§ 8. Jesus' Ministry in Galilee Continued

Peter's being married is also consistent with his role as elder in the church.

1 Peter 5:1

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder….

Titus 1:5–6

…Appoint elders in every town as I directed you—if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

As was seen in the healing of the Centurion's servant, Jesus has great power to heal with no real effort on His part.

This reception is far better for Him than many that are recorded in the gospels.

When we consider Peter's mother-in-law, her illness prevented her from doing what she wanted to do. Her healing provides the first opportunity for her to make a choice. And what she considered important was to serve Jesus on His visit to her home.

Her emphasis on the spiritual reminds us of another who was prevented by his physical condition from doing what he wished. This man made clear his desire for spiritual things when he was healed, just as Peter's mother-in-law had.

Acts 3:2–8

And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple…. Peter…took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

Both Mark and Luke place this episode within Capernaum as Matthew does, but they emphasize that Jesus first taught in the synagogue, and now He enters private homes, starting with Peter's. His emphasis shows the importance of the teaching priest in Israel, and the importance of the assembly to the Lord.

Whenever the apostle Paul entered a new town, he also made it his practice to teach in the synagogue first (Acts 17:1–3).

Mark is the only account that tells which of His disciples was with Him on this occasion.

We know Simon and Andrew to be brothers, and it was common for extended family to share a house. The brothers James and John had been fishing partners with Peter (Luke 5:10), so their presence here marks that personal relationship in addition to their role among the twelve.

Mark specifically notes the presence of these disciples on several occasions, most notably:

the transfiguration (Mark 9:2),
foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world (Mark 13:3), and
praying in the garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:33).

Peter and John recall these and other examples in their letters to establish the authoritativeness of their testimony about Him.

2 Peter 1:16–19

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts….

1 John 1:1–3

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

The subtle differences between the physician's account and the others' are intended to convey the seriousness of Peter's mother-in-law's condition. Not only does she have a fever, but it is a high (literally, "great") fever—a condition which grows quite dangerous as we progress in age. The inhabitants of the home approach Jesus to appeal for her with evident concern.

Luke adds these details to Matthew and Mark. The complete picture is thus that Jesus heard the family's request, entered where she lay ill, and spoke a word to heal her, taking her by the hand to help her up.

Luke's mention of "rebuke" here is consistent with the Lord's "rebuke" of demons before (v.35) and after (v.41) the current episode.