After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.

That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. The whole town gathered at the door to watch. So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons. (Mark 1:29-39)

Jesus made people feel wonderful. Look at Peter’s mother-in-law in Capernaum. Jesus simply went to where she was, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. At which point, she wasn’t sick any more. No one had asked for her healing. Not even she had made the request. But healed she was, nevertheless. God does not wait to take care of us only when we ask. Good thing, since we may not always know what we need.

After Peter’s mother-in-law was healed she prepared a meal for Jesus and the disciples. That may seem an odd response to being healed, but the point that the author was wishing to make was to demonstrate just how thoroughly healed she was: she went back to living her life as she normally did. It is akin to the lame man not only walking, but picking up his mat and carrying it. It demonstrated the completeness of the healing.

Capernaum was a small town. Soon, every sick person, everyone who knew a sick person, and everyone who just wanted to watch, had descended upon the house where Jesus was. He was kept busy for hours. When Jesus changes our life, it’s not just our life that is transformed. His work in us soon spreads to everyone we know. Jesus’ work in a life can never stay a secret.

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