are on a sabbath they enter the synagogue; Synagogues were places of gathering of the men who would read the law and the prophets and writings. Someone would also explain the text. Jesus was there doing the teaching and the men were astonished with His teaching. He was teaching like no other. He taught with authority. The Scribes who were the experts in the Torah, and the laws and rituals of Judaism always quoted others in order to support what they said. Jesus evidently didn’t do that. He simply stated His points and exposition of Scripture. He didn’t have to say, this is what so and so said, because He is that so and so. He didn’t even have to say, ‘thus saith the Lord,’ because He is the Lord. Well in the midst of His teaching, maybe in response to it, a man with an unclean spirit arises and confronts Jesus. To which Jesus casts him out and commands him to be silent about who He is.

This so shocked the men that they were asking themselves what is this teaching, v.22, 27 show this forth. His teaching as one having authority, the content of His teaching, and the validation of His teaching reveals very clearly the answer to their questions. If they have eyes to see the truth and ears to both hear and understand the truth. After this exorcism, His fame is spread all over.

When you go to the verses after our text you see that the Sabbath is over, the sun having set, and so people can bring their friends and family who were sick to be healed without violating the law. So sick from all over are there at the door of Peter to be healed by Jesus. Then we see Jesus pulling away from the people and praying to the Father. The disciples find him and tell him people are looking for Him, to be healed, most likely. Jesus tells them it is time to go to another village and preach the gospel for that is why I have come. Healing diseases was not nor ever was His purpose.

It in the midst of this that we have our text.

We see Here that God uses our daily situations to reveal His glory to those around us

I. Insignificant places- You never know where you will bump into an opportunity to display His glory

In this case it is Peter’s house. They departed the synagogue and all the hubbub going on there. If you are the disciples, having heard Jesus teaching and witnessed what they witnessed. They probably had some interesting conversations on the way to Peter’s house where they most likely hoped to get away from it all and relax for the afternoon. When I am done preaching on Sunday morning, the service is finished. I really enjoy the after glow as people talk. Usually, people are gone and I am locking the doors by 1pm. Sometimes it has been much later. Either way, I enjoy it. However, I still like to get home, get out of my suit and into more comfortable clothes and just relax. Much of the time I take a nap because I am so exhausted. Maybe that it what they would normally do too. But that is not what is going to happen. Peter’s home becomes the sight of an untold number of miracles. If it was found today, surely it would be made into a museum place, an attraction for tourists. A place to see where Jesus did miracles. Apart from what happened that day, Peter’s house is just like any other house in Capernaum or in any other city in the world. But it is the place God used to intersect a life and display His glory. For me it could be the Hitching Post restaurant in Holland, which no longer exists, though the building still stands. That is the place I first met Jim, the man who introduced me to Jesus. Or the old Holland Post office, which is a museum now, where I acknowledged Jesus as my Savior. Those insignificant places became significant to me only because of my encounter with Jesus Christ.

Insignificant places- you never know where you will bump into an opportunity to display His glory

Surely the disciples were not ready for what was about to happen. I doubt they planned for the endless visitors. I doubt you plan for those life changing events that you are going to face. It could be a phone call or chance encounter that demonstrates the glory of God to others through your life. However, you should no longer be surprised by God when He turns an insignificant place into a holy ground experience.

But it is not the place that matters. We come next to

II. Insignificant persons -He will even use me and you to reveal His glory.

Insignificant persons -he will even use me and you to reveal His glory

In this case it was Peter’s mother-in-law. I have told you often that God wants to use and does use all the things in your life for His glory. Yes, even your illnesses. Now it is probable, that Peter knew his mother-in-law was sick with a fever. We are told his mother-in-law has a high fever. Mark has “lay burning with a fever” has “stretched out with a fever” and has “holden with a great fever” which is a technical medical phrase.

The word for fever used here πυρεσσουσα/πυρετοσ is not always used of something serious, however it is used of complaint that was considered to be fatal, , referring to the officials son who was sick to the point of death. I think she was to the point of dying. And that is why they inform Jesus about her.

Jesus apparently stood over her like a doctor would. Luke tells us that He rebuked the fever and it left her. Mark and Matthew said he touched her hand and it left. The point is that the fever left when Jesus encountered it. And she was raised.

The word in v.31 ηγειρεν means raise up. to wake up. It is the word used of being raised from the dead, to speak of those dead in Christ who were raised from the dead when Christ died on the cross. Or in for Jesus raising the dead. And Paul used it in for the same idea. So here is this unnamed woman, known forever as Peter’s mother-in-law, who was at the point of death. Probably thought she was going to die if she was still conscious, but Jesus uses here illness to demonstrate who He is and thus to bring true glory to Himself.

Then she immediately arises and begins to serve Jesus and the others that were there. Her healing and raising was not for naught. It had purpose and it wasn’t wrapped up in her, but in who Jesus is.

Your situations also have purpose and that leads me to my third point,

Significant purpose- reveal His glory, His person, that He is the Christ, God. our only hope of salvation

III. Significant purpose- to reveal His glory, His person, that He is the Christ, God. our only hope of salvation

The purpose of this miracle in her life was not just so that she could go on living or even have a better life. It’s whole purpose was so that her healing would demonstrate who Jesus truly is. This helps to answer the question that arose earlier in the synagogue.

Jesus didn’t hesitate to heal her when asked. He just did it. He didn’t have to wait for her to have enough faith or even ask to be healed. Neither was required. She couldn’t have responded in her condition. Her illness was legitimate, a confirmed diagnosis by Doctor Luke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Her healing was immediate and it was complete as demonstrated by her immediately rising and serving them. That is unlike what happens today in healing services.

Additionally, Jesus own attitude shows that healing only served a purpose and it was not always His purpose to heal others, for we see in v.38 that rather than stay in Capernaum and heal more people He said let us go to another village in order that I might preach for that is my purpose. His purpose was to preach the gospel which spells out the need for man to repent and to believe He is the Messiah, God in the flesh, the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

Conclusion

I suggest to you to look at all the situations of your life as opportunities to put the glory of God on display.

MT

In two ways:

Be alert for opportunities to see or be a part of demonstrating the glory of God.

Be ready to give a reason for the hope that lies in you.