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Life is filled with laws, regulations, guidelines, opinions, and wisdom. Some of us follow these lists of “must dos” and others ignore them and pay for it later. Few of us have any memories about our life from birth to the time that we were five years of age. Yet, we understood, “No!” Adults who remember their teenage years know that “No!” and the list of “must dos” was often considered to be disagreeable. Yet, as teenagers most of us learned the wisdom of submission in most situations. A speaker used to conduct a seminar called, “Rules for Raising Children.” After some years he became a father and changed the tile of the seminar to “Suggestions for Raising Children.” When his children became teenagers, he discontinued the seminars. Rules typically evolve from wisdom. The words, “Do not put your hand in the fire” are spoken from wisdom. Yet, there are some people who enjoy adopting rules without a concern for others. The Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day adopted religious rules that God did not require. They probably started doing this with the goal of protecting the people from violating any of God’s laws. In this study, we will discover that later they had become more concerned about their list of rules than the spiritual life of the people. But the major question for us is, how did Jesus react?

The Setting

We have been observing tensions growing between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, during our recent studies. The first clue came in John 3:25 and 4:1 where we discovered that they were concerned over Jesus’ growing popularity. In Luke 5:20-21 the Pharisees had challenged Jesus about the fact that He forgave the sins of a paralyzed man. They could not accept the idea that Jesus was God and as a result had the authority to forgive sins.

In our last study, Jesus had called a tax collector to follow Him. His name was Levi or Matthew. Matthew was a Jew who worked as a tax collector for the Roman government. As a result, he was hated and despised by other Jews. Yet, Jesus chose him and commanded him to follow and Matthew did. Matthew’s response was to give a party in honor of Jesus and invite his own friends. We discovered in that study that Jesus’ disciples had come to the party along with tax collectors and sinners.

The Pharisees were unhappy when they saw Jesus and His disciples attending the party. So they challenged Jesus and wanted to know why He and His disciples were eating with the sinners and tax collectors. Jesus and His disciples had broken the Pharisees’ rules. According to the rabbis, good Jews were supposed to spend time with only righteous Jews. But Jesus did not conform to the Pharisees’ rules and concept of a coming Messiah. So the tensions were increasing because the conflict had started.

Question About Fasting

When we come to this study (Matthew 9:14-17; Mark 2:18-22; and Luke 5:33-39), the Pharisees and, for the first time, some of the disciples from John the Baptist challenged Jesus about another issue.

And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.”  Luke 5:33 (NASB)

The issue was fasting. They wanted to know why Jesus and His disciples were not fasting.

It is amazing that John’s disciples had joined the Pharisees and challenged Jesus too! But it is possible that John’s disciples had been taught by John to avoid feasting and wine (Luke 7:33). John apparently was an esthetic and as a result his own disciples probably avoided feasts and the drinking of wine. Now that John was in prison, they would not have been able to get his advice and know how to respond to Jesus’ conduct. This could help explain why John’s disciples also asked Jesus the same question.

But it is not surprising that the Pharisees asked this question. The Mosaic Law taught that they were supposed to fast on the day of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-34). But the Pharisees had added to God’s command and required that every Jew fast on Monday and Thursday of each week.

Thursday was selected for a fast because they believed that Moses had climbed Mount Sinai on a Thursday. Monday was selected because they believed that Moses had come down the mountain on that day. Therefore according to the rabbis, every Jew was expected to fast two times each week (Luke 18:12). So it appears that Matthew’s party occurred on either a Monday or a Thursday. If this is true, then Jesus and His disciples were feasting on a day when, according to the Pharisees, they should have been fasting. If so, they were in direct violation of the Pharisees’ rules.

The rabbis had decreed that no one could eat anything larger than a date on the Day of Atonement. Also, they were to avoid such things as eating, drinking, bathing, anointing oneself, wearing sandals, and having sexual relations on fast days (Mishna Yoma 8.1).

We will discuss fasting in more detail when we come to the Sermon on the Mount, but for now we will simply say that the Jewish fast involved the avoidance of many things and not just food. They had added many days of fasting and a long list of prohibitions not required by God. When the Pharisees fasted, they also put on a gloomy face and looked shabby. That is why Jesus said this to a crowd of people during the Sermon on the Mount,

And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. Matthew 6:16 (NASB)

Jesus’ Response

Do you ever wish that you could go back in time and experience an event in history? This is one of those occasions for me. In my mind I can imagine Jesus and His disciples feasting while the Pharisees are fasting with long gloomy faces, uncombed hair, and shabby clothes. The Pharisees must have been peeking inside Matthew’s house or watching the party from outside. They were unhappy guys. So they asked, “Why are you feasting?

Jesus’ reply to them was great.

And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” Luke 5:34-35 (NASB)

Jesus implied that Matthew’s party was like a Jewish wedding. Weddings were supposed to be happy times. Jewish weddings were not a time of fasting and gloom. In fact, the rabbis had decreed that the bride, the bridegroom, and the wedding guests did not have to obey any religious observances because it was supposed to be a happy time. Wow, what does that say about their view of their religion? They as much as admitted that their religious duties were painful. The “attendants of the bridegroom,” who were the bridegroom’s groomsmen were supposed to be happy during the wedding, and the wedding did not end until the bride and bridegroom left.

So Jesus implied that He was like the bridegroom and His disciples were like the groomsmen at a wedding. Therefore, how could they be unhappy while He was there? The party was not over because He was still there.

