31 Days of Healing: Peter's Mother-in-Law

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.

 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. –Luke 4:38-41 (NKJV)

The writer of this Gospel is Luke.  Luke was a doctor.  I like to remember that when I am reading about healing in the Gospel he authored.  He would have been familiar with natural healing practices, but was not present during the accounts.  They were later relayed to him.

The healing of Peter’s mother in law takes place in Capernaum.  Jesus had just left the synagogue. So, it was the Sabbath.  Jesus repeatedly healed people on the Sabbath, even though it was a source of contention for the religious leaders, and I believe there is a reason for that.  But that is another post.

He goes to Simon Peter’s house and his wife’s mother was sick with a high fever.  We don’t really know what was causing the fever.  Modern medicine will usually say there is a cause for the fever.  The fever in and of itself is not the disease.  The author of this Gospel was a physician, and I assume as such, he would have been thorough and told us the cause, but he doesn’t.

Some also say that fever is a good thing, that is shows the body is working. But I think we should look at what the Bible says, and how Jesus felt about it.  The Gospel says he “rebuked the fever.” I looked up the word “rebuke” in the Greek and it is the word “epitimao.”  It means “ I rebuke, chide, admonish, warn.”  So, rebuking doesn’t seem to be favorable, right?  When he rebukes the fever-this means he was speaking to it-it leaves.  It, the fever, leaves.  Does that mean that Believers can speak to illness and it will leave too? Hmmm….

Instantly the woman was relieved and her body was restored to its normal state, so much so that she was able to serve them.  And she immediately did so.

Healings and miracles in the Gospels often precede other healings and miracles.  In the next passage of scripture it says,

When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.

Key phrases to notice in this passage are “all those who had any that were sick”, “various diseases” and “He laid His hands on every one of them.” All the people that came to him and that were sick were healed.  They all didn’t have the same thing like Peter’s mother-in-law, a fever.  They had different diseases.  He laid his hands on every one.  Every one.  And healed them.  All of them. 

He is still healing.  He is the same yesterday today and forever.  And He still wants to heal them all.

To read more in the series go here: