14 And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. 16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8:14-17
The words “I didn’t know that” are never easy to say. It can be embarrassing to say when it reveals our lack of knowledge, or perhaps forgetfulness on our end. It can be painful to say when a friend, or loved one, tells you about a problem or health issue they haven’t told anyone about. Those words can be accompanied with tears when someone tells us how important that promise or moment was. “I didn’t know that.”
When I read this text, I think these words can naturally pop into our heads. And it isn’t because Peter has a mother-in-law, nor is it because she feels so great after being healed that she begins to serve. I think the moment comes at verse 17. There, Matthew, quoting Isaiah, says, “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”
“I didn’t know that.” Did you know that Jesus bears our illnesses and diseases? We often tend to limit what Jesus bore for us to just our sin, which He did. However, He also bears our illnesses and diseases, which are the result of sin in our world. He bears that, too.
Matthew’s quotation of Isaiah 53:4 brings out the truth that the saving work of Jesus, the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53, includes final victory over all illness and disease. For Jesus has not just defeated sin. He didn’t only defeat death. He not only conquered Satan and all evil. He conquered sin and disease, too.
The day is coming when we will experience and know Jesus’ victory over all things. This we will know. The day is coming!
In Christ,
Pastor Nick Kooi
(Originally published in Emmaus Footprints, Vol. XXIV, Number 11, June 2023.)