After calling Andrew, Peter, James, and John to fish for people, Jesus embarks on several “fishing expeditions” with them. The first, in Capernaum’s synagogue, was the casting out of a demon from an afflicted man.
It seems that the second expedition followed immediately after the first, with Jesus leaving the synagogue to head to Peter’s home. Peter’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever.
“So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.”
Mark 1:31 NLT
Jesus touched her hand. Jesus rebuked the fever. Jesus healed her.
The fact that Peter’s mother-in-law prepared a meal would indicate that this event took place in the evening, following the end of the Sabbath, as she would not work to prepare a meal during the Sabbath.
Immediately after her healing, perhaps even before Jesus had a chance to eat, crowds began to show up at Peter’s house seeking healing and deliverance.
“As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one.”
Luke 4:40 NLT
What a beautiful, powerful statement. “No matter what their diseases were, the touch of His hand healed everyone.”
No matter what you’re facing. No matter what you’re dealing with. No matter what’s holding you back, or keeping you down, or has you buried under. No matter what. No matter who. His touch can heal anyone. The power of the touch of Jesus.
“After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home.”
Mark 1:29 NLT
I’d never noticed this small fact in this story. “Jesus left the synagogue with James and John.” A couple of questions come to mind. Does this help support the idea that James and John were Jesus’ cousins and that He lived with their family in Capernaum? Does this also suggest that Peter and Andrew weren’t in the synagogue that day? Did they remain home because Peter’s mother-in-law’s fever was bad enough that they feared she might die?
“Many were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them and refused to let them speak.”
Luke 4:41 NLT
It’s interesting that the demon’s knew and verified Jesus’ true identity. They claimed that He was the “Son of God.” They identified Him as the Messiah. The demon from the synagogue knew His name, Jesus, and where He was from, Nazareth, and declared that He was the Holy One of God.
““Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!””
Mark 1:24 NLT
The demons spoke of Jesus’ humanity and deity.
We are not told that Jesus did any preaching at this point. All we see is Him healing and casting out demons. Does that mean He didn’t challenge them to repent and believe?
Because this happens following His Sabbath teaching and healing at the synagogue, the crowd is coming to Peter’s house in response to what they’d seen and heard earlier that day. As Jesus taught in the synagogue, He no doubt proclaimed that He was the Messiah. The synagogue-goers heard the demon claim He was the Holy One of God. The delivered man, free to worship in the synagogue, no doubt put his faith in Jesus. The crowd flocked to Peter’s home because they believed, or at least hoped, that this was all true and the Galilean was in fact the Messiah. Them receiving their healing or deliverance, or seeing their loved one or friend healed, would have cemented this belief.
And Jesus’ comment as He left that place gives us certainty that preaching the gospel was clearly part of His ministry with the crowd in Capernaum.
“But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.”
Mark 1:38-39 NLT
”I will preach to them, too.” Jesus had preached to the crowd in Capernaum. Now he had to preach to the crowds in other towns and villages. This was His mission. This was the mission He was equipping His disciples for. Let’s go fishing!
This blogpost originally appeared at: Let’s Go… Fishing for People! – Sonlife is based upon Sonlife’s study, Knowing Him / A 50 Day Study in the Life of Christ / Day 21