Blessed by What He Sees

When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
Matthew 8:14-15 (NIV)

The healing of Peter’s mother-in-law is recorded in three different Gospels. It’s interesting to read the subtle distinctions between the three accounts.

In Mark’s retelling, he remembers them getting to the house and immediately upon entering, Peter and Andrew tell Jesus about the sickness of Peter's mother-in-law. They just tell him. There's no mention of them asking Jesus to do anything about it.

The way Luke tells it, he doesn't mention the immediacy, but what he does remember is that Peter and Andrew specifically ask Jesus to respond to her feverish condition.

What I noticed in Matthew's remembrance is that when they entered the house, Jesus saw the woman’s condition and then responded. There is no mention of promptings or requests.

All three writers were there. One says Jesus is simply told about her and He moves to minister to her. The other says He's asked to involve Himself in her condition and He does. Matthew says He is neither told about it nor asked to intervene, but sees it Himself and is moved by what He sees.

These three different viewpoints tell me that Jesus doesn't only respond to the issues, needs, or battles in your life based on your awareness of them or your initiative taken to make it your immediate important priority. Nor does He only respond when you ask Him to intervene. There are times when Jesus will exercise His authority, walk directly into your reality, and address the issues in your life that need addressing.

Jesus will fight the things that are threatening you, not necessarily based on what you've made a priority, not necessarily because you stated it as a request, but because He loves you enough that when He sees what you need, He is willing and able to bring the necessary change.