Mary’s Lent Diary (Day 16)

When I was out today, I bumped into Simon Peter’s mother in law. I have known her for years, on and off, and I knew she liked talking, but today I could not get a word in edgeways.  She was overflowing, could hardly get her words out fast enough…the day before, she had been healed!  By Jesus!  She had been ill and he had come to her house and….I had to tell her to stop, take a deep breath, sit down and start at the beginning…!

About a week ago, she had begun to feel unwell.  Over a few days, she felt worse and worse until she ended up in bed with a fever.  A bad fever.  She knew that her son, Simon, had started following Jesus (she was pleased that our sons were getting along) but she had never been more surprised in her life than when Jesus had arrived at her house!  With some of his disciples in tow, he had come and stood by her bed.  She thought she must be hallucinating, fevers do that.  Then they asked Jesus to help her.  Well, now she was sure she was hallucinating – did they really expect Jesus to bother helping her her?! But, no, it was real!  Jesus came and bent over her, took her hand and helped her onto her feet.  She had not been able to stand for days and now, in the space of about five minutes, she had gone from her sick bed to walking around! I asked her what she did next and I had to chuckle at the answer - typically for her, she had gone straight to look after the people that were in her house.

A heart shape being passed from one hand to another

Simon’s mother-in-law was ill, and no one could help.

So they asked Jesus.

Always a good idea when we need help: ask Jesus.

It’s a recurring theme with Him.

Ask Me.

He wants us to ask Him.

What are you asking Him at the moment?

And what did Jesus do?

Jesus saw her (Matt 8:14).

He saw her at her ‘worst’ and He didn’t look away.

The woman was used to doing, to serving, to helping.

And Jesus still saw her, even when she couldn’t do any of those things.

She didn’t have to be better, or sorted, before Jesus saw her.

In Mark 10, we read about another person who did not have it all sorted.

Jesus saw him, too, in all his ‘unsortedness’:

Jesus looked at him and loved him.

Mark 10:21a

The man did not need to be sorted to be seen and loved.

We can be open with God about our worries and struggles.

They won’t make Him look away.

Jesus took her hand (Mark 1:31)

He made contact with her.

At what was a very low point in her life, He made contact.

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.

Psalm 18:16

We don’t read that Jesus used words, but we do read that he took her hand.

He showed her that He was there.

Whose hand could you take today?

Maybe in a text, or a card, or a call, or a smile….

Jesus helped her up (Mark 1:31)

Being at rock bottom didn’t mean there was no way back for the woman.

She couldn’t help herself, her friends couldn’t help…

But Jesus could.

He helped her up.

And she allowed Him to.

Do you?

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint [overwhelmed]; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 61:2

Lord Jesus,

Help me to ask You things that are on my heart.

I am a mess sometimes. I haven’t got it all sorted.

It may look as though I have, but inside I know.

You know, too.

Thank You for seeing me and loving me anyway.

I want to let You help me.

Please take my hand.

Amen

Mary’s Memo Let Jesus Help