Rebuking the Darkness

My daily Bible reading had me in Matthew eight and nine today. In this passage, Matthew records several miraculous deeds Jesus performed early in His ministry: healing a paralytic, healing Peter’s mother-in-law, calming a stormy sea and casting demons into a herd of pigs. This list of miracles was probably written by Matthew to convince his mostly Jewish readers that Jesus is the Son of God. Something in the way Matthew presented these struck me today.

When Jesus entered Peter’s house, he found Peter’s mother-in-law sick with a fever. Matthew says he touched her, and the fever left her. I have always been fascinated by the way Dr. Luke describes what Jesus did because it seems to take a more scientific tone. Luke says Jesus “rebuked” the fever, and it left her. I don’t know if the rebuke was spoken or not, but I like to imagine Jesus saying, “Fever! Get out! You don’t belong here.” I think Jesus knew what we now know: the fever was caused by something in the woman’s body that did not belong. (Maybe it was an early form of the corona virus.)

The reason Luke’s version popped onto my radar this morning is the word, “rebuked.” When I read in Matthew that Jesus “rebuked” the stormy sea, I double-checked to see if it was the same word Luke used in reference to the fever; it is. The Greek word these two men used (ἐπιτιμάω) has a wide range of meaning, but in essence it means to put something in its place. When Jesus encountered the fever in Peter’s mother-in-law, He put it in its place: out of Peter’s mother-in-law. When Jesus was awakened to the stormy sea, He put the wind and waves in their place: they stilled.

Matthew’s point – and mine too – is that only God has the right to put such things in their place. Jesus could rebuke these elements because they are part of the world He created, and He still has power over them. The case with the paralytic is equally interesting because what Jesus did was put sin in its place: forgiven. Paralysis, fever, windstorm – all are elements of earth which exist because of the curse brought upon Creation by Adam’s rebellion. I think it is safe to say that there would never have been disease or destruction in the Garden had Adam not eaten the forbidden fruit.

You may be asking how this matters beyond establishing Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God. Here’s how: the same Jesus who was in the boat on the Sea of Galilee in first century Palestine is in the boat with us today. The kingdom rule He was exercising then is still being exercised today. I am not going to tell you that you have the power to rebuke a fever and expect the same results Jesus got every time. It could happen, but you have to get really close to Jesus to know if that’s what he would have you do. Remember the seven sons of Sceva who tried to use Jesus’ name inappropriately and how they got whupped by the demons.

What we can do without doubt is stand where Jesus stands: put the sin-wracked world in its place. It’s all about the attitude, the perspective. We need to see things the way Jesus sees them. Remember what happened to Peter when he foolishly jumped out of the boat to walk on water then took his eyes off Jesus. He sank. Ephesians says we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies right now. From that vantage point, sin is already conquered; the enemy is already defeated. But notice, in both stormy stories, the disciples were in fear; in both stories, Jesus chided His disciples for having little faith.

I find the most valuable lesson in Peter’s water-walking episode. Jesus called Peter’s faith small AFTER Peter stepped out of the boat. Really? What did the water-walking disciple do wrong? He took his eyes off Jesus. There it is: no matter what you are facing, keep your perspective – the heavenly perspective. We are not alone in this boat; Jesus is right here as promised. Whether it’s disease, destruction or death, put it in its place. It is not for nothing we are said to be, “More than conquerors.” We are assured that nothing, “in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We walk by faith, not by sight. So, fear not, little flock; it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”