JESUS: YOUNG REBEL WITH A CAUSE -- JESUS MAKES CAPERNAUM HIS BASE

Christ Preaching at Capernaum by Maurycy Gottlieb, 1878-79

(The artist is shown third from the lower right corner wearing a red skull cap.)

Matthew 4:13-17, Mark1:14b-15, Luke 4:14b-15;31

Capernaum, Galilee

And leaving Nazareth, he came down to and dwelt in Capernaum, a city of Galilee, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias [Isaiah] the prophet, saying,

“The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” [Isaiah 9:1-2 (The land of Zabulon and Nephthalim or Naphtali were captured by Assyria and the people taken away – see 2 Kings 15:29. These lands lay to the east side of Galilee, but west of the Sea of Galilee. After the Assyrians conquered these two tribal inheritances, the Zabulon and Nephtali became part of the Lost Tribes of Isreal. Capernaum would have been at the edge of Naphtali and thus the people there would see a great light as Jesus settled there to preach.]

Why Capernaum? 

Obviously it says in the passage that this fulfilled a prophecy made by Isaiah. The doubters and critics will say either the author of the Scripture simply made things up to fit such prophesies or that Jesus, knowing the prophesies, went here for that purpose. I don’t except either scenario. The Gospel writers are simply pointing out where prophecies were fulfilled, a reasonable thing to do to prove your case. 

Actually it made logical sense for Jesus to settle in Capernaum after his row in Nazareth and the recent events in Jerusalem. 

Capernaum was blessed with a clime for abundant food. According to the Jewish historian, Josephus, who had first hand knowledge of the city:

"The country also that lies over against this lake hath the same name of Gennesareth; its nature is wonderful as well as its beauty; its soil is so fruitful that all sorts of trees can grow upon it, and the inhabitants accordingly plant all sorts of trees there; for the temper of the air is so well mixed, that it agrees very well with those several sorts, particularly walnuts, which require the coldest air, flourish there in vast plenty; there are palm trees also, which grow best in hot air; fig trees also and olives grow near them, which yet require an air that is more temperate. One may call this place the ambition of nature, where it forces those plants that are naturally enemies to one another to agree together; it is a happy contention of the seasons, as if every one of them laid claim to this country; for it not only nourishes different sorts of autumnal fruit beyond men's expectation, but preserves them a great while; it supplies men with the principal fruits, with grapes and figs continually, during ten months of the year and the rest of the fruits as they become ripe together through the whole year; for besides the good temperature of the air, it is also watered from a most fertile fountain. The people of the country call it Capharnaum. Some have thought it to be a vein of the Nile, because it produces the Coracin fish as well as that lake does which is near to Alexandria. The length of this country extends itself along the banks of this lake that bears the same name for thirty furlongs, and is in breadth twenty, And this is the nature of that place. " -- Wars-Book III, 10, 8

The city also was on the coast of the Sea of Galilee and a fishing center. This meant food was plentiful and easily attainable here, but there were more compelling reasons.

It was a more heterogeneous place, more urban. It wasn’t just a Jewish settlement, but a Roman garrison was located there, as well as a customs port, which meant order would be kept. We also must recall Jesus first recorded healing just prior to his move here, when he had been in Cana. He had healed the son of a nobleman, and official, a man of some power and station. Where did that man live? He lived in Capernaum and do you not think he would have provided some protection to Jesus?

Several of the men who came to Jesus when he was with John the Baptist and had traveled back to Galilee with him lived here or very nearby. Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John and Philip all lived in Bethsaida.

Jesus went to Capernaum, though, so where is Bethsaida. Well, that is a good question. There is a possibility there were two locations called Bethsaida. When dealing with ancient history we often have these problems with names and exact locations of places. The most accepted location is a bit further to the east of Capernaum, but still in range of an easy walk. There isn’t any doubt about this town; however, it is also believed by many historians there was a second place also called Bethsaida at the time that lay right beside Capernaum, close enough it could be considered part of the city. It doesn’t matter; both or either location was close enough to provide Jesus with places to stay if need be.

There is yet another reason for Jesus to come to Capernaum. It was something of a hub city and would have afforded easy travel in many directions, or escape if need be. It wasn’t far from the eastern border into Syria or Perea. The main Roman Road running East-West began in Capernaum, a major route. You could also travel by boat across the Sea of Galilee.

In other words, this place was perfect for setting up as his home base.

From that time Jesus began to preach, and taught them on the Sabbath days and to say, “The time is fulfilled. Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” 

And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

JESUS: YOUNG REBEL WITH A CAUSE --JESUS IS REJECTED IN NAZARETH

The Cliffs of Mount Precipice, Nazareth

Luke 4:16-30, John 4:44

Nazareth, Galilee

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

We can think of the synagogue as similar to our church. Most of the larger towns of Israel in Jesus time boasted a synagogue. There were around 480 synagogues in Jerusalem alone. Like our churches and synagogues of today there were modest buildings and there were more elaborate ones. The word Synagogue means “a place of meeting”.

