February 4, 2024 Sermon

Sermon title:  “Jesus Heals a Mother-in-law”

Scripture:  Mark 1:29-39

(Other lectionary suggestions include Isaiah 40:21-31, Psalm 147:7-11, and I Corinthians 9:16-23.)

Mark 1:29-39

Jesus Heals Many at Simon’s House

29As soon as theyleft the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34And 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.

A Preaching Tour in Galilee

35In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38He 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.” 39And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

          As soon as I took a look at today's Scripture suggestion from lectionary, I jumped at the chance to preach about Jesus' healing of Simon's mother-in-law! Why? Because I like what a retired minister friend of mine said about this passage, and I wanted to share his wisdom with you! My retired minister friend is also a Baptist, so when I can quote conservatives (or people that I assume are conservatives!) I like to do so!

          What my friend said was essentially this, and I like it because it sounds so real and so practical:  If Simon's mother-in-law is living with her daughter and son-in-law, the stage is already set for some tension in the household. Think about it:  have you ever had to spend some time with your mother-in-law under the same roof? How was that? If you can say, “Fine”, then never mind. I probably have nothing to say to you. But if you have experienced some tension, you know what I mean - and what my Baptist friend meant. I know the Scripture says she was in bed with a fever. But isn't it possible that she felt bad because she had no real power, and was actually under the thumb of her daughter? The Bible doesn't say that, but isn't it altogether possible that the “fever” was caused by family tensions? Anyway, that's what my Baptist minister friend thought, and I like his thoughts. And then look how Jesus “healed” her:  he paid attention to her! Jesus was sensitive enough and smart enough to realize that sometimes just paying attention to someone who needs it is all the healing that is required.

          Something else this story tells us is that Simon Peter was married. (There can't be a mother-in-law if somebody isn't married!) Were the other disciples married? We simply don't know. And look how women were treated in that society! After Jesus took her by the hand, we are told the fever left her, “and she began to serve them.” Interesting, don't you think? Can you hear Peter? “Hey, Mom!. I'm told you're feeling better. Good! I'll take my slippers now!” Okay, I'm being facetious. But it's rather interesting to me that as soon as mother-in-law is well, she starts to serve! The little things about that society that slip by with no thought from whoever (Mark?) was writing things down.

          As we heard in this morning's Scripture reading, Jesus healed more than Simon's mother-in-law. “He cured many who were sick with various diseases.” In case we didn't get the point, Jesus came to serve, and we're told that right here in the very first chapter of Mark. And I think it's neat that we're told that he healed people close to him (i.e., Peter's mother-in-law) and also people he had probably never seen before.

          There is a writer by the name of Brian McLaren, and he says this:  “All the people that Jesus hangs out with and eats with are people who are being scapegoated....”

          Brian McLaren says that Jesus stands up for those who are scapegoated. And he names a few whom Jesus humanizes:  Zacchaeus, who had climbed up a tree to see Jesus; Matthew and his tax collector friends; and that woman caught in adultery in Chapter 8 of John's Gospel.

          If you think about it, all the people we heard about in today's Scripture reading were people given a "humanizing" touch by Jesus. Peter's mother-in-law is worthy of some attention, and so are all the folks Jesus healed.

          The obvious point is that just as Jesus offered a sympathetic ear to those in need, so can you and I do the same thing. Jesus felt called to a life of service. If you and I are Disciples of Christ, we need to be of service to others, too. Amen.

Pastor Skip