Illustrations

Jesus had replied to their criticism with a great answer. We can be confident that the Pharisees did not like His response. With this last reply, Jesus and the Pharisees had disagreed on several major issues. Jesus was breaking all of their rules. The emotions were increasing at the time that Jesus said the following,

And He was also telling them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.”  Luke 5:36 (NASB)

His first parable is about a patched garment. The Greek word that Jesus uses for “new garment” refers to an unmilledpiece of cloth which had not been shrunk. So if the patch had been sewed onto a garment and then repeatedly washed, the garment would eventually tear. The patch would only cause more trouble for the old garment.

Jesus’ second parable was about a wineskin.

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.  Luke 5:37-38 (NASB)

In Jesus’ day, wine was fermented in animal skins – wineskins. The fermentation process caused the skins to stretch and expand. If the old, dry wineskins were used again with new wine, they would expand again and eventually burst or split open. That is, the skin could not be used again.

Jesus’ message was clear to them. What He was teaching did not fit into their religion. Jesus’ teachings were like the patch or the new wine. What He was teaching and what He stood for would “rip” and “burst” their religion. The Pharisees had expanded God’s law by adding their own rules and regulations. Jesus had come to restore God’s law and not to destroy it. The religious leaders were destroying God’s law. Jesus would radically change their religion.

We are told that the rabbis had put “a hedge about the law” in order to protect every Jew from violating the law. That is, they had added rules and regulations in order to prevent God’s law from actually being violated. That sounds like they had good motives in the beginning, and maybe they did. But in the end their old garment had holes and their old wineskin had no future. Jesus’ parables about the garment and wineskin allow us to understand something about Him.

Conclusion

When Jesus entered the world on that first Christmas day, the religious practices of Judaism needed to be replaced. The Pharisees and Sadducees had distorted and corrupted God’s law. They had imposed rules upon the people that God did not require. They ignored God’s heart and pursued their own desires.

When the religious leaders saw Jesus repeatedly ignoring their “standards of righteousness,” they eventually became angry with Him. Their different views of faith and practice did not mix. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to change His views. It was okay for Jesus to teach, heal, and do some wonderful things just as long as He obeyed their rules and complied with their teaching.

It is not unusual to find some in the church and many outside the church who do not care about God’s view – what He spoke to us in the Bible. Some years ago, a chairman in a large church announced that certain teachings of the New Testament did not apply today. He made this statement because he did not like a teaching of the Apostle Paul. Everyone else disagreed with him, but he did not care. In short, he ignored the Word of God in order to accommodate his own viewpoint. He changed the meaning of scripture because he disagreed with it.

A young pastor once strongly argued with a group of church leaders about a doctrinal view and eventually persuaded them to change their view and agree with him. Several years later it was discovered that the young man did not really believe what he had argued for. It is common for men and women to use the Bible to win arguments and yet not believe what they are proclaiming.

There are many who use the Bible to support their philosophical, political, or ethical viewpoints. If we believe that the Bible is the Word of God – the words that God has communicated to us, then the goal should be to discover what God has said and not what we want it to say.

The Pharisees and some today are not interested in what God has said. They are more interested in making the Bible say what they want it to say than in what God said. But when Jesus came, He came speaking the truth because Jesus was the Light of men.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4 (NASB)

He came correcting their false teachings. He came to set us free from sin, to teach us about Himself, to help us identify false religion and false religious practices, and to give us eternal life. Jesus did all of this. God came to give us the truth and not a distorted view.

When we come to the Bible, we need to search it carefully. We need to look carefully, investigating the meaning of the words in the original language in which it was written in order to discover what God has said. When we come to the Bible we should not be seeking support for some philosophical, political, ethical, or religious viewpoint. Otherwise, we are just like the Pharisees. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6 (NASB)

We will discover the way, truth, and the life in the studies to come. Our views about the Word of God do not count unless they agree with what the God of the Bible has said. May the Lord bless us as we seek to know His truth.

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A friend once told me that he believed people became sick because they had committed a sin. He believed that the Apostle Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” in 2 Corinthians 12:7 was due to some sin that the apostle had committed. He also believed that the Old Testament saint Job was ill because he had sinned. He did not know how to respond when I told him that God had said Job had been “a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil” (Job 2:3). This comment reveals the fact that Job’s problems and illness were not due to personal sin. God had allowed these trials to cause Job to spiritually grow. Yet, some teach that all illness occurs due to sin. The Jewish leaders in Jesus’ time also believed as my friend did. Scripture teaches that sometimes we are sick because we have sinned, but not always (1 Corinthians 11:30).

The Start

Our last study was about a leper whom Jesus had healed. After the man was healed Jesus strongly encouraged the leper not to tell anyone, but he ignored Jesus’ request anyway. Next we are told that Jesus went into the wilderness and prayed. When we come to this study (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26), we discover that “some days” had passed when He returned home.

When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. Mark 2:1 (NASB)

Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city.  Matthew 9:1 (NASB)

If we combine the facts provided to us by Matthew and Mark, we discover that Jesus had returned to the city of Capernaum, His current home, by crossing the Sea of Galilee. Luke adds that crowds of people had discovered that Jesus was back home and had come to Him.

One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing.  Luke 5:17 (NASB)

The people came from the surrounding areas and among them were some religious leaders.

Why Did They Come?

Mark tells us that Jesus’ home was packed with people, like a bunch of sardines in a can.

