First Healing and Then Service, and Other Sermons

THIS event took place at Capernaum, but Peter’s residence was at Bethsaida; for we read, “Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.” How came Peter to have a house at Capernaum? Poor fishermen do not often have two houses. May not the conjecture be highly probable that, finding the Lord Jesus Christ was frequently at Capernaum, Peter thought it best to have a dwelling there, that he might always be present when the Master was preaching, and that he might do his best to entertain him between whiles? I like to think that the servant changed his place of abode for his Master’s sake. Would it not be well if many Christian people had some little consideration when they are choosing a house as to whether it will be convenient for the hearing of the word? Do you not think that a great many professors look chiefiy for every other kind of advantage, and, when they have virtually made their choice, they afterwards inquire into the very secondary item of their nearness to a place where they may worship God, enjoy Christian fellowship, and be useful? There are some in this congregation who have moved to this part of the town to become members of an earnest, prayerful church. Such believers feel that the first consideration in life must be the health of their souls, the benefiting of their children, and their usefulness in promoting the cause of Christ. When they have made the selection of a house in that way and for that reason, they have found a blessing resting upon them, according to the promise. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Some who have forgotten this rule, and, like Lot, chosen the well-watered plains of Sodom, have lived to rue their choice. Although the house may be commodious, and the position convenient, these advantages will not make up for losing the means of grace and missing opportunities of holy service. When Mephibosheth lived at Lo-debar, the place of no pasture, David fetched him up to Jerusalem, where he himself delighted to dwrll. It would be well for many a limping brother if he made a like change. Thus, before we actually cross the threshold of Peter’s house we learn a lesson.

Our Lord Jesus Christ had been having a heavy day: he had been to the synagogue, and he had preached and had wrought miracles; lie had moved in the midst of a great throng, and now the Sabbath was drawing to a close he needed refreshment, and it was most convenient that Peter had a house into which the Lord could go. I do not suppose it was a stately mansion, probably it was little better than a hnt; for Peter was only a fisherman: but the Lord Jesus made it honorable enough by entering it. Where the king is there the palace is.

Though our Lord went to Peter’s house to rest, he did not find it free from trouble. It was a hospital before he made it a palace. Peter’s wife’s mother was on her bed prostrate with “a great fever.” Typhus of the worst kind was burning out her life. However good a man may be, he will not escape trial in the flesh. You may have a house full of sanctity and full of sickness at the same time. We find it true while we are here, that “the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness.” The regenerated spirit has risen into life, but the body lingers under the power of death, and its attendant pain and weakness. Certain persons attribute all sickness to the devil, and impute special sin to those who are grievously afflicted. This teaching is as false as it is cruel. “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.” I can bear witness that some of the sairitliest persons I have ever known have been, bedridden for years together; and others, in whom the very image of Christ was conspicuous, from whose lips all the country around gathered up the choicest sentences of holy experience, have been invalids for twenty or thirty years at a stretch. Our sicknesses are of the Lord’s appointing how ever painful they may be, and we may without doubt say, as David did, “The Lord hath chastened me sore.”” Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick,’ is still a truth. Even Peter’s house, though it be the abode of a chosen saint, and leading apostle, whose very shadow would one day heal the sick, had a terrible fever in it which threatened death. Yet Jesus came where the fever polluted the air. If the disease had come, the great Physician had come also. We are not alarmed at the Cross if Christ comes with it.

Notice, with regard to our Lord’s entering the house of Peter, that he came there with his three most favored disciples. If you read the statement given by Mark in his first chapter you may be somewhat surprised to discover Peter, James, and John there. We read, —” When they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.’’ Whether Andrew was there or not I cannot tell: he was joint proprietor of the house, but he is not mentioned as being there. Whenever you see Peter, James, and John present together with the Lord, you may look for special wonders. These were the men who beheld the Lord’s exceeding glory on the Mount: these were nearest to the agony of Gethsemane: these were admitted to behold the raising from the dead of the young maiden when the Lord put forth all the gathered company. To this most select triumvirate did Je sus display himself as he did not to the rest of the apostles, and much less to the world. Did not the Saviour thus give us notice that the healing of Peter’s wife’s mother was a choice manifestation of his power and grace, and was intended to convey a lesson to the choicer spirits among his followers? I think so, and therefore I shall so use the incident. To you who love Jesus much, and live in special nearness to him, there is a voice from the bed of her who rose from the fever to minister to her Lord. You also are called from your weakness that you may pay personal service to him who heals all your diseases.

Yet though Jesus and Peter and James and John were there, nothing is before you but a family group, a scene in a house. True religion displays its greatest marvels around the domestic hearth. A fisherman’s mother-in-law becomes an historic personage through the Lord’s touching her. What glory Jesus casts upon common things! With what grandeur he invests a room in a poor man’s house! A fisherman’s hut becomes the head-quarters of the Captain of our salvation. He heals a woman within its doors, and before long “all the city was gathered together at the door.” 0 that we may see the like; our own dear ones saved, and then the whole city roused to seek divine healing!

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