There were some differences to our Christian Churches of course. A synagogue service couldn’t be performed without a minimum of 10 adult males in attendance. A Jewish boy of 13 would be considered an adult male for this purpose. The service consisted of five parts, more restrictive in practice and order, but reminiscent of a typical church service. It would open with a call to service, a recitation of the Shema, "Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah: and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might" (Deuteronomy 6:4, 5), accompanied by Blessings or Berakot. There might be some psalm singing. There was a period of prayer, first a ritual prayer and then silent praying by individuals of the congregation. Finally came the reading of scripture and a sermon explaining what had been read and a blessing to end it.

There was not a priest or preacher as we would think of such a position. There was a synagogue leader selected from the elders by the other men. This person acted similar to a facilitator. The reading and sermons were given by any man who felt called upon and qualified to do so.

In this case that was Jesus.

Now Jesus as his custom was, went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He had probably done this faithfully since he was declared a man. Remember even while still considered a boy he had slipped from his parents while in Jerusalem and sat questioning the men in a synagogue. Also, this was the town where he grew up and he had probably taken part here on other occasions and these members of the congregation were very familiar with him. They would not have expected anything unusual when he stood up to read on this particular occasion, although they may have had more interest in what he was going to say this time. Remember, the people in Galilee had greeted him when he first arrived because they knew of what he had done in Jerusalem. We can be pretty sure the people attending this service were just as knowledgeable of those things. They were probably very curious about him, but they didn’t expect to hear what they now heard.

And there was delivered to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” [Isaiah 61:1-2]

And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

And he began to say to them, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words, which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?” (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)

Note their reaction is not immediately one of rejection. They appear to agree with him and to wonder at what he has said, but not to repudiate anything – yet.  Their rhetorical question, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” has not yet been said out of doubt about who he is. That will come shortly, but right now they are looking at him as something of a celebrity, a brilliant hometown boy to take with some local pride. They have not thought it through yet and understood what he has just claimed.

But Jesus, ever confrontational, doesn’t leave it rest there. 

And he said to them, “You will surely say to me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in your country.”

Jesus knew what was in their hearts and what would come next. Soon they would be demanding signs from him, proof of whom he was rather than accepting on faith. They had probably been aware of the cure of the Roman official’s son, certainly aware of what happened in Jerusalem, and he knew they would begin to ask him to perform such miracles in Nazareth.

And he said, “Verily I say to you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent, save to Sarepta [Zarephath], a city of Sidon, to a woman that was a widow. [1 Kings 17:7-24 Zarephath is about 13 miles north of Tyre, a Phoenician City, now Modern Sarafend, Lebanon.]

And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.” [2 Kings 5:1-19]

What has just happened here? I believe a couple of things. First, it has now dawned upon these men what Jesus meant in his reading for they understood Isaiah was talking about the coming Messiah. When Jesus did not expound on the reading, but simply said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears,” he was declaring himself that Messiah.  

Secondly, they were offended at the examples he gave from Scripture. The people referred to as given Elijah and Elisha’s miracles were Gentiles, not Jews. Jesus is speaking of faith in God, not of birthright or ceremony. He is saying he will not give them signs because they should know the signs of the time from Scripture and accept his claim on faith.

Jesus is also giving a prophecy here by setting these examples and saying, “A prophet has no honor in his own country.” This is not just a matter of over familiarity because these people knew him from childhood. Certainly, it may have been more difficult for those you’ve been with all your life to accept you as the Messiah easily, but this statement goes to the whole of his ministry and his final crucifixion right until our very modern world. The people of his country, the Chosen People of God, would not accept him and his salvation would go out to the Gentiles before them.

Rather than consider the validity of his statement, they took it as blasphemy and took it upon themselves to execute him there and then. 

And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill whereon their city was built that they might cast him down headlong.

But he passing through the midst of them went his way.

They probably wondered how he escaped and it never crossed their mind that he had just preformed a miracle in their midst.

One final comment here, it is important to note where Jesus left off reading Isaiah. He read Isaiah 61, 1-2. Here is the full text, finishing verse 2 and adding verse 3.

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn

3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Jesus declares only the first half of Isaiah’s prophecy was being fulfilled at that time. It was the “acceptable year of the Lord”, but not yet the “day of vengeance” or the time when all God’s promises to Israel would be fulfilled. Jesus had first come to save and his countrymen missed it, but the foreigners did not.