And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them.  Mark 2:2 (NASB)

The home was so full that people were standing outside the door of the home. No one could get in. Could those standing outside hear Jesus? Why would people stand outside? Would you stand outside in order to hear someone teach? Many of us would leave.

Why did the religious leaders come? We suspect that they came to see if Jesus was going to teach something with which they did not agree. They were not truth seekers. They were critics.

But why did the crowd come? Both Mark and Luke say that they came to hear Jesus teach. They did not come to see His face, or to hear Him teach philosophy, mental health, astronomy, mathematics, or history. The crowd was not seeking food or water. The gospels say that they came to hear Jesus teach the Word of God.

This reminds me of the early years of a very large church in Sun Valley, California. The church was about 650 people in size and they were packing out the building they were in when they built a larger building, which today functions as a gymnasium. The building could seat about 1,000 people at one time. Within one year the church doubled in size. Then they started conducting two services and eventually put sound speakers outside so that the people could sit outside the building in order to hear the Word of God. People would come very early in order to get a seat, and those who did not come in time would sit outside in the cold and moisture. After several years, they built a larger building which is now called the Worship Center. The number of people attending the church doubled and then they started providing two services. About 10,000 people would gather on a Sunday morning, and about 20,000 attended the church. Why did they come? Why were they willing to sit outside? Several facts are true – they did not come primarily for fellowship. They did not come primarily for worship music. They did not come primarily because of the children’s ministry or the women’s ministry. The did not come in the early years because the church was large. They came to hear the Word of God. They sat outside in the cold to hear the Word of God. They wanted to hear the Word so much that they were willing to suffer.

Teaching was always Jesus’ priority! Jesus set the standard and He modeled the purpose for the church. The role of teachers and pastors is to teach the Word of God. We are to teach the scriptures in depth. We grow by in-depth teaching of scripture. That is the priority.

The Wonderful Team

Next we are told that some men wanted to bring their friend, a paralyzed man, before Jesus.

And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.  Luke 5:18-19 (NASB)

The man was lying on a bed. The Greek language reveals the man had been paralyzed for a very long time and everyone knew it. The man was not faking his paralysis. Mark 2:3 says that four men were carrying him. Apparently there was one man on each corner of the bed in order to carry him.

We are also told that the men had been trying to bring their friend inside. The Greek language is helpful once again and reveals that they had been repeatedly trying for some time. In short, these men were frustrated. They were not able to get into the house because of the crowd. Their goal was to get their friend in front of Jesus, and it was not possible. So someone had a great idea. Why not lower the man down through the ceiling of the home?

Apparently, they used the outside stairs to get the paralyzed man up on the roof of the home. Archaeology tells us that the roofs of the homes in Jesus’ day were constructed of timbers (tree poles) which were spaced about 2-3 feet (0.6 – 0.9 m) apart. Then small branches, reeds, brush, and palm fronds were laid on top of that. Next came leaves, dirt, and finally some clay which was rolled flat with stone rollers. Consequently, the roof could be removed in sections or in “tiles.” The bottom floor of the home was usually dirt or beaten clay. The second floor was usually made of wood. The doors were usually made of cloth, hides, or wood panels. The homes were commonly laid out with a courtyard in the middle or to one side.

Apparently, Jesus was sitting and teaching in the courtyard within the home. So when Luke says that they removed the tiles of the home, it appears that they removed a section of roof covered by clay over the courtyard. Mark 2:4 adds that they “dug” through the roof. That is, they removed the clay, dirt, and leaves in order to create a hole in the roof. Dirt and leaves must have started falling. If one of us had been there, we would have probably seen dirt and leaves falling. Jesus’ teaching would have been interrupted when the hole in the roof was created to lower their friend down through the roof in front of Jesus. All eyes would have been focused on the paralyzed man and Jesus.

Your Sins Are Forgiven

The gospel of Matthew says that Jesus told the paralyzed man, “Take courage.” The Greek word for “take courage” could also mean “Be brave.” Apparently, the man was fearful. Was he fearful because he believed that his paralysis was due to sin?

Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” Luke 5:20 (NASB)

So Jesus encouraged him by forgiving his sins. The Greek word for “forgiveness” reveals that Jesus forgave all of his past sins. Jesus forgave all of his sins. The man did not do any penitence on the ground. He did not recite the rosary or do some good deed. He was just lying there. He was paralyzed.

So why did Jesus say this to him? The answer is found in James 5:14-16.

Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:14-16 (NASB)

Here we discover that we can be sick because of some sin that we have committed. Healing comes when our sins are forgiven and the elders pray over us. Notice that the prayer of the elders must be offered in faith. The sick person is not required to have faith. If we look carefully at Luke 5:20, we discover that Jesus saw the faith of the four men and then forgave the man. Forgiveness came first, and not the healing. The healing came later.

How much faith was required? James 1:6-8 says that we must not doubt. Does that mean that we must believe that God will heal; otherwise, God will not heal? The answer is provided in the example of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in Daniel 3:13-17.

In this passage, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego are ordered by Nebuchadnezzar to bow down and worship the king’s image. The three men respond by telling the king that they will not worship the image, and then add this,

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.  Daniel 3:17-18 (NASB)

These men did not know if God would deliver them, but they believed that God could. These three men are examples of faith, and God honored them.

