So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. (Mark 1:31)

Dear Church Family,

I am Pastor Sophia.

Through my recent sickness and recovery, I have meditated on a short but powerful passage from Mark 1:29–34. At first glance it seems like a simple healing story, but when we look more closely, we discover something meaningful and even surprising.

The story begins in an ordinary home. Jesus went to the house of Simon and Andrew. But inside the house, things were not peaceful. Simon’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever. In those days, a fever could be serious and dangerous, so the disciples immediately told Jesus about her.

Jesus responded with deep compassion. He went to her, took her by the hand, and lifted her up. The fever left her.

Then something beautiful came out of it: she began to serve people.

Her healing did not end with recovery. It led to participation. She didn’t simply sit back and say, “That was a nice miracle.” Instead, she immediately became part of Jesus’ ministry.

In that sense, Simon’s mother-in-law became an opening door for Jesus’ healing ministry. Through her sickness, Jesus’ healing power was revealed. Through her response, the ministry continued. People from all over the town gathered at the door, bringing the sick and those in need. What began as one quiet healing inside a house became hope for an entire community.

History adds another fascinating detail. Early Christians believed that believers gathered in that very house, and eventually a church was built on that site. Imagine that—a house that once held a sickbed became a place of worship and faith.

Who would have guessed that a fever could become the beginning of such a story?

This passage reminds us that God often works through ordinary moments. What seems like weakness can become an opening for grace. What feels like a difficulty can become a doorway for God’s work.

As we prepare for worship this week, I invite you to reflect on this question: Where might God be opening a door for God’s healing and ministry in our life?

Perhaps we are not only recipients of Jesus’ healing, but also participants in his ministry—just like Simon’s mother-in-law.

I look forward to worshiping with you as we become one in Jesus’ healing ministry.

Sophia (Seung Hae) Yoo-Hess
43987 Little River Turnpike, Chantilly, Virginia
(Office) (703)3274461