Mark 1:28–30

Here, in the synagogue at Capernaum, the greatest amazement prevailed. Those present had felt the authority of His word within them. Then they saw that same authority shown in someone else — a remarkable deliverance done at the simple word of Jesus. They questioned among themselves for an explanation. They were not yet ready to find that explanation in the Person of Jesus standing before them. They could only admit that this is a new kind of teacher, with teaching completely unlike anything they had known. For the word of Jesus is clearly of supreme authority even in the kingdom of Satan. The report of this incident spread fast through the Galilean district, as well it might.

In His case both were perfect. His teaching was full of authority. With the same authority He commanded obedience even from demons. So His fame spread with a promptness that matched the promptness of His wonderful service for God on behalf of man.

This miracle, which Mark records as well as Luke, may be noted as the first done publicly on a demon-possessed man. It has a striking place at the opening of our Lord's service in Mark's Gospel, the Gospel given to displaying that service. What truths does man need more than these? He is in one way or another under the enslaving power of Satan, and the name of Jesus alone is able to deliver him.

The woman of Canaan had heard of Jesus. We read that for some time before this date His fame had spread throughout all the region around Galilee. Crowds flocked to Capernaum because they had heard what great things He did, and people from around Tyre and Sidon were among them. A wealthy queen among the Gentiles once heard of the wisdom of Solomon. She came to him with choice gifts from the ends of the earth, so she might see and hear for herself. A greater than Solomon was now living in an obscure corner of Galilee. Yet it was only one of the descendants of Canaan who came to bow at His feet and make her request.

It was not only a "word", such as they were used to. This word came with authority and power in Jehovah's Servant, His chosen. Amazement came on all then — but for a sinner to believe is far better still.

But the report, though accurate, is not belief in His Person or in His word. I do not know anything more sad or distressing than to see the Son of God in a lost and estranged world. People admired Him. They testified to the grace that showed itself in Him. His fame spread on every side, so that crowds were always waiting on Him. Yet they did not know His Person, and His word did not convert them. In the end they got rid of Him, so they could have their own way. How much of this we sometimes see! He, however, knew why He had come, and patiently did His Father's will while it was called "Today."

So, at the outset of the Lord's path of lowly service, His perfection as the Servant passes before us. Authority marks His service, and power goes with it. He stays within reach of the lowly and the needy, and He uses His power in dependence upon God. He refuses to use it to gain popularity. His power goes with tender compassion, and He never uses it just to exalt Himself.

Directly after the Lord's service in the synagogue we are called to witness His service in the home. His activities and perfections glorified God in the public synagogue. Here they are shown to be just as active in the privacy of the family circle.

There was no waste of time with our blessed Master, and none with His new followers either. They bring to Him at once the case of need in that house. Human need, the fruit of human sin, met Him at every turn. It was as clear in the house of His new followers as it had been in the synagogue, their local centre of religious observance.

Matthew's home was a place of feasting on that occasion (Luke 5:29); Peter's home was rather a place of mourning. His wife's mother lay sick with a fever — "a great fever," adds Luke the physician. Peter's home appears to have been shared not only by his mother-in-law but also by Andrew his brother. A godly family circle, we may be sure.

It has often been taught that a man must remain unmarried to follow the Lord fully. But here we learn that Simon was a married man. His affections were large enough to take in his wife's mother, not only into his heart but into his house. We live in a day when mothers-in-law are often thought little of. It was not so here, and God has not recorded this in His Word for nothing.

So we have positive certainty, from God's own word, that the healing of Peter's wife's mother took place a short time after the call of Peter and Andrew, and considerably before the healing of the leper.

How wonderful this is to us, especially when we remember who He was. He was the High and Holy One who inhabits eternity, and the hosts in heaven bow down before Him in worship. Yet Simon's family were not afraid of Him. To them He was so gracious, so approachable, that they could bring their trouble to Him and talk to Him about it. He is the same today. He invites our confidences and wants us to let Him into our homes and lives.

Leaving the synagogue He enters the house of Simon and Andrew. The apostle Peter had a wife, and her mother was sick with a fever. The Lord takes her by the hand; the fever disappears, and the woman begins to serve them in perfect health. As soon as the Sabbath is over, the whole city gathers at the door of the house… Still He remains the Servant of God. He gets up before sunrise to go to a solitary place to pray.

Only two of our Lord's apostles seem to have had the great honour of welcoming Him under their own roof — Matthew (also called Levi) and Peter. Matthew's home was a place of feasting on that occasion (Luke 5:29); Peter's home was more a place of mourning. His wife's mother lay sick with a fever — "a great fever," adds Luke the doctor. It seems Peter shared his home not only with his mother-in-law but with his brother Andrew (Mark 1:29-31). We can be sure it was a godly family circle.

The Lord will not be kept to one day a week, or to what we might call the religious side of our lives. He loves us too well for that, and He delights to be with us in our homes and to share the joys and sorrows of our everyday life. I proclaim an everyday Saviour, a Saviour for the home, who understands troubles at home and knows how to meet them by His own power and grace.

Luke tells us she was struck down with a great fever (fevers differ a great deal), and he adds that they begged Him for her; Mark says they told Him about her at once. Their asking was right and timely; but He was already there, ready to heal.

His mother-in-law, practical woman that she was, began to wonder and worry about her daughter... So she planned through sleepless nights. The more she planned, the more anxious she became. Anxiety deepened into constant worry, until she lay fevered, sick and helpless. It was her love for the people dearest to her that brought it all about.

Though this blessed One has all authority and power He is accessible to all. When He enters the humble home of a fisherman, and there is one in need of His healing power, we read, "immediately they told Him about her"... With the great men of this world it is very different. The greater their authority and power the less accessible they are to the poor and needy. Nor is the Lord any different today: though high in heavenly glory we can "tell Him," and bring "to Him," all our sorrows and our needs.

They had seen His power in the physical world — over the fish of the sea. They had seen His power in the realm of darkness — over the unclean demon. But could He — would He — consider a private sorrow, a domestic affliction? The compassionate Lord settled that uncertainty once and for all.

He had come down from heaven "to bind up the broken-hearted" (Isa. 61:1), and He was in fact moving among people, taking their weaknesses and bearing their sicknesses with real sympathy. Matthew's wording of Isa. 53:4, referred to here, means that He took up people's sorrows as a burden on His own spirit (Matt. 8:17). His sympathy with people during His life is the point. It is a mistake to apply Isa. 53:4 to His atoning death.

This same Servant of God is then seen to have power over sickness as well, which is a result of sin... The fever pictures the restlessness caused by sin. He only takes her by the hand, and His healing power restores her so completely that she gets up at once and serves them, using her hands for His pleasure.