When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

Matthew 8:14, 15

I recall the day, a few years back, when I walked around what is left of the old town of Capernaum, imagining that Peter, the fisherman, lived there with his wife’s mother and probably others in the family.  What is reputed to be the place of Peter’s house was not far from the famed tabernacle.  Only the pillars and broken walls of that tabernacle remain.  I could almost see Jesus walking about in that village, touching the needy and helpless, blessing those who had problems.

Peter had a problem. His wife’s mother was suffering from a fever, maybe malaria, with which I have quite a bit of personal experience.  I recall the times in Africa when I just shook with fever and sweat as the fever soared.  Not pleasant.

Jesus simply touched her hand, without a word and the fever left her, in an instant.  This was another healing after the Sermon on the Mount.  This one takes us into the intimacy of Peter’s home and his close relationship with Jesus, now announcing his Messiah-ship by healing, a proof, so to speak, of his calling.

As I reflect on this healing, I note that Peter did not plead for Jesus to heal her.  Jesus saw her, that is it. Maybe Peter was just beginning to understand who this Jesus is.  He saw Jesus healing people, without medicines.  Who is he?  The question took on new meaning as Jesus healed a person very, very close to Peter and his family. She along with his wife ran the home.

I can see this dear woman, now healed, handing Peter a piece of bread to eat and a cup to drink, as she served all in the house.  Peter is receiving a blessing because Jesus heals.  From that day forward, for about three years, Peter saw Jesus healing and blessing.

Have we not also had our eyes opened as we began to understand how Jesus changes people, how he heals, makes new and gives hope?  So Jesus is not just an amazing teacher, but a compassionate healer.