Peter's Radical Mother-in-Law

Imagine Peter's mother-in-law. She had a resigned fisherman for a son-in-law who had quit his job and business with his father, and who has decided to be fisher of men all his life, whatever that meant. On top of that, he'd decided to go with this other jobless guy whom the temple religious leaders had described as a heretic.

Talk about having a loser for a son-in-law. Would you give your daughter to this kind of man? Honestly? Don't even church people look down on folks who have no money, title, or jobs? Isn't the church also guilty of subscribing to the money value system of the world? Don't they applaud moneyed churches and despise poor ones?

Accepting people despite their low financial situation says a lot about your character. And I don't mean just talking with lowly people and fellowshipping with them. I mean, accepting them as family--and supporting what they do for a living. I don't mean bums and idle men who hate working. I mean men who work for Jesus even without much pecuniary rewards. Even most church people would hate having such men for family. Everyone's out for engineers and doctors and businessmen to familially connect with.

Yet, Peter's mother-in-law liked Peter. How do I know this? She let Jesus take her hand and heal him. She even served them right after. I don't think she'd do that if she had despised Peter and his leader Jesus. But the fact that she let them into her house, let my Jesus take her hand and pray for her, and served them later are all indicators that Peter's mother-in-law was a firm, all-out believer despite her son in-law's financial lack.

Other parents-in-law would have done the opposite--even Christian parents-in-law. How many have I seen belittling their sons-in-laws for the simple fact that they don't earn enough money and have subservient jobs. Receiving Jesus into your house during those days was nothing short of being radical. Even Nicodemus could only meet with Jesus at night.

The mom in-law could have preferred being treated by doctors. Consulting doctors would have been decent, and doctors always have a good reputation in society. It always sounds nobler being treated by a physician than just being prayed for by a pastor, which is often a poor man's option. But Peter's mom in-law chose Peter.

Consider also how she allowed believers to dig through the roof of her house to let in a paralytic by 4 young fellows. If it's true that it was her house (as some commentaries say), then only a radical believer could allow such things be done to her house--just to let in the sick to be healed by Jesus. A non-believer disappointed with her son-in-law who was a disciple of Jesus would have protested right off. She would have sent everyone out of the house pronto, and not without vexations.

We need more moms in-law like her---moms who'd support all-out even if it costs her house and reputation. Moms who'd really believe in Jesus with a radical faith.