Setting: Contemporary Worship
Length: 26:09
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Title: The Healing of Peter's Mothers In Law
Commentary: This sermon is part of the ongoing verse by verse series in Matthew but also contains illustrations from the Samaritan Medical Foundation of which I am a board member.
Main Scripture: Matthew 8:14-17
Main Topics: Miracles, healing, Peter's mother in law, medical missions, Samaritan Medical Foundation
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Introduction
-we are in the book of Matthew, going verse by verse
-and in a special passage about the healing of Peter’s mother in law
-this passage is special in a number of ways
-it’s special in its own way as we shall see in a minute
-but it’s special to me personally, because I have used this passage to preach on the ministry of the Samaritan Medical Foundation
-you see, in the past years, Elder John and I have had opportunities to travel together to various churches and share about the vision of SMF
-we travelled in Sundays and were given opportunities to present SMF during adult Sunday school times and even during worship where I was given the chance to preach
-and I took with me on those trips…Matthew 8:14-17
-and used this passage to talk about how Jesus was the true medical missionary
-well, it was good to preach in those other churches
-but all that time, I never preached at the headquarters of SMF – the Cornerstone Community Church
-that didn’t feel right
-and so, today….coming upon this passage, I had a choice to preach this passage verse by verse and not mention SMF
-but honestly, this passage brought back good memories of John and me travelling together
-allow me to preach that sermon that I used elsewhere but so appropriately fits here….
-I think it will have special meaning for us as a church and create special feelings for us as we confirm the commitment we made to the Samaritan Medical Foundation
-in our text for today….
-this is a story that presents Jesus as a compassionate savior and a great healer of the people
-a story that reminds me of the medical mission work being done in Egypt
-the team of doctors and supporters that go there each year in the spring since 21001
-such medical work for the sake of the Gospel is a continuing reminder of our great Savior Himself as the true medical missionary.
-let’s focus now…on our savior and his work…
-in fact, let’s confirm where Jesus is
-He is up in the north…in the region of Galilee in a town called Capernaum
-and where is Capernaum?
-the town where many of his miracles took place
-this is the town where Peter lived
-in fact, this is the town that Jesus adopts as his own, and so, Matthew describes Capernaum in chapter 9:1 as Jesus’ “own town…”
-a town where many of his miracles took place
-and so, this is no ordinary town in the life of Jesus
Now, the book of Mark presents the same miracle and tells us that Jesus was leaving the synagogue
-and so we know that this is the Sabbath
-it is a holy day set aside for worship and rest
-nothing else…..
-in fact, all work must cease….including….. taking care of the sick !
-yes, they saw taking care of the sick as “work”…can’t pick people up and carry them here and there…that’s work
-it was a day of rest
-and as the people went home to rest, Jesus would also walk that familiar dusty road to Peter’s house as he has done many times before
-and there, he would expect to find…Peter’s mother in law
…always ready to serve Jesus and the others
-but on this day of rest, the situation would be different
-if the Pharisees and scribes were there, they would protest
-Jewish law clearly states that you cannot heal on the Sabbath
-this healing would make Jesus a law breaker
-but….Jesus is not concerned about such man-made laws
-Jesus is willing to heal…
-in fact, out from the many miracles that Jesus performed, THIS ONE
…more than the others…..emphasizes Jesus’ willingness to heal…
-for you see in many of the others, Jesus is stopped by those seeking
His help
-for example, here in chapter 8, the chapter opens with the leper…who fearlessly rushes up to Jesus, though there were
quarantine laws that should have kept him away…
-but the leper runs to Him…and pleads his case
-then there is the centurion who unexpectedly and suddenly approaches Jesus
-pleading his case
-but here…Peter’s mother in law…she does not plead her case
-she is not able to do so
-she lays in silence…
-unable to seek help
-in fact, Matthew emphasizes that Jesus saw her lying in bed with a fever
-and so, here…Jesus is presented as taking the initiative
-making the first move…
This is his modus operandi….his MO
He first loved us
-He first laid down His majesty
-we did not invite him
-John writes of this initiative in John chapter 1 when he declares:
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
-in the original Greek, the word for “own” is the familial term meaning “own children”
-an intimate term used on a people that knew no such intimacy with God, yet God would initiate such a bond.
-…to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
-let me say that medical missions…
-is ALSO about making the first move
-the people do not invite
-the missions workers…the doctors invite themselves
-spend their own money for plane tickets, food and lodging
-and stay in an area…inviting the people to come to them
-and watching this work unfold for 7 days in the city of Nag Hammadi in Egypt
-7 days within which the temporary medical clinic treated hundreds of 800 people….
