In Jesus Christ, Troubled People Are Set Free

And immediately he [Jesus] left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.Mark 1:29Simon and Andrew were the first to follow Jesus, and now Jesus came to their home, where Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever. Nothing unusual or life-threatening about this. Which of us hasn't been in bed with a fever? But Jesus healed her. The question most often asked about this miracle is, "Why would Jesus do this? Of all the things Jesus could have done with His power, why did He choose to do this very small thing?" Surely the point of this small miracle is that when Simon and Andrew follow Jesus, blessing comes to their whole family. God's grace in your life will bring light to others around you. Mark tells us how this blessing spreads: "That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door" (1:32-33). Which city? The city where Simon and Andrew lived. This pouring out of God's mercy starts with two brothers, touches a wider family, and now reaches a whole community. Where the Gospel is preached, the Father and the Son say to the Spirit: "You go and get them." The effects of this kind of ministry will be that ordinary people follow Christ and troubled people are set free. And every time that happens, a new circle of influence is opened for the gospel. The blessing that has come to you will touch the people around you. Others will hear and the whole community will be blessed.Where have you, personally, seen the gospel have this kind of spreading influence?