Anchor My Faith

Go, Your Son Will Live

Scripture: Mt 8:15; Mk 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39

In lesson h165, Jesus invited Simon, Andrew, James and John to leave their fishing business and follow him. They obeyed and in lesson h166 we find them in Capernaum, a city of Galilee. While teaching there in the synagogue an unclean spirit, which possessed a man there in attendance, cries out and provides Jesus with an opportunity to demonstrate his authority over these unclean spirits.

As the activities came to an end there at the synagogue, it was time to leave and move on. ^{“Mk 1:29} [As soon as Jesus] left the synagogue [he went] and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.” With his current four disciples, Jesus leaves the synagogue and goes to home of Simon and Andrew to probably have a meal and spend time together, but a small problem is encountered.

^{“Mk 1:30} Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told [Jesus] about her, ^{Lk 4:38} and they appealed to him on her behalf, ³⁹ and he [came and] stood over her and rebuked the fever, ^{Mk 1:31} and he took her by the hand and lifted her up and the fever left her.” As Simon watched Jesus command the unclean spirit to come out of the man at the synagogue, might he be thinking about his mother-in-law who lay ill with a fever and wondering if Jesus could in the same manner command her sickness to leave? Might this be why they went to the house of Simon and Andrew and not someplace else?

Arriving at their home, Simon and Andrew tell Jesus about Simon’s sick mother-in-law and appealed to Jesus on her behalf. Jesus came and stood over her and like with the man with the unclean spirit, he rebukes the fever and takes her by the hand and helps her up and as she is getting up the fever leaves her. Jesus now demonstrated his authority over sickness, which should increase the faith of those who witnessed the event.

^{“Mt 8:15} Immediately she [got up] ^{Mk 1:31} and she began to serve them.” Not only was her fever gone, but her strength was renewed and she took her place in the house and served those who were there. We are not told who else might be there at the house, but in that culture it seems likely that there were some friends there also and as they witnessed Jesus healing Simon’s mother-in-law they probably shared their experience with others. As the afternoon passed, people talked and by evening everyone in the whole city probably knew about Jesus casting out the unclean spirit and the fever and those who were like them wondered if Jesus could help them also.

^{“Mt 8:16} That evening, ^{Lk 4:40} when the sun was setting,” what do you suppose happened? We will find out in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, how systematically Jesus is revealing his authority. We saw his authority over the elements by changing water into wine at the wedding at Cana, his authority of unclean spirits and sickness. Each time he reveals his authority through teaching or by some sign, the faith of people in him grows. We have been given authority in Jesus Christ. Father, I don’t think we are doing very well in demonstrating that authority for the purpose of increasing the faith of those around us in Jesus.