The double minded man in the book of James is one who does not know if God could heal. People are healed when elders believe and the illness is due to sin. And the four men carrying the paralyzed man believed that Jesus could heal. Jesus saw their faith, forgave the man and planned to heal him. The paralyzed man was paralyzed because he had committed sin as implied in Jesus’ statement. But all paralysis is not due to personal sin.

When Jesus said, “. . . Your sins are forgiven you,” He comforted and encouraged the man. The man would have believed that his paralysis was due to sin because the religious leaders of his day taught that all sickness was due to sin. In his case, his paralysis was due to sin and Jesus forgave him, comforting him.

Jesus’ Authority

When the Pharisees heard this, they were upset.

The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Luke 5:21-22 (NASB)

Matthew 9:4 tells us that Jesus had read their thoughts. This is proof that God can read your mind. He knows your thoughts, your wishes, and your sins. We cannot hide anything from God.

Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? “But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—He said to the paralytic —”I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.”  Luke 5:23-24 (NASB)

Jesus’ response is wonderful. Is it more difficult to heal a paralyzed man or to say the words, “Your sins have been forgiven you”? Then Jesus performed the more difficult task from a critic’s perspective – He healed the man. The message to the religious leaders was that Jesus had divine authority. He had authority that they did not have. They could not forgive sin, but Jesus could. The same is true today. Only God can forgive our sins. No man, priest, rabbi, pastor, or any other clergy can forgive our sins – only God. This event is all about Jesus’ authority.

Instant Healing

When Jesus said, “. . . get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home,” the man was instantly healed.

Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. Luke 5:25 (NASB)

It was not his faith that healed him. He did not have to wait for his healing. The man stood up, picked up his bed, and went home. There is no mention of Jesus asking him questions, touching him, or receiving a holy zap. The man was just simply healed. He was healed in the sight of everyone in that home.

They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.”  Luke 5:26 (NASB)

Luke tells us that the people were astonished. Mark says that they were amazed, and Matthew says that they were awestruck. All three gospels say that the people glorified God. Everyone was stunned by what had happened.

Conclusion

Sometimes when we are struggling through an illness, we often ignore the most obvious. We reach for some medicine, we call a doctor, or we complain. Sometimes complaining seems to help us feel better. But when we are down, discouraged, or “feeling blue” we should stop and ask, “What does God want me to learn?”

Sometimes we go on a fishing trip to escape or start looking for sin in our life. Not every illness is due to sin, but some of our illnesses are due to our own sin. So when we become sick, we should look at the possibility that our sickness is due to sin. Usually, we already know if this is the situation. If that is the case, we should confess our sins to God immediately (1 John 1:9). God will forgive our sins as He promised in Isaiah.

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool. Isaiah 1:18 (NASB)

If our illness persists, then we should call the elders or the leaders of our church to pray for us. If they are men of faith, then our illness will be cured as God promised in James 5:14-16.

If you have not asked God to forgive all your sins, if you have never asked God to take control of your life, then stop and tell Him that you believe in Him and ask Him to forgive all of your sins. If you are already a believer in God and you are sick, then confess any known sins and call the elders.

The greatest miracle in this passage is not the large crowd, the roof, the healing or Jesus’ compassion, but His forgiveness of sin. Only God can forgive and it is amazing that He wants to and is willing to forgive any of us. And it is wonderful that Jesus has authority to forgive your sins! God forgives sins!

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Every individual born on this planet has been uniquely designed because God is infinite, loving, and a master of variety. We see this every day of our life as we look at the world around us. For example, some people are short and others are taller. Some have dark hair and others have lighter hair. Some men are bald and others have a lot of hair even in their senior years. There are women who are great communicators and others who are quiet. There are people who are more interested in getting tasks accomplished and others who are more people-focused. That is, some of us are task oriented and some are people oriented. Those who are task oriented are more likely to ignore people in order to get a task completed. Those who are people oriented may not care if the task is completed at all. We see this every day. What type of person are you? Do you care more for people or more about getting the task done? What was Jesus like? Did He care more for people or more about tasks? This study will explore this question as we take a peek at Jesus’ heart and life.

Background

Two studies ago, Jesus had told Peter, Andrew, James, and John that if they would follow Him, He would make them fishers for the souls of men and women. We watched them respond and follow Him. Our last study started on the morning of a Jewish Sabbath day (Mark 1:21-28 and Luke 4:31-37). Peter, Andrew, James, and John continued following Jesus and went to the synagogue in Capernaum with Him. Most likely they thought that they had come to worship, but they did not realize what else was going to happen.

On that Sabbath morning, Jesus taught in the synagogue and at the conclusion of His message a demon-possessed man shouted, “Leave us alone . . . Holy One of God!” Jesus responded by rescuing the man from the demon. The people in the synagogue were astonished because they had never heard anyone speak with such great authority or display such tremendous power. Jesus not only was dynamic and spoke with authority, but He was also in control of the demons. The people had seen the power of God displayed, but they did not realize it. Just like most people who attend a sensational church service, they talked about their Sabbath morning experience with others whom they met as they walked home. As a result, the news about Jesus’ authority and power spread like a wild fire into all the surrounding district of Galilee.

Peter’s House

When we come to this study (Mark 1:29-39; Luke 4:38-44), we are going to see what occurred during the rest of the Sabbath day. Our first verse tells us the service at the synagogue is over. The people along with Jesus and the four disciples have left the synagogue.

