Women in the Life of Jesus: Peter's Mother-in-Law

Scripture where she is found:  Matthew 8, Mark 1, Luke 4

Setting: Capernaum in Galilee

Her Story:

The details we are given about her encounter with Jesus are short.  Her story is found in 3 of the 4 Gospels, and each writer gives different details.

Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her.  So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.- Luke 4:38-39

Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.  -Matthew 8:14-15

Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.-Mark 1:29-31

My thoughts:

Each of the Gospel writers give different details in their accounts.  Luke says he rebuked the fever and it left her. Matthew says he touched her hand, and the fever left her.  Mark says he took her hand and lifted her up.  

I don't think there are discrepancies in their stories.  I don't believe any of them were present at this event, so they are reporting it as being told to them by others.  Each writer chose to include specific information in their account.  It is like witnessing an event through three different people's eyes.  You will get three different stories because people differ in what is important to them and what details they pay attention to.

We do know this.  The woman was Peter's wife's mother.  Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Jesus were present.  Peter's wife was probably present  

Jesus did speak to the fever and touch her hand.  Then the fever left. 

I love that word "immediately."  One writer says the fever immediately left her. Another says she immediately arose and served them.  I love that. Immediately.  I could use some more immediately's.  

She was instantly transformed. And she instantly began working. The woman was so sick with a high fever, not just a fever, but a high fever, that she couldn't do anything.  And then she comes in contact with Jesus.  And she is immediately restored to her prior condition.

One more thing.  It is possible that the family's faith was involved. The scriptures says when Jesus came into the home, "they made request of Him concerning her," and "they told Him about her at once." It appears that their faith could have possibly been at work in this situation on her behalf.  This is good news for those of us with loved ones who are sick. We can petition God on their behalf and He will heal them too.

To read more posts in this series, go here to Women in the Life of Jesus.