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Along the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee sits a fishing town called Capernaum. In New Testament times it was the major center of trade and commerce in the Galilee area because the international trade route from Egypt to Syria passed nearby. Since is was just three miles west of the eastern border of Galilee at the Jordan River, the town became a port of entry and a customs checkpoint.
Matthew, a [tax] collector of customs from passing caravans, would also collect fees for fish caught in the lake levied by Herod Antipas, who in effect, owned the lake. Today two churches own the ruins of the city: the Franciscan and Greek Orthodox.
A visit to Capernaum brings to light tremendous thoughts of the powerful ministry of Jesus. You'll recall that after Jesus was rejected in His hometown of Nazareth, He moved with his mother and brothers to Capernaum, making it the adopted home base of His ministry (Matthew 4:12-16). Here He ate, slept, taught, lived, and performed many miracles. Often Jesus would gather His disciples in Capernaum to teach them. It was here that Jesus healed the paralytic who had been lowered through the roof of the house where He was teaching (Mark 2).
A fourth century synagogue of white limestone still exists today in Capernaum. The foundation of the synagogue is constructed of black basaltic stone, probably dating back to the first century, built with the generous donations of the centurion Jesus met and whose servant He healed (Luke 7). Unfortunately, Capernaum is also the city that received strong rebuke from Jesus for their lack of repentance (Matthew 11).
I'm reminded of how easy it is to fall into a state of unrepentance, even at the sign of great and wonderful things. Here in Capernaum, we have Jesus teaching in the synagogue, healing, loving, caring for the precious people of the city who ultimately reject him too, unrepentant and unchanged. It's not God's desire for you to be unrepentant, unchanged, and unwilling to surrender. Here was a city that Jesus lived in, yet most were unchanged by His presence. Don't be unchanged friend. Don't be unaffected. Don't be unmoved. Open yourself to the Spirit of God as you think through the beautiful privilege of knowing Him!
Matthew 11:20-24 (NKJV)
Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."
By Grace,
Pastor Ed
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Aurora, CO 80013