Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20050918.htm

JESUS CHRIST'S DISCIPLING OF SIMON PETER: A STUDY IN MAKING DISCIPLES
Part I: Getting Peter To Follow Jesus
C. Culminating The Rapport-building With An Unusual Act Of Kindness
(Luke 4:38-41 with Matthew 8:14-17 and Mark 1:29-34)
  1. Introduction
    1. Beyond impressing an unbeliever with the power of God in our lives as Jesus did to Peter in producing the draught of fishes in Luke 5:1-11, another "step" is often needed before the Gospel will take root.
    2. Jesus provided that step by doing what always affects unbelievers regardless of cultural, ethnic, religious or gender boundaries that face the disciple-maker -- he showed Peter an unusual act of great kindness.
  2. Culminating The Rapport-building With An Unusual Act Of Kindness, Luke 4:38-41 et al.
    1. It may seem wrong for us to address the events in Luke 4:38-41 as CULMINATING Christ's rapport building with Peter, for in our last lesson out of Luke 5:1-11 we covered Christ's work that impressed Peter with His grace and power in the event of the draught of fishes. Yet, A. T. Robertson's authoritative work, A Harmony of the Gospels, 1950 ed., p. 33-35 places the Luke 5:1-11 passage chronologically before the events of Luke 4:38-41, so we treat these two passages in the order suggested by Dr. Robertson.
    2. Accordingly, Luke 4:38-41 with Matthew 8:14-17 and Mark 1:29-34 show Peter's mother-in-law (Peter was married!) lay in bed at home with a high fever. Upon being informed of her condition while He was leading a group of people out of the synagogue after having exorcised a demon there, and though He was thus tired and possibly hungry, Jesus immediately entered her home. Then standing over her, He rebuked the fever, took her by the hand and lifted her up out of her bed. Then she ministered probably to serve a meal to Jesus and the other disciples who were present, (Peter, Andrew) and James and John.
    3. The impression this event made on Peter is worth our noting (as follows):
      1. According to Bible scholars, Mark's Gospel was likely heavily influenced by the Apostle Peter, cf. Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978 ed., p. 1397, "Mark and Peter." Mark is believed to have received much of his information for his Gospel from Peter, and this belief led to the early, strong support in Christendom that Mark's Gospel was canonical, Ibid.
      2. Thus, we note the emphases of this event found in Mark's Gospel (Mark 1:29-34) that contrast with those of the other accounts (Lk. 4:38-41; Matt. 8:14-17) to discern the event's special impact on Peter:
        1. Only Mark's Gospel records which of Jesus' disciples were present when the healing occurred. Accordingly, the people who were present for the healing of his mother-in-law was noted and appreciated by Peter. Thus, caring enough to show up to meet the needs of a disciple's family positively builds a good relationship with him toward effective discipling!
        2. Mark's Gospel alone tells us that Jesus did more than speak or touch Peter's mother-in-law: it shows that in view of her weakened condition due to her fever, He took her by her hand and helped her actually rise up out of the bed where she lay; this was an unusual personal courtesy for a lofty Rabbi such as Jesus to do for this woman. Thus, performing thoughtful courtesies for a disciple or his family can build a rapport for later effective discipling.
        3. Mark's Gospel uniquely emphasizes the fact that Jesus responded immediately upon hearing Peter's mother-in-law was ill. This quick response is admirable especially in view of the human fatigue He would have felt upon having just exorcised a demon from a man in the synagogue, Lk. 4:33-37, 38a! So, meeting his human needs or those of his family when the disciple knows we are limited in our resources positively impresses him so that he will be more open to our discipling efforts.
Lesson: Jesus went beyond merely impressing Peter with His power as God by producing a draught of fishes -- He performed an unusual act of kindness to build a strong rapport with him: (a) Jesus showed up at his needy mother-in-law's home (b) as soon as He was told of her need (c) regardless of his own drained human resources at the time (d) to show unusual kindness in the way He healed his relative!

Application: To disciple others for Christ, they need to see the LOVE of GOD in us FOR them and those close to them, one (a) that attends to their needs (b) as SOON as we know them and (c) expresses itself in personal courtesies (d) that are granted even if our human power is limited to do so at the time!