-praying with them in the name of Jesus…even with the dark cloud of Islam hanging over them
-and sharing the gospel…
-this work and many other medical mission works are a model after the TRUE savior and healer, Jesus Christ, who is able and willing….and takes the initiative…to heal the people
-the gospel is clear: HE first loved us….
-not the other way around...
-and so, we see Jesus here…in Capernaum
-on the Sabbath
-in Peter’s house…
-Peter’s mother in law is not able to ask for help
-but…HE…approaches the bed and HE…sees her lying there
…with a fever.
-now, it’s important NOT to downplay the serious nature of a fever…
-we live in an age in which a fever is generally not considered life-threatening
-our attitude is that something in our medicine cabinet usually takes care of that
-and so, for us…
-it may not seem as serious as leprosy or the paralysis suffered by the centurion’s servant
-but please keep in mind that these were hard times…simple times
-a fever could lead to death
-if you did not die….you might have it for a long time
-and your life shuts down
-one of the many things that struck me as I observed the people in Egypt who came for help
-was the fact that many of things they suffered from…were things that are not considered serious or life-threatening by people on this side of the world
-the diagnosis they receive and the medicines that are prescribed
-don’t seem so dramatic according to our perspective
-I remember visiting the make-shift pharmacy that was set up by the USA team and saw a lot of medicines that I recognized
-things that I regularly stock in my home
-but these everyday things are the very things that the people needed
-and though Egypt has made great strides, the people of Nag Hammadi still live in difficult times
-in which….simple illnesses can cause serious problems
-and so, here…a simple fever for Peter’s mother in law
-is causing a serious problem
-and so, Matthew…uses a very graphic word to describe her
lying in bed
-the word lying
-lit. in the original Greek means “thrown down”
-a graphic word describing how the fever is more powerful than the woman and literally throws her down on to the bed
v.15
He touched her hand…
and the fever left her,
and she got up and began to wait on him.
* instant results !
-from the leper…instantly healed BY A TOUCH
-to the centurion’s servant….instantly healed by a word
-and now…here….she is INSTANTLY HEALED BY A TOUCH AND instantly up and about….serving Jesus
-news about Jesus and His miraculous works was getting around town quickly
And so, Matthew writes in v.16
16 When evening came many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.
-this is a typical situation in the life of Jesus
-people hear about Him and they run…
-people see this as an opportunity to be healed…and so, they run to him
-long lines are then suddenly created
-there is no concept of scheduling appointments
-every opportunity the people see, they will run to Jesus
-I remember the long lines in Egypt
-each and every day, the people lined up
-and I remember how tired the doctors and supporters were getting
-it seemed like every opportunity the people had to talk to a doctor, they took it
-and it was wearing on these physicians
-I remember feeling very concerned about this situation
-but there was almost nothing that could be done
-all we could do was to pray for strength and opportunities to rest
-and…a day of rest finally came on a Sunday
-the clinic work was coming to a close
-hundreds of patients were treated over a 7 day period
-and the medical team was taken to a farm on the outskirts of
town where they were able to relax
-I remember the cool breeze that came to visit us under a large gazebo, sheltering us from the mid-day sun
-and there…we enjoyed a Sabbath day lunch and fellowship together
-and as I was looking around, my thoughts turned to one of the doctors on the team, her name was Carolyn
-she was especially tired and suffered from a variety of things
-from catching a cold
-to the lack of sleep caused by the constant mosquito bites
-well, I was very concerned about Carolyn
-she definitely needed a rest
-and so, the food and fellowship under the gazebo was just what she needed
-and as she was getting her food
-a man walked up to her and asked: Doctor Carolyn, can you look at eye, I’ve been having trouble with this and this….and….
-timing was NOT good…
-but, the sweet and caring woman that she was…she took time to treat the patient
-afterwards, she came to me and said…not a complaining
way….but in her familiar sweet tone, she says…the work never ends…and there is no concept of a schedule….even here, I have to see patients!
-well, later on that day
-I approached her and reminded her of Jesus
-how…and in a very real way, Carolyn was experiencing a
little bit of our savior’s everyday life
-and really….mission work IS TO BE a reflection of Jesus and his work
-and now, she was reflecting it…
-the unending, unscheduled….long lines…in a typical day in the life of Jesus
-IN FACT, was there ever a scheduled appointment for Jesus?
