Mark
1:29-31
“Then the fever
left her, and she began to serve them.”
(Mark
1:31b)
There is little
background given here. Simon’s mother-in-law is identified as the sick woman
healed by Jesus. She is not mentioned
before or after this story. Her illness
is simply reported as a fever. That
diagnosis could cover a wide range of illness from a simple virus to
life-threatening disease. Of course, two
thousand years ago, even a simple virus could prove
deadly.
Other than the
fact that Simon is identified as a married man, there seems little here, except
for the last few words of our focal text; “and she began to serve them.” Simon shows up with his brother Andrew and
three friends…guests for dinner! Jesus touches Simon’s mother-in-law and the
fever leaves her. Her reaction? She gets up and begins serving them. There is
little fanfare here, no recorded celebration.
She is made well and immediately begins to serve.
The verses that
follow tell of others who came to the house that evening, looking for what
Simon’s mother-in-law had received. I
wonder if she served them also. Can’t
you hear the conversation amidst the drink orders…“Oh yes, he’s wonderful, let
me tell you what he did for me.” Service
is indeed an appropriate response to
deliverance.
Prayer: Gracious
God, as I recall your wondrous work of deliverance through Jesus Christ, may I
become a more faithful servant.
Amen.
Jim Abernathy
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