Mark 1:25-31: a reflection

25Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What can this new doctrine be? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!” 28The report of him went out immediately into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area. 29Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31He came and took her by the hand and raised her up. The fever left her immediately, and she served them.

After Jesus casts a demon out of a man in the synagogue, showing his authority, he goes to Simon Peter's house, where Peter's mother-in-law lies sick with a fever. And Mark records the healing simply and beautifully: He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her. And then, immediately, she began to serve them. Raised up from her sickbed by Jesus, her first act was to rise and serve.

Notice her response to being healed. Jesus took her by the hand, lifted her up, and restored her, and she did not simply lie back and enjoy her recovery; she got up and served. The strength Jesus gave her, she immediately turned to serving him and those with him. Her healing flowed straight into service; the touch of Jesus that raised her up became the strength with which she served.

That is a lovely picture of the right response to what Jesus does for us. When Jesus touches, heals, restores, lifts us up, the fitting response is not merely to enjoy the benefit, but to rise and serve, to turn the strength and grace we have received back toward him and others. Peter's mother-in-law shows the pattern: raised up by Jesus, she served. Whatever Jesus has done for you, whatever healing, restoration, or grace you have received from his hand, let it flow, as hers did, into service. He raises us up not only for our own sake but so that we, restored, might serve him and others. Rise from what he has done for you, and serve.

Lord Jesus, when you healed Peter's mother-in-law, lifting her up by the hand, she immediately rose and served. Let that be my response to what you have done for me. Whatever healing, restoration, or grace I have received from your hand, help me not merely to enjoy the benefit but to rise and serve, turning the strength and grace you have given back toward you and others. You raise me up not only for my own sake but so that I might serve. Thank you for lifting me up; now help me rise and serve.