Reflections on Mark's Gospel - Mark 1:30

The Feverish Mother-in-Law

Mark's point in adding this change of scenery is to record another example of Jesus demonstrating his authority, in the healing of Simon Peter's mother-in-law. That is the primary purpose of including this verse.

However, there are two details that provide additional insight into the historical situation in which Jesus was doing ministry that are provided by this verse.

Firstly, the reference to Simon's mother-in-law.
Many of the old Reformation commentators make a big point about this. It reveals that Peter, regarded by the Roman Catholic Church as the primary apostle (and therefore model for the Pope), was actually married. He had a wife, whose mother was suffering from a fever. The question the Reformation commentators raise is, "why does the Roman Catholic Church now forbid its clergy to marry when Peter, their model, was obviously married?"
A more generally useful thought to arise from this is to consider what it might tell us about the age of Simon Peter. He is old enough to be married. A number of the disciples were quite young, with John usually assumed to be the youngest (in his early-mid teens). While Jews tended to marry alot earlier in life than is common in my part of the world, the fact that Peter is married makes it more likely that he is one of the older disciples, which might also explain his "confidence" is speaking on their behalf.

Secondly, the reference to the fever.
There was some association, in Jesus time, between fevers and demon possession. Luke's account of this episode is more strongly suggestive of that than Mark's account is here. But there is a small hint of personification of the fever in the next verse.