For this purpose I have been sent

Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon's house. But Simon's wife's mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.

When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.

Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

- Luke 4:38-44

In yesterday's reading, we read of Jesus' exorcism of a demon-possessed man in the synagogue at Capernaum. The man cried out, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!" Jesus' fame grows in Galilee, as His authority and power are witnessed and received.

Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon's house. But Simon's wife's mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them. My study bible refers me to a note on the similar passage in Matthew's Gospel: "This passage and 1 Cor. 9:5 (where Peter is called Cephas - see John 1:42) indicate Peter was married. Jesus' healing miracles are diverse. In this case, He heals by touch . . . [elsewhere] He healed by the power of His word [as in the exorcism in yesterday's reading]. This healing is immediate and complete; others are gradual (see Mark 8:22-25) or require the cooperation of the persons healed or of his or her loved ones (see Luke 8:54-55)." In Matthew's Gospel version of this story, Isaiah's words are quoted (from Isaiah 53:4): "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." It's interesting to understand Peter's marriage, and the citation from 1 Corinthians (above, in the note) teaches us that Peter's family was part of the ministry. We know from references such as these and many others that women were as much a part of this ministry from the beginning as were the men we read of as apostles and disciples. In this case, the service of Peter's mother-in-law is also part of the ministry; she is participating in support of it as were other women. In this case they are in the ministry's "headquarters" at Capernaum. She is healed and she takes her place as part of that service - she is again "upright" and restored to her important place of service. In that sense, the fever that is rebuked by Christ was interfering with her place in life as part of this phenomenal ministry. I believe that we are meant by the Evangelist to understand this perspective. To serve is honorable, but it also depends on what and whom we serve and for what purpose.

When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. My study bible notes, "Jesus performed many miracles, healing countless people and releasing many from demonic spirits. No sickness could resist His power; no demon could refuse His word." We're also given a picture here of a long day of ministry. Earlier, He taught and preached at the synagogue and performed an exorcism there. Going to Peter's house afterward, He is made aware of the healing that needs to be made to Peter's mother-in-law. When the sun sets (the end of the Sabbath and the beginning of the new day) Jesus ministers by healing to all who are brought to Him.

And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. A note reads: "Jesus prohibits the demons from identifying Him for two reasons: (1) theirs is not a confession of faith, and (2) He reveals Himself to the people in His own way and time." Thus far in Luke's Gospel, we are always made aware of the spiritual reality behind the powerful work of Jesus. He is the Christ, and He is here for a powerful spiritual purpose that encompasses the healing of all of the world.

Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. Again, we are reminded of the fullness of this ministry. In the morning, Jesus leaves for "a deserted place" - presumably, to pray and have some time to Himself.

And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee. My study bible has a note here that makes an important point: "Jesus' ministry was not based on the wants and needs of people in any given locality. Nor was the primary purpose of His ministry to heal. Rather His purpose was to preach the kingdom of God. Thus He moved to other cities, the miracles testifying to the power of the gospel message which He preached."

Let us consider then, what it means to be "healed." Healing is a powerfully important concept in the Gospels. It's not just about physical ailments and our release from them. It's not just about demonic possession and release from such a fate, either. Healing encompasses the whole of what it is to be restored to "right relationship" with God. Just as Peter's mother-in-law is able to once again be restored upright to her proper place in serving this ministry, so are we. Healing and mercy are concepts that are inextricably linked in the Greek of the New Testament. The word for "mercy" sounds alike to the word for "olive oil" - the base for all healing balm in the ancient world. To be restored through this mercy is to be healed on every single level, whether it be spiritual, mental, emotional or physical. We are restored to our proper places, in right relationship to God (and to neighbor). This is the aim of this ministry, and the meaning of salvation. Jesus' important purpose is to preach the kingdom of God because it is this kingdom, among us, that restores us to our proper and rightful place of dignity and uprightness, free of whatever it is that binds us and burdens us and keeps us free of the fullness of what it is to be a human being. Loss is not necessarily recompensated, the past is not necessarily restored, but we step into a new and different life of fullness. When you pray for mercy, remember that it is that fullness of restoration in union with that kingdom for which you pray. This is life, more abundantly - and Jesus is with us "for the life of the world."