And immediately after they came out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Mark 1:29 (NASB)

After having taught and experienced the encounter with the demon possessed man that morning, Jesus must have been very tired. Most preachers and Sunday School teachers need some rest or at least some time alone after Sunday morning in order to recover their energy, but Jesus did not get this opportunity. After leaving the synagogue, Jesus and the four disciples walked to Peter’s home. We do not know what type of home Peter had, but it must have been large enough for a group of men and Peter’s family.

Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her. Mark 1:30 (NASB)

When Jesus arrived at Peter’s home, He discovered that Peter’s mother-in-law was very sick. Have you ever wondered if the disciples had wives and children, since nothing has been said about them in the gospels so far? The answer is found in this passage, because we are told here that Peter had a mother-in-law, and if he had a mother-in-law then he had a wife. 1 Corinthians 9:5 confirms that this was true. So the house was filled with at least seven adults and probably a group of children.

Next, we are told that Jesus was asked by all four disciples to help her, not just by Peter. I wonder if Jesus wanted a break for at least a few minutes? How could He refuse the requests of all four disciples? Or, did He willingly want to help her? How would you have responded? Was Jesus task or people oriented?

The gospel of Luke records the same event and adds an additional detail about the mother-in-law’s health. Since Luke was a medical doctor, he uses precise medical terms on occasions. On this occasion he uses a Greek word that reveals she was suffering from a chronic, high fever. That is, she had had this fever for a long time. Peter’s mother-in-law was very sick and in great need.

The Healing

What did Jesus do? He responded to her need and healed her. For the first time in our series through the Life and Heart of Jesus, Matthew, Mark, and Luke each provide a number of additional details that the others do not include. These authors either obtained their information from someone who was there or the Holy Spirit miraculously provided it. Since God supernaturally wrote scripture through men and since He does not lie, we know that all of the accounts are accurate.

He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him. Matthew 8:15 (NASB)

And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them. Mark 1:31 (NASB)

And standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and waited on them. Luke 4:39 (NASB)

If we take all of these accounts and put them together, this is what happened. Jesus walked over to her and stopped. He reached down, touched her hand, and held it. Then He rebuked the fever and it left her. Immediately, she got up and waited on them. Now that is a miracle healing, just like the demon-possessed man earlier in the synagogue. She was instantly healed. She did not need to claim her healing, wait for her healing, or exercise faith to be healed. Jesus touched her and she was healed. Who had great faith? Not that mother-in-law and not anyone else. Notice that nothing is stated in this passage about the mother-in-law needing faith nor was anything said about the man who was rescued from the demon needing faith. Faith was not an issue in either miracle. Jesus’ power was not limited by her faith and He is not limited today by faith, either. Praise the Lord!

Things To Consider

What happened after that? What did they say to Jesus? Were they thankful? Did they eat a meal? What did they do? It is amazing that the gospels give us just bare facts. There is no embellishment. There is nothing fanciful in the accounts. None of the gospels add anything else. The gospel records move quickly from one significant event to another, leaving out vast quantities of details in Jesus’ life. The gospels are recording only key historical events.

What did the disciples think about their Sabbath day? Jesus had called them to follow Him, and so they did. They were in the spiritual training camp of Jesus Christ that day. They were His disciples. He was their master teacher. What did Jesus want them to learn from this experience? What do you think they learned from hearing and watching Jesus?

What did they talk about that afternoon? Did they ask Jesus about His morning message, or the demon-possessed man? What was the lesson Jesus wanted them to learn, or was it just an afternoon focused on people? What have you learned?

The Evening

Our next verse indicates that Jesus had spent the entire day with these four men. When evening came, people started coming to Peter’s house.

When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. Mark 1:32 (NASB)

Luke 4:40 says that people were coming while the sun was setting.

While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them. Luke 4:40 (NASB)

Do Mark and Luke disagree? Were people coming when the evening came or were they coming while the sun was setting? At first, the two passages seem to be a contradiction. But, as usual, the problem is solved either by a careful review of the original language or by investigating the cultural background of Jesus’ time. A hint at the solution is even found in some English dictionaries where we find multiple definitions for “sunset.” So it should not be surprising that the Jews had multiple definitions for a sunset too!

In fact, the Jewish rabbis held to two different definitions for a sunset. The first Jewish definition says that sunset occurs when the orb of the sun completely disappears below the horizon and the sky is mostly dark. The second definition says that the sunset has occurred when the whole sky is totally dark (Talmud Shabbat 34b-35a and Talmud in Pesahim 94a). Therefore, it appears that Mark used the first definition and Luke used the second definition. That is, the people start coming when the orb of the sun was below the horizon and continued coming before the sky became completely dark.

Healing Ministry

But why did the people wait until the sunset? They waited because the Jewish leaders taught that the Sabbath day ended when the sun has set. The Jews were not allowed to help anyone on the Sabbath until sunset, including those who were sick. However, the religious leaders allowed an exception for someone who was near death. Their man-made rules were more focused on laws than on loving people. The Jewish leaders were not people focused.

Since the evening had come, a great number of people were coming from the city to Peter’s house.

And the whole city had gathered at the door. Mark 1:33 (NASB)

The demon-possessed and those who were sick with various diseases were brought by friends. Some probably came on their own. We do not know the population of the city, but there could have been hundreds of sick and demon-possessed people at Peter’s door, including the sightseers. The passage says that the entire city had gathered at Peter’s home.

Jesus responded by healing each one.

