February 7, 2021 Mark 1.29-39 I Love My Mother-in-Law Pastor Jacqueline Hine

 

February 7, 2021 Mark 1.29-39 I Love My Mother-in-Law Pastor Jacqueline Hines

Family dynamics never fail to perplex, frustrate and entertain us.  You are all familiar with those silly mother-in –law jokes. Here’s one for you that Mike, our master humorist, has probably heard a million times. It goes like this:  As I was picking up my mother in law from the airport, I asked her,

“So, how long do you think you’ll be staying with us?” She answered, “Well... for as long as you like.” I answered, “Not even for coffee?”

I am glad for the many Bethel stories that I have heard about mothers-in-law who are such a blessing. God helps us get along as best we can when there are those inevitable tensions in a family. 

The gospel of Mark tells of the mother-in-law of one of Jesus’ disciples, Peter, a fisherman by trade.  Peter was hanging out with Jesus and a few of the other fisherman who had just decided to follow Jesus as we see in the beginning of this chapter. It was the Sabbath, so they had been to worship. Jesus had been teaching, so they also had bible study or Torah study - on the Sabbath – something with which we also are familiar. 

Before the mother-in-law story, Mark gives us a bit of news that had to be the talk of the town for several days or at least it had become a prayer request. During their time in the synagogue, there was a man whom everyone could not help but notice. His behavior was odd.  He did not fit in. Something was wrong with him. Some thought this man may have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed. They might have wondered if intoxication was the reason he was loud and out of order. Others could understand and relate to his crazy ways because they too had fallen off the deep end after being traumatized and injured at some point in life. This man needed Jesus in the worst way, and unlike so many in desperate need, he came to Jesus. No one else knew what to do with him. Jesus changed his life immediately, and no doubt, gradually and permanently. Hallelujah. How wonderful it is to have Jesus’ help!

How wonderful it is when we leave church having seen with our own eyes that Jesus showed up as promised and good things happened.

As soon as they left the synagogue, they did not go to O’Grady’s for lunch. They went to Peter’s house. They may have been expecting a nice Mediterranean meal with some fresh sautéed vegetables, seafood steamed or fried, oven baked bread, maybe some grapes, cheese and the finest wine fishermen could afford. There was Jesus, Peter and his brother Andrew with James and John – otherwise known as the sons of thunder. Every church has a son or a daughter of thunder who draws a lot of attention for various reasons. These five men showed up after worship and Torah study, ready to eat, and there was the probable host - Peter’s mother in law - sick in bed with a fever. The agenda changed in a moment’s notice. Instead of dinner, it was time for soul food.

They barely got into the house when they heard the news. That’s love. Hallmark used to have a commercial that said, “When you care to send the very best, send a hallmark card.” The folks in the house loved this mother in law well enough to bring attention to her important need. Somehow, they knew Jesus and her husband and the other fisher guys would care. They shared her need to those of the very best character and good will, to those who loved and cared for her.

Jesus took her by the hand. He took charge of her. He knew what to do and he did it. The fever left. She got out of bed. She got on her feet. She served them. All was well again.

So what does this passage tell us? Mark tells us 5 things. If we want to be like Jesus, we ought to follow him to a place of worship and study and when he leaves, we should go with him. That’s the first thing. Secondly, when Jesus extends a hand to us we do well to take it.  He is the one who takes the heat off of us, to get us back on our feet so that we can serve somebody.

The third lesson we find in verse 32. It says, That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. ³³And the whole city was gathered around the door. ³⁴And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons;

The Greek transliteration suggests a broader understanding of those who were sick. It not only describes those who came to Jesus as ill and not well, but those that were miserable, insulted, and abused. They were sick and miserable for a variety of reasons, not just those that come quickly to mind. Verse 34 says Jesus cured those who were sick. The Greek transliteration also suggests a broader understanding of being cured. What Jesus did was THERAPEUO. He provided a therapeutic intervention, a cure, a healing, a restoration of health – perhaps beginning that moment and concluding over some time. I appreciate one biblical reference that indicated that being healed meant being able to worship (John 5.10). 

Jesus healed the sick and he cast out demons, too. Sickness makes us miserable. Sickness is one of the many evils in this world that the bible says we wrestle against. But, demons are a whole other story. Demons, it seems to me, is when the devil himself has shown up to fight us and to separate us from the goodness of God and God’s people.

Dia-bolos is the Greek word for Devil. It means ‘the one who divides’. It is rooted in the verb diabellein, which means “to split,” as Max Lucado says, “The devil is a splitter, a divider, a wedge driver. He divided Adam and Eve from God in the garden and has every intent of doing the same to you.”

Mark’s first lesson is to be with Jesus in the synagogue and follow him when he leaves. The second is when Jesus extends his hand to you, hold onto it. The third lesson is that when an ailment or demon is making us miserable, if we are far away from God’s will or God is calling us to draw close to a brother or sister, we need to go where others have been healed, like Peter’s beloved mother-in-law, and others whom Jesus has put back on their feet.

The fourth lesson is, words matter. Jesus asked the demons not to speak because they knew him. They were hostile witnesses. Anything they said could be used against Jesus. Jesus asking them not to speak also reminds us that words spoken in a timely fashion matter a lot. Surprise parties and gender reveals are examples. If you know the end of a movie plot or a joke, speaking too soon is a spoiler alert. A very tall and handsome man moved into a certain town. People were curious about the newcomer until someone found out he had just come out of prison after many years. We have to be careful with words so that others can be judged in a fair and Godlike manner, if it is ours to judge at all.

The fifth and final lesson is in verse 35 that tells us that very early while it was still dark, Jesus prayed in preparation to go out and do all the good he was called to do. Mark teaches us that following Jesus means praying – talking to God about everything and anything.

As we gather for communion, may our hearts get ready to follow Jesus to a place that is good for everyone. Amen.