And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

The miracle of Peter’s mother in law being healed is recorded in three of the gospels:

And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. (Matthew 8:14,15)

And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. (Mark :29-31)

And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. (Luke 4:38,39)

What has stood out to me in this miracle of Jesus is the end, where the bible says she ministered unto them. She got up and began to minister unto them. This really seems strange to me. She was lying down sick, she had a great fever. And Jesus comes into her house, stands over her and just rebukes the fever and it left her immediately. There’s no record of any outspoken awe or surprise. There’s no record of celebration. No thank yous. No pardon mes. There’s just no record of anything but that she gets up and ministers to them; them being Jesus, Peter, James and John.

(Hebrews 9:22) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? To serve God? Do you realize when someone is saved, they become servants to God. Everybody seems to be okay with Ephesians 2:8,9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. It’s that next verse that we get a little tripped up on, amen? For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. What do you know, there are expectations! It’s not of works. But it is unto works.

Hi ho! Hi ho! It’s unto work I go! I’m glad I’m in the service of the Lord. I don’t want to go free. Put the awl through my ear. I’m here to stay. I know the fever has left, but that don’t mean we go cold! We get up and get moving, Amen! That word ministered comes from the greek word διηκόνει (diēkonei) which comes from the word διάκονος (diakonos) where we get the title deacon. It was thought once to literally mean raising dust by hastening. Ministering carries with it the meaning kicking up the dust! Well, maybe so. But we ought to be eager to serve.

(Romans 6:17,18) But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. We are free to serve! What an oxymoron! Free to serve. I was a servant of sin but I’ve been made free, but not free to serve another or myself. No. Free to serve God. After all, he paid the price for my freedom. I’ll gladly serve him. (Psalm 100:2) Serve the LORD with gladness.

(Acts 9:6) Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? It’s not too much to do his bidding. Peter’s mother-in-law put on no show, she just served him. Talk is cheap. (1 John 3) My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.