If we could visit Capernaum today, we would find the remains of a fourth- or fifth-century synagogue built on the site of a first-century synagogue … and nearby, the excavated ruins of a first-century home that had later been incorporated into a fourth- or fifth-century church.
A case has been made for this home as the home of none other than Simon Peter.
Our text says: After leaving the synagogue, Jesus, James and John went home with Simon and Andrew.
In these few words, we have a world of meaning … a story … early Christians leave the synagogue to form house churches.
Mark was written some 30 years after the Jesus story, and by this time, Christians were well-established in house churches.
When Paul writes to the Church in Rome, he’s writing to maybe 25 or 30 house-churches, some of which were rather large, and others probably quite small.
In the first 300 years of the Christian Movement, there were no church buildings, only homes …
The home was central to the practice of the faith … to this very day, for our Jewish sisters and brothers, the two central rites of Judaism - circumcision and Passover - are celebrated in the home.
It’s the home where Judaism is celebrated - where the stories of Passover are told and the foods of passover are eaten … it’s in the home where circumcision, or the bris, is performed by a Mohel, someone specially trained in the procedure.
The home is the emotional and spiritual center of Judaism.
Christians met in homes, too.
For the first 300 years …
After Constantine’s conversion in the year 325, and the Christianization of the Roman Empire, Christians begin to meet in buildings, many of them public buildings, to be used for the new religion of the Roman Empire, Christianity.
The Emperor couldn’t have folks meeting in homes any longer.
The Emperor needed more pomp and circumstance.
Along with new and larger buildings, the sacraments of baptism and the LORD’S Supper were taken from the home and transferred to the church building, and more sacraments were added.
Priests became the officiants; only the priest could administer the water of baptism, break bread and pour the cup … only the priest could dispense forgiveness and healing, and eternal hope in the last rites before death.
Several years ago, I asked Dick Mouw, President of Fuller Theological Seminary, about this … I asked him, “Did Jesus intend for the sacraments to be formally located in the church with only priestly hands handling them?”
Dick replied, “Nothing could have been further from the mind of our LORD.”
Jesus was comfortable in homes.
Eating, drinking … teaching.
So much of it in homes.
Which reminds me …
A 25-year-old son moved back home with an eye toward socking away money to buy a condo. His folks never asked how long he’d planned to stay, but they got a pretty good idea when Dad walked into the son’s room. On his desk, a gallon milk jug with a few coins in it, and a label that read "Condo down payment."
An exciting development in the last 40 years has been small groups and in the last 10 years, the Emergent Church Movement - much of this going on in homes.
In Ohio, a large church, no church building, only house-churches … all of their money goes into ministry and mission.
When they all get together, from time-to-time, they rent a building.
Can you imagine how much money would be freed up if Christians didn’t have buildings to support?
All the fights about paint and carpet would disappear overnight!
I was a part of a house fellowship some years back.
We gathered for prayer and study every Sunday night.
The host was responsible for snacks, drinks and the sacrament.
The words of institution, prayers, bread broken, cup poured … Jesus in our midst.
Some of us thought: how what if the church met entirely in homes once a month, on a Sunday morning - dozens of homes across the city - how much easier to invite friends, neighbors to our homes.
When Jesus arrives at the home, Peter’s mother-in-law is so ill she can’t provide for her guests …
Jesus goes to her … takes her by the hand, raises her up, and the fever is gone.
The the Bible says, she served them.
That’s the story Morning Glory.
Why in the world would Jesus heal us.
For what purpose.
But that we might get up and serve one another.
This is our singular purpose.
Our mutual calling.
What it means to be a human being.
What it means to be a Christian.
But to serve one another.
But the story is clear: we cannot serve until we’re healed.
Our story isn’t entirely about physical illness.
I’ve known people with terrible infirmities who serve the LORD and God’s people with dignity and joy.
I’ve know others, with healthy bodies, but their spirit is feverish … they’re bedfast and unable to get up and serve.
The touch of Christ restores us to our purpose.
The touch of Christ heals us, so that we can get up and serve one another.
Our fevers are many:
Paul’s list in Galatians says it well:
Fornication, impurity, licentiousness - sins of the flesh.
Idolatry, sorcery - sins of the spirit.
Enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy - sins of the community.
Drunkenness, carousing - sins of personal irresponsibility.
We must be on the alert for the health of our soul.
Peter warns his readers:
Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith.
Paul writes to the house churches in Ephesus:
Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil
Take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
It behooves us to pray mightily for the healing of God.
To welcome Jesus when he comes to us.
Take his hand as he takes ours.
Now is the time of our healing.
Jesus gives us a chance to get up and get going.
“Promptly and sincerely,” as Calvin says.
To serve one another in the fullness of love, the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To whom be the glory.
Now and forever more.
Amen and Amen!
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