He Comes, He Sees, He Conquers
In Luke 4:38-39, we read: “Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So, He bent over her and rebuked the fever and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.”
First, Jesus came into Peter’s house. It is an interesting circumstance that Peter’s home was there at that time. In John 1:44 it tells us that he lived in Bethsaida. But here we find his home in Capernaum. There had been a move; Why? Jesus had now come to live in Capernaum, according to Matthew 4, so at some point, Peter decided to move there himself.
Whether the move had to do with the heat and humidity, or there was an epidemic we do not know about. But in their moving, something had happened. They had not been there very long, until Simon’s mother-in-law was stricken with a high fever.
Affliction even comes to those who follow Christ. But the blessing is that He is always with us, even in our afflictions. The more fully we follow Him, the more immediate is His help. Peter and his wife asked Jesus to help heal this afflicted loved one, and at once, Jesus came.
Second, not only did Jesus come to them, but He saw them. You see, Luke was a doctor. He is the one who tells us that it was a “high fever.” This patient’s condition was serious. Her loved ones were very anxious. Jesus took in the situation at once. He saw with eyes such as no other physician could ever see.
Third, not only did Jesus come and see, but He conquered. The Bible says, “…the fever had left her.” This was no slow uncertain reducing of a fever. The cure was immediate and complete. The Bible says “…she got up and began to wait on them.”
Luke adds a vivid touch by saying, “…Jesus rebuked the fever” - As though there was an evil intelligence behind it. If there was, then both disease and demon fled at the omnipotent touch of the hand of Jesus.
All of this illustrates what happens or is meant to happen when Jesus comes into a human heart. He comes, He sees, He conquers. The big question for you and me, friend, for each of us, is – has Jesus really come, has He really seen, has He really conquered in my/your heart and life? Are we allowing Jesus to do in our heart, in our home, what he did in Peter’s heart and Peter’s home?
By: Dr. Lenny Wisehart, Pastor of South Lake Church of the Nazarene and Executive Committee Board of Trustees member Nazarene Bible College
Published: 08/08/2019
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