Joel M Bradshaw

29And immediately he [Jesus] left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.–Mark 1

Welcome to the book of Mark! Three quick points on this unnamed woman in our text today.

1. SHE EXISTED. This meant that Peter was married. For Peter to have a mother-in-law meant that Peter had a wife. Some hold Peter as the first pope. He would not have lived a life of celibacy that is required of popes. Peter was a husband because he had a mother-in-law. This no doubt meant that Peter was older than the other apostles and was in a different life state than them.
2. WAS SHE FRUSTRATED? Did she know Jesus had entered her home? Was she laying there on her bed wanting to get up and serve, but unable? Maybe she was so sick she was unconscious and unaware. This might be a moot point because they immediately let Jesus know about her.
3. SHE SERVED. Jesus changed her life and she wanted nothing more than to serve him. This describes our stories as well. We serve in our churches and in ministry with attitudes of humble gratefulness and thanksgiving. We follow in this woman’s example. –JMB