"A Touch and a Word"

Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever. And He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she arose and served them. When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon possessed, And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." Matthew 8:14-17
     

I love that when Jesus came as a guest into Peter's house he did something that we all kinda take for granted if we have been in ministry for very long.  He took care of the home front. As He entered the house He saw that Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a fever. He went over and took her by the hand and the fever immediately left her whole and well and full of strength. Sometimes I think that we are so busy ministering to the world at large that we forget to make sure to bring Jesus home to our loved ones. In this case Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a fever and Jesus immediately took care of it. I love that Jesus doesn't just take care of all the needs of the world out there but the fevers, headaches, and colds in our homes as well. Big or small He cares about the things that affect us.

As I read this today it just made me smile as I thought about how Jesus cares about those that we do. He immediately took care of the fever and she was able to get about the business of her life as she started to serve them. It spoke to me about how He takes care of all the little things that effect us. We all know that He took care of blind eyes, deaf ears, leprosy and even raised the dead but in this case He took care of  a loved one who was sick with a fever. He cares about all the things that affect our lives. Even fevers!

It says that by evening, 'they brought to Him many who were demon possessed, And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.' With a word and a touch He healed and set free any and all that came to Him. The thing that I noticed is this .. as He healed everyone, and everything He was 'fulfilling that which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses."

The word that Isaiah spoke all those years ago was being fulfilled every time Jesus touched a fever, a blind eye, a deaf ear. That word was being fulfilled every time Jesus spoke a healing word or cast out a demon. It was being fulfilled as He came into Peter's home and tended the fever of Peter's mother-in-law and it is fulfilled every time you or I as His disciples act in faith and speak a healing word or lay hands on the sick in His name. "Silver and gold I do not have, but in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." Acts 3:6

He came in power and with a touch and a word... He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses! It is our job to go and do likewise ... and fulfill the words He spoke to us ...And He said unto them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. he who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe. In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." Mark 16:15-18