She served them? Really?
St. Mark 1:29-39
4 February 2018 – Redeemer
And she began to serve them. Really? She serves them. She who had just been raised from her sick bed. She who moments earlier had been burning up with fever – the Greek word is pyro, fire, a fever of 104.something. She serves them? Her son-in-law, so caught up in his new calling and the Synagogue miracles that he forgets his mother-in-law is sick with a fiery fever in bed. Typical man. Heh Jesus, let’s go to my house after church. My mom makes the best Sabbath brunch you’ve ever tasted. Her lamb and eggs bake is everyone’s first choice at the Yom Kippur potluck. James and John why don’t you come too? We can talk about Jesus’ sermon and how He ruled that unclean spirit.
Peter and Andrew, James and John, and Jesus. You wonder when Peter remembered his mother-in-law was ill. When he opened the door and didn’t smell anything cooking? When he saw the worry on his family’s faces? Oh no, I forgot mom is sick.
There was no brunch at Peter’s house as there was no wine at the wedding in Cana. It’s a good thing Peter invited Jesus to his house. It was a wonderful blessing. I don’t imagine Peter’s mother-in-law thought it was wonderful at first. How would you like it if you’re lying in your bedroom, feverish, unkempt, uncomfortable, and not looking the best and your son-in-law bursts into the room with one of his friends? See, I told you she was sick.
But whether it is a wedding wine shortage or fiery fever getting in the way of food, once Jesus is there, shortages are turned to abundance, fires are doused, fevers are cooled, and sickness is turned to health. Jesus came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
A few verses before the text Jesus preaches his first sermon and his sermon tells us all that is going to happen in Mark’s Gospel. “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.” Jesus is preaching Himself in that text. He is the Kingdom of God – wherever Jesus is present there the Kingdom of God is at hand. In His Kingdom He rules over the devil and sends His demons running. He rules over sin and undoes its number one consequence death. Every time Jesus turns water into wine, calms a storm, cleanses a leper, casts out a demon, heals a sickness, cools a fever or raises a dead girl we see the visible Kingdom of God in Jesus.
We cannot however separate that rule from Jesus’ earthly enthronement and coronation. Our King does not rule the way of earthly kings and leaders. He lays down His life for His subjects. Jesus is crowned with thorns. His royal robe was the lacerations on his flesh from the whip. His throne was the cross – for there by taking our sin upon Himself He served the whole world. He laid down His life for every person, for you. The King dies for His subjects that you live under Him – free from the terror of your enemies and former masters – sin, death, and Satan.
Consider your King! He serves everyone and that is scandalous. He doesn’t serve only Republicans or Democrats. He doesn’t serve His constituency. He’s not concerned about pleasing His base. He doesn’t do surveys. He serves everyone. He carries the sin of Dr. Larry Nassar who abused over 265 young girls and women. He carries the sin of atheists like Richard Dawkins who believes God is a delusion. He carries the sin of the teenager who take’s God’s name in vain a couple hundred times a day with his “Oh my Gods.” If you find that scandalous then what about this? He carries all your sins too, the sins you’ve thought, the sins you hide so well, the sins of your youth. God in Christ will no longer bring up your sins. He will not treat you as you deserve. Now, because the service and sacrifice of Christ you are in His Kingdom, under His protection, a citizen and subject whom God will favor, protect, and preserve, resurrect and heal. As Jesus said in His first sermon – believe this, believe in the Gospel, believe this good news – you are forgiven by Jesus and under His rule.
You ought not be surprised that Peter’s mother-in-law begins to serve them, because that is what Christians do. She has been raised up from her sick-bed, perhaps her death-bed by Jesus. And she began to serve them. Yes, even Peter who brought a bunch of guys over for brunch when his mother-in-law was sick. In our day and age this text would be labeled sexist. Oh, pastor do you mean that women should serve men? No, I mean that we who believe Jesus Christ served us forgiveness and purchased us for His Kingdom without any merit or worthiness is us should serve others. Husbands should serve their wives unto death – just as they promise in their wedding vows. Wouldn’t you like your daughter to marry a man who says, “I’ll lay down my life for her.” Wives should submit to their husband’s headship – and remember if a man is willing to die for you he won’t be a belligerent bully and use his headship to be a tyrant. Parents should serve their children, first and foremost by serving them Jesus. Drag them to church when they are toddlers and yell them out of bed when they are teenagers. Parents, sacrifice your time to teach your children that the Kingdom of God is far different than the kingdom of this world – that male and female are good gifts, that men and women have distinctive roles in the church and home, that there are such things as truth and beauty and hope. That there’s more historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus than evolution. We should strive to be wise in God’s Word so that we can witness to the truth and to Christ in the world. We should serve our neighbors by helping them in their need and praying for them. We should love those who aren’t that lovely to us. Oh, the world’s Kingdom declares everyone should serve you and that you rule. In the Kingdom of God, you believe that Christ rules – destroying your enemies and defending you – so you begin to serve others.
We, at Redeemer, are quite familiar with this word “serve” in the text. In the Greek it sounds like this. She began to diaekonae them. That’s right –Peter’s mother-in-law was the first deaconess. Peter and Andrew and James and John would spread the reign of God by preaching Jesus and baptizing in His name, by forgiving sin and serving the Lord’s Supper. They would be the mouth of God to preach Jesus. Peter’s mother-in-law and many other women would serve by being the hands and heart of God – showing compassion and mercy to others. The world might consider all of that bigoted and hateful and scandalous. We consider it our duty, our privilege and a gift because we have been served by Jesus and live under His reign. In the name of Jesus.
Pr. Bruce Timm
3 February 2018 anno Domini