Matthew 8:14-17 – Jesus heals and delivers

This is the third record of three healings that took place to show Jesus’ authority. The first was the healing of the leper, the second was the healing of the centurion’s servant and now is Peter’s mother-in-law.  Her condition may not be a big thing, for after all it’s only a fever. But we know that it was serious enough to confine her to bed, and prevented her from being a good host.

As we have said earlier, these accounts of healing are to show us the authority Jesus has. He started out, first ministering to an Israelite, and then to a Gentile. Now in these four verses, He ministers to Peter’s mother-in-law, who immediately got up and waited on them.

We are told in these verses, that Jesus began to demonstrate His authority not just in the physical realm, but also over the spirit realm. When evening came the demon-possessed were brought to Him and He cast every spirit out with a word. In the same verse we are told that He healed all who were ill. His authority over sickness and diseases was long foretold. Isaiah had prophesied that, “He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases.” 

Sometimes we may feel that what we are going through is too small and we should not bother the Lord. We fail to see that He cares about every minute detail that concerns us. He cares even when we think it’s insignificant, and He wants to help us to take care of it.