Can we use our homes for the spread of the gospel? A person’s home is a place for showing friendship and kindness. In them, Christian fellowship can be enjoyed and developed. Bible Studies can take place and Christian witness can be given. Above all people, our neighbours get to see what Christians are like seven days a week.
A cheery greeting, a kind word, an expression of interest, an offer of help by a Christian can open the door to deeper encounters as others come to realise that there is something different about their neighbour. They may not often come across someone who takes seriously the divine command to ‘love one’s neighbour’ no matter how different they may be.
In the first chapter of Mark we have an example of the difference that the physical presence of Jesus made to a home. The home was one that was owned by Simon Peter and Andrew who had recently become disciples of Jesus. Simon’s wife is mentioned as is her mother, but no mention is made about whether or not Andrew was married.
As Mark tells the story, it is obvious that Jesus wanted to use the home of Simon and Andrew as a location to show his gracious power. He did this in two ways. First, it was a place where he responded to requests, which is the same as him answering prayer. Those living in the house informed him that Simon’s mother-in-law was not well. Clearly they expected him to do something about it.
Their expectation was not presumption. Rather they knew that he was compassionate and willing to help. During the few months that he had been involved with Peter and Andrew, it had become clear to others in their family that Jesus could be approached freely and simply when asking for his help. And is that not what should be true of our homes – they are the places where freely and simply we ask for his help, and receive it.
The response of the family after receiving help from Jesus was service, including from the one he had healed. Her involvement was an expression of her gratitude, but so was the involvement by the others. The blessing that had been given to her was not confined to her, and it affected all others in the home. Our homes are, or should be, places where gratitude is shared for the ways in which Jesus helps those who live there.
We don’t know how big the house of Peter and Andrew was. All we are told about it is that there was plenty space at the front door. Probably they had some kind of courtyard. It could be used for many purposes, but on this occasion it was used for people in the community to come and meet Jesus and experience his help. Many of them did.
The incident tells us that Jesus was willing to use different rooms in their house. He helped someone sick in one room, he interacted with others as they ate in another room, and he met with contacts and neighbours in a more public area. He knew what to do in each.
Of course, we don’t have Jesus present in a physical way in any rooms. Yet through the Spirit he is present. Indeed, he can be present simultaneously in different rooms, even in the same house. Great blessing came to the home of Peter and Andrew that day, and we can sense something of its ongoing effects in the way that Mark describes it.
What would Peter and Andrew say to us? Maybe something like this. ‘Let Jesus use your home and it will become a place of blessing. When we first did it, we had no idea what he would do with it. What we can say is this. What we made available became a place for his ability to be seen in ways that we could not have anticipated.’
