Mark 1:29-39 Service because of healing...That is her response what is ours?

            Well, here is a familiar story; I mean, of course, the very basic premise of the story. Here we have Jesus healing. They left the synagogue…there is no rest…they head out to Simon’s house and things aren’t good there. They get to the house where Simon’s mother-in-law has a fever. In Jesus’ day, a fever was a big deal. They did not have antibiotics like we do today. A fever could very easily have been a death sentence. Without a word, Jesus takes her by the hand and she stands up.

            Here is the part that I like. In our Gospel reading Mark says, “The fever left her, and she began to serve.” Why do I like this part? Because there are little to no words. There is just action in this one sentence and it is important action. There is a touch, getting up, fever gone, and she begins to serve. It is incredible to think that the Son of God is so powerful that the fever leaves her right away so that she can serve.

            But what does this mean? The fever leaves and she begins to serve? What is she doing serving so quickly after recovering from what could have easily been her demise…her death? Why would she take that chance on getting sick again? Surely she should know that going back to work right after all this could bring her back down to where she might be bed-ridden once again. Why would she start serving?

            The answer could sound rather easy. I could continue on in this sermon saying that it was her duty to serve; after all, they were in her house. She is the host and just because she was sick didn’t mean she shouldn’t show hospitality. After all that is the way things were in Jesus’ time. Or I could tell you that it was such a part of the culture that she would have been shamed if She did NOT serve the guests that came to her house.

She is supposed to be providing for all who enter her house or word will get out that she is not living up to the culture and how horrible might that be. She is supposed to be providing food and whatever the people who show up at her door need. I know it sounds harsh but that is what she is supposed to be doing. It is the culture!! That tone that I take may make me sound pretty unpopular. If we easily write her actions off to the culture and times then it makes her sound as if Simon’s mother-in-law is nothing more than a house keeper, maid, and just all-around general servant; like any other person, not special in any way.

But there is one other possibility as to why she would serve. She has just been healed from a fever that could have easily killed her. No one there knew what to do accept sit and wait. When Jesus shows up and grabs her by the hand, she is healed…right there on the spot, no conditions, no promises exchanged or words spoken. The Son of God has touched her and she is made well. So, why would she get up and serve?

I think it is important to understand the word serve. Going back to our old Greek, the original language of the New Testament, this word for “serve” is “diakonea.” It is the same word that Jesus uses when he says that “the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve.” It is that same diakonea that is used. From that word comes what we know as diaconal ministers, there is a diakonea ministry that also serve people and communities. So she just does not get up and begin doing things out of obligation because of culture.

I would suggest to you that she got up to serve out of gratitude for what she had been given. She is now serving out of thanksgiving for the life that she has gotten back from Jesus mere touch. She is serving as a witness to all the others of the power of Jesus Christ, God’s Son! She is serving and giving to others because of her new found ability to give back. She is serving the Messiah who would not let death take this woman; it was life that he gave back to her that now enables her to be able to give and serve others.

This small story about a woman who is sick doesn’t stop there. It continues on because Jesus moves on to other towns. He continues his message of healing, teaching, and showing God’s love to others. HE gave others the chance to be witnesses to the incredible love and power of God; the never ending peace of God and forgiveness that God gives to us through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

By the way, this story continues even to the cross. We know that so many people come to Jesus, they are healed and they begin following Jesus. Brothers and Sisters this goes all the way to the cross; because in our Gospel there were men and women looking on. Maybe one of them was Simon’s mother-in-law who was not a cook, a slave servant, or the host of a group gathering at her home. Why did she serve, because she got it! She got what it meant to receive the love of God through healing. She became a follower…she was more than a follower, a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God who gave her life back to her.

It is a compelling story and I hope it causes you to ask the question, why? We think we can guess why she served, but why do you come here? Why do you gather here Saturday or Sunday? Is it to check something off your weekly list? Is it because this is something that you have always done and you wouldn’t know to do something different?

My hope is that you come here for a whole different reason. My hope is that you come here because you have experienced some kind of healing that Simon’s mother-in-law got, whether it be from an illness, or addiction, loneliness, or crappy feelings of being unworthy! I hope that you come here because you feel some sense of God’s presence that “re-energizes” your batteries, that you feel the presence of God when you hear the words, “this is my body and my blood, given for you.” My hope is that you come here and are healed by God’s words of hope and love.

Today, we have the scouts with us in celebration of our relationship for many years. I hope you don’t come to scouts just to get a badge. Sure, they look nice and it is a good accomplishment, but I pray that you come here and participate because the Holy Spirit is working in you and telling you that you can make a difference in this world. You can do good things in this world, not because of a badge but because God calls you to share the blessings that you have been given with others. I pray that is why you come and learn and share with all of us.

            We are all called to this same service…being a Stephen Minister that sits with anyone who is in need to listen and pray, Sunday school teacher or helper, acolyte, cub scouts, bay and girls scouts, council member, parishioner... this diakonea that this woman is called to. We are called to service; to serve others in this world with whatever talents God has blessed us with; not out of obligation but out of joy and thanksgiving…because we have been so blessed and that it is the best way that we can show our love for God.

Thanks be to God: AMEN!