Capernaum During the Time of Jesus

Capernaum was the place where Jesus Christ settled after leaving Nazareth. It was in Capernaum that Jesus announced to the people that the kingdom of God was at hand. In doing so, he fulfilled a prophecy of Isaiah: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned.” (NASB) It was in this fishing village where Jesus called his first four disciples: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother, Andrew, and James, son of Zebedee, and his brother, John. They were fishermen. When Jesus invited them to join him, he informed them that they will become “fishers of men” instead. Peter was to become the leader of the group of apostles whom Jesus called while John was to become the beloved disciple, the disciple whom Jesus loved.

Capernaum was the small ancient city that became one the centers of Christ’s ministry. It was in this village where he publicly proclaimed his teachings and performed many miracles. It was in this ancient city where Jesus, “on the sabbath day...  entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.” (KJV) It was in this place where Jesus – together with his mother, brothers and disciples – stayed and rested after performing the miracle of changing water into wine during a wedding celebration in Cana. It was in Capernaum that Jesus gave a discourse on the “Bread of Life,” which caused some of his disciples to unfollow Jesus because it was “too hard” a teaching for them to accept. It was during this time, too, when Peter uttered his famous response to the “Bread of Life” discourse. Said Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (NIV) It was in this small ancient city that Jesus met the mother-in-law- of Peter and healed her of her fever.

Capernaum was a town in Galilee where Jesus healed many people afflicted with various kinds of diseases as well as individuals possessed by evil spirits. At one time in a synagogue, Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit which was tormenting a man, and the man got cured. In Capernaum, Jesus healed a man with evil spirits named, collectively, as “Mob.” Jesus commanded the evil spirits to leave the man. The evil spirits in the man recognized Jesus as the Son of God and begged Jesus to send them into the pigs which were nearby. And so it happened. The evil spirits left the man and went into the pigs which rushed down a cliff. It was in Capernaum where many other people with unclean spirits were brought to Jesus Christ to be healed.

Capernaum was the place where Jesus brought back to life the daughter of Jairus who recently died. Jairus requested Jesus to come to his house to heal his sick daughter. However, when they arrived at the place of Jairus, they were informed that the child was already dead, and there were people crying. Jesus told them that the girl was just sleeping. The people made fun of him. But Jesus, together with his three disciples and the parents, went to the child’s room. Jesus commanded the girl to stand up and she did. It was also during this period when a woman – who was suffering from bleeding for twelve years – was following Jesus who was on his way to Jairus’s house. She believed that if she could only touch the cloak of Jesus, she would get healed. She did touch the cloak of Jesus, and Jesus became aware that healing power had gone out from him because of the faith of the woman.

Capernaum was the spiritual hub where Jesus showed his power to forgive sins through his healing power. Accused by the scribes of blasphemy when he said to a paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven,” Jesus asked the scribes: “Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk?’ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he ordered the paralytic to stand up, take up his mat and walk, which the paralyzed man did. It was in Capernaum where Jesus was asked by a well-respected centurion to heal his servant who was very sick. When Jesus was on his way to the centurion’s house, a messenger of the centurion met Jesus and gave him the now famous message from the centurion: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.” (NIV) In response, Jesus said: “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” (NIV) The centurion’s servant got healed. It was in Capernaum where Jesus called Matthew to become his disciple and performed a miracle before Peter when he asked Peter to go to the lake, catch a fish, take out the coin inside the mouth of fish and use the coin to pay for their taxes. It was in Capernaum where Jesus taught his disciples what was like to be a true disciple. Said Jesus: “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (NIV)

References: KJV, NASB and NIV

Relevant Bible Verses: Matthew 4:12-17, Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 8:5-14; Matthew 11:20-24, Mark 1:21-28, Mark 2:1-12, Mark 5:1-20, Mark 5:21-43, Mark 9:33-37, Luke 4:31-36, Luke 4:38-41, Luke 7:1-10, John 2:1-12, John 4:46-54, and John 6:25-68