And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. Mark 1:34 (NASB)

Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ.  Luke 4:41 (NASB)

The gospel of Luke uses an imperfect tense combined with an active tense in Luke 4:40 to tell us that sick people were coming to be healed. Recently, I asked some nurses what that means. What does it mean if a person has been sick and is continuing to be sick? The answer was, “They have a chronic illness.” Did you know that Jesus was not performing fake healings? Jesus was not healing runny noses, or imaginary pains. No, He was healing people with real illnesses – real diseases. He was healing people with chronic conditions. The people who came and the people who brought them knew that their conditions were real because the conditions had been present for a long time. Peter also knew that his mother-in-law’s healing was real because she had a chronic condition, too! We should not be surprised that the disciples believed in Him, and we should not be surprised that the people were stunned with Jesus. We should not be surprised that Pontius Pilate wrote a report, which was archived in Rome, which stated that Jesus had performed miracles. The truth is, Jesus performed real healings – not fake ones. Jesus was not limited by any type of illness. He healed them all. He healed them instantly and healed them completely.

Predicted

The healing ministry of Jesus was predicted by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 53:4), and the gospel of Matthew reminds us of this.

This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.” Matthew 8:17 (NASB)

What Jesus had been doing and was doing should not have been a surprise to anyone. The testimony of the disciples, the response of the people to the healing of chronic diseases, the report of Pontius Pilate, and the prophecy in Isaiah 53 are all witnesses to the fact that Jesus’ healing ministry was real.

Do Not Speak

Jesus also rescued those who were demon-possessed. Both Mark and Luke tell us that Jesus would not allow the demons to reveal that he was God. Why did He do that? While we are not told, it appears that Jesus did not want the truth to come from demons. If Jesus had agreed that they were speaking the truth, then Jesus would have endorsed them as a source of truth. One of the early church fathers summarizes the issue very nicely with this comment,

[Jesus] has taught us never to believe the demons, even when they say what is ostensibly true. For since they love falsehood, and are most hostile to us, they never speak the truth except to deceive. They make use of the truth as a kind of bait. (Euthymius. Fragments. Ancient Christian Commentary. IVP. 1998. Vol. II, p. 22).

It appears that if Jesus had confirmed their statements as true, others would have sought out the demons as a source of truth. Jesus would not have wanted that to occur.

Early Morning

We are not told when Jesus went to sleep that night. It was probably a late evening given all of the people who came, but we are told that He awoke early in the morning, found a secluded place, and prayed.

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Mark 1:35 (NASB)

Jesus had finally escaped everyone and had some peace. He had time to talk with God the Father, but eventually even this wonderful experience came to an end, when Peter and the other three disciples came looking for Him. When they found Him they said, “Everyone is looking for you!”

Simon and his companions searched for Him; they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” Mark 1:36-37 (NASB)

How did Jesus respond? How would a task-oriented person respond? Or, how about a people oriented person? How would you react after a busy Sabbath day and now having your prayer time interrupted? How did Jesus respond? The answer is found in the next verse.

He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” Mark 1:38 (NASB)

As a result, Jesus and the four men left Capernaum and went throughout all of Galilee.

And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons. Mark 1:39 (NASB)

And Matthew adds,

Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.  Matthew 4:23-25 (NASB)

Conclusion

Are you surprised at Jesus’ answer and what He did? Luke tells us that after the four disciples found Jesus, the people also found Him and were holding on to Him. They did not want Him to leave. Most of us would have probably stayed and tried to minister to them in some way, but not Jesus. Are you surprised?

Most of us are out of balance when it comes to being task focused or people focused. We are either too task focused or too people focused. I know some people who are so people focused that they are unwilling to deal with a person’s sin because they believe that everything is about relationships. If that is true, then why did Jesus leave the people who were clinging to Him in Capernaum?

Jesus’ reason for leaving them was that He had been sent for another purpose. He had to go to other cities throughout Galilee. He also had a task to accomplish that was also people focused.

Some of us are too task focused, and our goal in life is to accomplish great things for God. Some of us do not know how to stop and as my wife says, “Smell the roses!” We need to love people more. Jesus did this too! He taught and healed people. He went out of His way to meet the woman at the well in Samaria. Jesus was like a waterfall, only instead of water, His love cascaded or fell down upon the people.

Jesus was both task and people oriented in perfect balance. Every task He performed was focused on people, and every person He loved motivated His tasks. He came to reach all of us, even us today. He came to preach the kingdom of God (Luke 4:43), that is, to give us the good news about Himself, and He came to die for our sins (John 12:27). Each of those tasks was “people focused” and each “task” was motivated by His love for us.

Please stop and ask God to help you love those around you. May every task you perform be focused on people, and may every person you love motivate what you do.

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35 (NASB)

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 (NASB)

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Acceptance and rejection is what Jesus experienced in the first year of ministry, as we have already seen in Jerusalem and Nazareth. Later when we come to the Sermon on the Mount, He will remind us that the religious leaders had rejected the prophets too! He was not alone. The self-righteous leaders rejected Jesus’ disciples just as Calvin, Luther and other great saints of the past have been rejected. Jesus was criticized by the religious leaders for His personal conduct and ministry. They had lied about Him and falsely accused Him. Shall we criticize Jesus because He rejected the religious leaders? In the end Jesus caused a religious split, just as Calvin and Luther did, and pointed us in the right direction. Was Jesus wrong to speak to the truth? Were the reformers wrong? Should we all still be Roman Catholics? Jesus came to earth for one purpose – to tell us the truth. He knew He would cause division (Matthew 10:35). Rather than being discouraged, Jesus “shakes the dust off His feet” against His critics (Mark 6:11) and proceeds with His divine mission.

