Wednesday 01 September 2010

Background

From Jesus' public ministry in the synagogue (a Jewish place ofworship) we turn to a much more intimate healing in the home ofSimon. This is the first time the disciple Simon Peter has beenmentioned in Luke's Gospel, and he comes with no introduction - asif the reader will be well aware of him already. Simon'smother-in-law was sick (and this tells us that Simon Peter wasmarried, as Paul confirms in 1Corinthians 9:5).

In the previous passage, Jesus has addressed a personal demon (Luke4:31-37). Here he deals with a medical illness ("high fever"was a specific medical term at the time). In both cases Jesus dealswith the problem by speaking. We are told he "rebukes" the fever,just as he "rebuked" the demon in the synagogue. Later on, Jesus'rebukes' a storm and it calms down (Luke8:24).

Just as God said, "Let there be light", and creation responded(Genesis 1:3), so Luke emphasises the active power of Jesus' wordover all things. Simon's mother-in-law was completely healed, andso she reverted to character, and got on and made the tea!

Jesus performed this healing on the Sabbath day, but for most ofthe Jewish population the Sabbath was a no-go area when it came toanything that could be construed as work - even healing. And so,when the sun was setting and the day was officially ending, we getthis beautiful scene as the people brought their loved ones out toJesus to be healed. The Sabbath is over; the work of love can thenbegin. And note the careful details that "he laid his hands on eachof them". This suggests that Jesus is the source or channel of thathealing, but more than that: Jesus shows a personal concern foreveryone. The laying on of hands for healing was an unusualpractice, not found in the Old Testament or any rabbinic literatureat that time. And not just those with diseases, but also thosetroubled by demons were set free by Jesus. The demons were keen totell that Jesus was the Son of God, but Jesus, it seems, didn'twant his identity to be revealed by forces of evil - or for evilpurposes. His followers would discover it for themselves in duetime.

And then the scene changes. Note the wonderful contrasts as Luketakes us from sunset to daybreak; from the chaos and commotion ofthe crowds to the clarity and calm of a deserted place. Jesus isalone, and with space to think (and no doubt pray) about hismission. And so when the crowds come, demanding more of the same,Jesus gently reminds them that he's not just there for them alone.And his mission of preaching the kingdom of God continues aroundother Jewish towns.

To Ponder

John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism,famously said, "Go not to those who need you, but to those who needyou most." How difficult is it for those in any kind of Christianministry to follow Jesus' example and leave persuasive demands infavour of the more pressing needs of those who often remainsilent?

In today's passage, Jesus took time out to be byhimself after a particularly demanding and exhausting day. In ourgospel life, how important is it to find similar times for space,rest and prayer?