You know that old saying that “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” well be thankful that didn’t apply in the early days of Capernaum. By early days I mean about a few thousand or so ago. I love reading the old writings, historical and such and appreciate the fact some people were paying attention. 

According to the Bible, Jesus turned water into wine in the village of Cana of Galilee. This miracle is described as taking place at a wedding. It was his first miracle. The significance here being that Cana is only about 4 miles northeast of Nazareth. Now we know as was written in scripture that it was noted that nothing good ever came out of Nazareth. Simply put, Jesus had returned to Nazareth where he had grown up, on the Sabbath as was his custom he went to the synagogue to worship… He stood up to read, Luke 4:17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. What happened next is written in Luke in verses 18-28. As you read he was driven out of the town but God protected him and he was able to escape to Capernaum. After he was driven out of Nazareth, Capernaum became his his chosen home city. Sometimes more often than not we give our bible studies and readings what I call a surface read. This place is a big deal although Capernaum at that time was a very small city and Cana was just a small village but it is part of where it all began. Here in this tiny city we find the makings of the supporting cast of The Greatest Story Ever Told. Capernaum is also the home of Peter and Andrew and Jesus also found Matthew a tax collector there. Many things in his early ministry happen in this unlikely city. It was here that Jesus healed the centurion’s son and Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. In the synagogue a man challenged Jesus and Jesus cast from him an unclean spirt. Miracle after Miracle, he raised Jairus’s daughter to life, and healed the woman with the bleeding issue.

During my research for this blog I was reminded of something I really hadn’t considered. Consider this… In Capernaum many people were exposed to the Galilean, Jesus and his early ministry. I am sure in time their front seat to the gospel playing out brought many to the church who if for no other reason considered themselves to be Christians by association. Consider this… these people saw him, heard him speak and some may have even touched him but we need to be reminded today…an association is not a relationship. So here is what I take away from today’s time in the Pew  with all they had seen and heard, they still did not believe. From  gotquestions.org 

“we will be judged according to the light we’ve been given   If God did not spare Capernaum due to their lack of faith, He will not spare those today who have heard the message, seen the evidence, and rejected His Son.”

Life is Good

jk