CAPERNAUM ON THE SEA OF GALILEE

 

Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee

          Our Lakes Church Lead Pastor Dr. Aaron Burgner shared with us that the Capernaum locals knew Jesus—they passed Him on the street and saw Him in the synagogue. It was His home during His years of ministry. Rome’s army kept watch over the locals and tourists there—oppressing, jailing, and even murdering them—and centurions were leaders in this ruling army.
          Jesus performed roughly 90 percent of His miracles in Capernaum. But even after seeing His power displayed repeatedly, the locals doubted. So, when a Roman centurion asked Him for help, it was scandalous on every level. Not only was the person ostensibly in power asking for help from someone “beneath” him, but the centurion believed in His power and authority even when the locals didn’t Perhaps most scandalous of all, Jesus helped him and used him as an example of faith.
          God’s plan has always involved reaching across enemy lines to save those far from Him. After Jesus’ resurrection, He said, “Repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations” (Luke 24:47). No matter what our nationality or status, we all started out as God’s enemies, children of wrath by birth. But by the finished work of Christ, God has made a way to rescue us into His family!
           Capernaum was Jesus' home away from Nazareth, and the heart of Jesus' Galilean ministry. He spent some two years there, teaching and performing miracles. Situated on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum was the home of the two sets of fishing brothers whom Jesus called to be apostles—Peter and Andrew, and James and John, the sons of Zebedee.
          One of the most impressive of Jesus' miracles performed in Capernaum was the healing—at a distance—of the Roman Centurion's servant. “This man deserves to have you do this,” the Jewish elders said to Jesus, “because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” (Matthew 8:5-13)
          Imagine our excitement, then, at being able to visit what is the site of the very synagogue which the centurion had helped to build. Virtually adjacent to the synagogue is another much visited site in Capernaum the home where Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law of her fever. On the way out, there are a row of columns taken from the synagogue. On one of the columns is an Aramaic inscription dedicated to “Alpheus the son of Zebedah, the son of John,” who had contributed to the building of the second synagogue from the second or perhaps fourth century. Given the location of Capernaum and the fact that family names were passed down for generations, these men may have been descendants of the apostle John, the son of Zebedee. It brings me back to a faith “built upon the foundation of the apostles, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). If that heritage of faith doesn't stir me to pick up the torch and run with it, nothing will! “For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we may walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10)
          Heavenly Father, we are so thankful that You are the same God today that You were 2,000 years ago. That all things are being worked together by Your power for our good and Your eternal glory for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. We thank You that we don’t live in a world of random events, but that our steps are ordered by the Lord. That You have a plan that is working out for us in every single detail that fits into Your sovereign purpose. How wonderful to know that and it is inevitably leading us to glory, to heaven. Thank You for this great revelation that takes all the fear and doubt and questioning out of life, and we live and rest in peace in Your sovereign providence. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.”

          Look Up—meditate on Ephesians 2:10…pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.

          Look In—as you meditate on Ephesians 2:10 …pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: "Because God is_________, I will_____________."

 Look Out—as you meditate on Ephesians 2:10 …pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory.

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