Back In Capernaum

The next section in our study in the life of Christ is found in Matthew 4:13-22. Jesus is not complaining about His rejection in Nazareth. Instead, He is focused on the ministry that God called Him to perform. We find Him returning to Capernaum to meet a group of men who had a great destiny that God wanted them to perform too!

. . . and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. Matthew 4:13 (NASB)

Capernaum was located on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee or the Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1). The Sea of Galilee is actually a lake, since it is a body of water surrounded by land. Capernaum was in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, the land which had been given to Zebulun and Naphtali, who were sons of the patriarch Jacob.

Jesus went into a territory with a great heritage. Capernaum was a notable commercial city with a nearby east-west trade route. The city had a large fishing industry and was apparently the home of a high ranking official to King Herod. Rome had established a customs office as well as a detachment of soldiers in the city, and citizens from all over the Roman empire came through the city, both Jews and Gentiles. In older times the city was also known as “Galilee of the Gentiles” because of the large number of Gentiles who lived there. It was an ideal location.

So it is not a surprise that Jesus brought His family there and settled. It would have been great for the family, and would also serve as the hub for His ministry. He could reach out to many Jews and Gentiles. As we will soon discover, a number of His key disciples also lived there. All of this reminds us of one more prophecy that was fulfilled. It is recorded in Isaiah 9:1 and quoted by Matthew.

This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES — THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.” Matthew 4:14-16 (NASB)

When Jesus came to Capernaum, He did not come with the goal of having a “big ministry” or building a large church, nor was He looking for fame. He came to give us truth and to die for our sins. He was the Way and the Truth (John 14:6). In the gospel of John we read,

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12 (NASB)

Jesus was and still is the Light of the world. The Greek word translated as “dawned” actually has the sense of “to rise” or “to come to light.” It is used of a sunrise. So Jesus was not just a little light, a fluorescent light, a flashlight, a beacon light, or light from a lighthouse. He was brighter than all of them. He was like the rays of the sun shining into the darkness of night upon the men and women. They could not see until He came. Their darkness was the deepest dark of the night and they did not know the truth or admit that they were sinners.

For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.  John 3:20-21 (NASB)

Jesus was truth and light. He was on a mission to save the souls of people like you and me! He was fishing for the souls of men and women.

Jesus’ Message

We are not told about Jesus’ journey from Nazareth to Capernaum. Nazareth was hill country, and Capernaum was along a lake. It would have been a great journey. We do not know if He talked with others, stopped to rest, eat, or sleep along the 20 mile (32 km) journey. When He arrived, did He go home and visit His brothers, sisters, and mother? We know nothing about the city from scripture. Did they ask Him about the trip to Nazareth? Did He describe the reactions of their old friends?

When Jesus came to Capernaum this time, He started preaching the very same message that John the Baptist had been proclaiming.

From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15 (NASB)

Jesus came declaring the good news that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. Jesus uses the perfect tense of eggizo for the phrase “is at hand.” The perfect tense means that it is a completed task. That is, the kingdom was already near because He was there. This is exactly what Jesus told the Pharisees later in His ministry.

Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Luke 17:20-21 (NASB)

The kingdom was at hand because the King of the kingdom was here! The Light of lights had arrived.

The kingdom of heaven is also called the kingdom of God in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The kingdom has always existed in a spiritual sense. It has existed since the time of King David (Psalm 45:6; Hebrews 1:8) because God reigns in the invisible world. The kingdom will physically exist on this earth for 1,000 years at some time in the future (Revelation 20:1-4), and will then continue forever in the new heaven and new earth. It is eternal. Now it is a hidden kingdom, but in the future we will see it. The kingdom is also called the kingdom of Christ (Ephesians 5:5) because it will be given to Jesus. So the King of the kingdom was present in Capernaum and the preacher was declaring, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Your King is here!

Peter and Andrew

Can you imagine Jesus preaching that message in the synagogues and in open areas? Stop and imagine people stopping to listen and then speaking with Him. But Jesus did not spend all of His time preaching and healing. On at least one occasion this One who had been rejected, the Light of lights, the King of kings came seeking some teachable men who already believed in Him. So in verse 18 the Holy Spirit turns on the camera and sound, so to speak, and we see Jesus walking.

Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:18-19; Mark 1:16-17 (NASB)

As Jesus is walking we can imagine hearing the sound of the waves and the birds above our heads. Apparently, Jesus is by Himself and somewhere along His walk He finds the two fishermen that He is seeking, Peter and Andrew.

Jesus had met these two men once before, in John 1:35-51 where they discovered that He was their Messiah. It was then that they started believing in Him. It was then that they became Christians, or were born again. After believing in Him, Peter, Andrew, and John followed Jesus to Cana of Galilee where Jesus turned water into wine. From there they followed Jesus down to Jerusalem and watched Him throw the money changers out of the temple. They saw Him perform signs during the great Passover feast and they saw the response of the crowds. After Jesus spoke with Nicodemus, the disciples followed Jesus into Samaria, where He spoke with the woman at the well. And when Jesus finally returned to Galilee, scripture became silent about the disciples until now.