-sure, in his foreknowledge as God, He always knew how His day would be and had everything under control
-nothing happens outside of His will
-but, as his day unfolded…from our perspective
-it was filled with twists and turns
-from the leper who suddenly runs to him
-to the Centurion who stops Jesus as He is walking
-to Peter’s mother in law unexpectedly found lying in bed
-to the untold number of people that hounded him from place to
place
-and how every time Jesus escaped from the people to go to the mountains to pray, the crowds were waiting below
-Matthew observes his tireless leader
-the one whom he left his tax collecting booth for…
-and is inspired to write down the prophecy of Isaiah as coming true in Jesus
-observing his healing ministry, Matthew writes in v.17
This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”
-Matthew is inspired to write down the prophetic words of Isaiah…in chapter 53 of his book
-there, Isaiah sees a vision of the future messiah
-but this messiah…the anointed one….is not this great military conqueror who is to fight foreign oppressors like Rome
-but the messiah is a suffering servant
-suffering on our behalf
-suffering that will ultimately take him to the cross…for us
-but, here in Capernaum
-even before He died, Matthew sees His healing work and sees Isaiah’s words coming true
-that…
"He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases."
-and these prophetic words bring out profound insight into the KIND of healer Jesus is…
-you see, the words “took up” and the word “carried”
-in the original language….have the idea of Jesus taking our
needs and experiencing them…..HIMSELF
-to carry something is to experience it for ourselves
-for example: if we carry someone’s backpack, we ourselves…experience how heavy it is
-that’s a simple illustration
-here in vs.17, it’s a profound illustration of the KIND of savior we have
-one who carries our diseases….actually experiencing them with us
-what an expression of how He is personally involved in the healing process!
-Jesus is the true medical missionary…
-He heals, and is personally involved…
-He does not stand off at a distance, but comes close and
feels our pain
* Remember when Lazarus died?
-Jesus arrives to the scene after he dies
-Lazarus’ sister, Martha, runs to Jesus saying
"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
John 11
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied.
[and there…upon see the tomb of Lazarus…
35 Jesus wept.
-why? Because he was sad that Lazarus died?
-No, Jesus will raise him in about a minute
-and there will be joy and celebration
-but Jesus takes time to weep because for that moment, Jesus enters in to the pain and suffering of others…
-this great truth is confirmed elsewhere such as Hebrews 4:15, where it says…
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are -- yet was without sin.
-that word “sympathize”
-lit. means in the original language: “suffer with”
-that when you pray to God and you are hurting….Jesus suffers
with you
-we have an expression in English:
I feel your pain
-it’s our way of expressing that we can relate to someone’s suffering
-now, take it to the next level for Jesus….
-for he feels our pain and sorrows
-suffering with us
-I remember being reminded of this in Egypt
-one powerful moment for me was visiting the Boys orphanage in the city of Qena
-this was apart from the medical clinic work in the city of Nag Hammadi
-the city of Qena was about an hour away
-there were 2 orphanages there that we visited
-I remember our second visit to the boys orphanage there
-unlike the first visit, all the boys were not there…
-they had gone off to school
-but, we stopped to see a few people there, including one
unfortunate boy who could not go to school
-his situation was a double tragedy
-not only was he an orphan
-but he was a paralyzed orphan with learning
disabilities
-only 10 years old….his medical records were TOO LONG
-the doctors had time to take a serious look at him
-it was an intense moment
-4 doctors surrounding him as he sat in his wheelchair
-3 of them pediatricians, 1 a neurologist
-after a thorough diagnosis, they touched him and began to
pray for him
-one doctor, Reda Bassalli was Egyptian….and so, he was able to pray in Arabic
-and though we could not understand the prayer
-the doctors and others around them…began to cry as they touched and prayed with him
-they were suffering with the child…
-and for a moment, I was reminded of the sympathy of Jesus
-that Jesus not only heals us but feels our pain
-and when we touch others and cry with them…suffer with them, we reflect Jesus, the true and original medical missionary
-in fact, medical missions is a beautiful reflection of the person and work of Jesus
-the Samaritan Medical Foundation is a beautiful reflection of Jesus, the true medical missionary
-and how special it is for our church to participate in a mission work that reflect Him
-and if we are faithful to Him
-we can only hope to be a reflection of Him and His work
-after all, it’s not about us…it’s all about Him
-our savior
-who offers hope for the soul and healing for the body
-for him we live
….here and even to the ends of the earth
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