The Healing of Peter’s Mother-in-Law

Peter’s mother-in-law—a woman who expressed her gratitude to God through  ministering (see Matthew 8:14–15; Mark 1:29–31; Luke 4:38–39). There are  interesting variations on how Jesus healed the woman: Matthew says that he touched  her hand; Mark says Jesus took her hand and Luke says that Jesus bent over her.  

We don’t know the extent of her suffering, but Luke, a physician, seems to emphasize  the seriousness of her illness by describing it as a “great fever” (Luke 4:38). When  Jesus arrived at Peter’s home, He was informed of her condition. He “took her by the  hand, and lifted her up” (Mark 1:31). All eyes must have been on Peter’s mother-in law. How would she respond? How do you thank the Savior for saving you? 

“Immediately she arose and ministered unto them” (Luke 4:39). Note that in  describing the woman’s response, Mark used the same Greek word (diakoneō,  translated as “ministered”) that he used to describe how the angels served Jesus only  a few verses earlier (see Mark 1:13). As one Latter-day Saint source points out:  “Mark, by using the same word for the action of angels and the action of the healed  woman, may be attempting to equate her level of service to Jesus as that of the  angels. What the angels were able to do for Jesus in the wilderness, the woman  whose fever has now fled does for him in her home.” 

After being healed, Peter’s mother-in-law showed her gratitude by serving the Savior  and His followers. Her actions stand as an example to all of us. In the three accounts  of the Savior’s healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, we learn that the news of the  miraculous healing had spread by the end of the day. Her faith to be healed and her  service to others became a beacon of hope to those in her community and within her  family. Many brought their sick to Jesus, “and he laid his hands on every one of them,  and healed them” (Luke 4:40).