Capernaum was the home of Peter, Andrew, and John, as we will see later (Mark 1:29-31). But when did Peter and Andrew return home to Capernaum? We have no clue! But it is clear that they did not stay with Jesus. Just as Peter and Andrew returned home and to their boats, some believers have something more important than staying with Jesus. So Jesus has come on a personal visit to ask for something more from them.

Somewhere along the shore, Jesus saw Peter and Andrew casting a net into the water. The Greek tells us that their net was a medium size circular one with weights attached so that it would sink into the water and capture the fish beneath. The net was probably about 9 feet (2.7 m) in diameter and was usually thrown from the shore, but Peter and Andrew were in a boat throwing their nets into the water and then pulling them in to catch some fish.

Jesus walked up to them, and most likely a few minutes passed before He commanded, “Follow after Me, and I will make you fishers of men!” Why didn’t Jesus ask them to organize a study of the Torah, a choir, a healing service, or a social for the synagogue? He could have asked them to do any of those things, but Jesus was not interested in having them “do things.” Most of us are willing to do things for God. Most of us like supporting an organization, including a church, that we enjoy. Yet, how many are really willing to do whatever Jesus wants? Which describes you best?

Jesus was looking for something more than busy activity from these men. He wanted something more than just their belief. He wanted their commitment! He wanted their hearts! He wanted their total obedience! They had talked with Him before. They had traveled with Him to Cana. They believed in Him, and now they knew that Jesus wanted something more. The Light of lights wanted to see a passion in their hearts to throw out the net of salvation and catch men and women who were in darkness. And they responded immediately, “at once,” and followed Him.

Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Matthew 4:20; Mark 1:18 (NASB)

They even left their nets on the shore. That tells us that they were serious and very willing.

James and John

Then Jesus walked a little farther along the shore and found James and John, sons of Zebedee. More than likely it is late in the day, since James and John were mending their nets. The fishing for the day was probably over, and some of the broken nets were in need of repair.

Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19-20a (NASB)

When Jesus approached them, the gospel of Mark says that Jesus commanded them to follow and immediately they did.

Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him. Mark 1:20; Matthew 4:22 (NASB)

The fact that their father was able to hire servants implies that they were not poor. Yet, they left it all to follow Jesus.

The Selection

Why did Jesus pick these men? He could have asked court officials to follow. He could have asked some priests, Pharisees, carpenters, educated individuals, or soldiers to follow Him. The soldiers knew how to obey. The court officials could have helped Him politically. Yes, the priests and Pharisees might have rejected Him once again. The carpenters would have been from the same trade and perhaps would have been supportive, and the educated could have helped in the planning. But Jesus picked some uneducated fishermen to come and fish for men. It is amazing that Jesus did not ask them to do something else.

In some churches fishing for men and women is not the priority. Instead, it is near the bottom. We would rather hear good preaching, sing beautiful songs, attend great banquets, and hope the pastoral staff is evangelizing the lost. We want to see the congregation increase in size, but when at church, we want only to talk with our friends. Yes, we want others to believe in Jesus, but we are more afraid of their rejection. If some of us were really honest, we would have probably told Jesus “No!” and explained that we needed to mend our nets, finish catching our quota of fish before the sunset, or put the nets away. Why did the Holy Spirit tell us that they had left their nets? It tells us that they were serious. It is a change in their hearts and it reveals their commitment.

Conclusion

Some believe that Luke 5:1-11 is part of the events that occurred in this study. But there are some significant differences between the events in Matthew and Mark and those that occur in Luke. We will discuss them in a later study. For now, it is important to see that the first time Jesus called these men, they believed in Him (John 1:35-51) and they followed. Matthew 4:13-22; Mark 1:16-20 and Luke 4:31 record the second encounter with Jesus where Jesus calls them to follow, and Luke 5:1-11 will be the third time that Jesus calls them to follow Him.

Like some Christians, they were eager to follow after they first believed, but after awhile they returned back to the old routine. Did the disciples return home early, or was it part of some plan they had with Jesus? If it was part of a plan, why did the disciples leave their nets immediately? Why did Jesus command them to follow? Why look for them on the shore of the lake and not at their homes? The answers to our questions suggest that Jesus’ visit and command was unexpected. This was not part of their plan. They needed to understand that God wanted more from them.

So, Jesus came seeking them once again. Jesus did not ask them to organize a study of the Torah, a choir, a healing service, or a social for the synagogue. He was not after more activity. He was seeking their hearts. He wanted them to follow and He wanted them to have hearts that wanted to fish for the souls of men and women.

Today, the Holy Spirit is seeking some of us too! We believed in Jesus at some point in our lives. We attend church, enjoy the music and the passionate preaching. We may be active in the church, but we may not be like Peter, Andrew, John, or Jesus. Our concept of “following” Jesus may be doing what we want, using our skills the way we want, caring for those we like, and seeking recognition. But Jesus wants something different. He wants your heart. He wants you to follow Him.

Jesus’ next priority is that we would have hearts that wants to fish for souls – nothing else! That call has been repeated for us in Matthew 28:19-20 and throughout the New Testament. This is not a call only for the disciples. It is for each one of us too!

God has prepared every believer to be a “fisherman of souls.” He has prepared you too, wherever you are. All that you need to do is ask the Holy Spirit to give you the opportunity and to give you the correct words to say (Acts 4:8). If you have believed in Jesus, He wants you to fish for men and women too!

But it starts with your relationship with Jesus. “Follow Me!” Jesus says, “And I will make you fishers of men.” So, how will you respond?

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