Capernaum
“And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled..” (Matthew 4:13-14)
In the ancient world, Capernaum was the perfect place to live life as a merchant. Capernaum existed as a trading village of about 1500 people on the northwestern Galilean seashore to the south of Chorazin, and north of Gennesaret. Its name originates from two Hebrew words, kfar (village) and Nachum (an unknown man’s name). In the Greek language, it means village of comfort.
Prior to Jesus, it was a village of counterfeit or temporary comforts, but when Jesus came into town to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy, He turned it into a village of true comfort. Isaiah even said that once the Messiah comes, his light would dispel the darkness:
“the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:16)
What I love about Jesus is that he was on a mission to fulfill the Father’s will. He came to fulfill all the prophecies concerning his messiahship. Jesus didn’t merely have a nice QT devotional time, he made His mission to fulfill the word of God. It’s one thing to simply read the word and it’s another thing to live out the word. I used to be in the camp of “believers” who merely heard the word, but didn’t wrestle to obey the word of God. Jesus modeled for future generations what obedience rooted and grounded in love looks like. Sadly, much of this generation has been conditioned to be entertained at church as consumers, rather than discipling this generation to encounter God and live as Christ’s followers.
But I believe that the four winds are causing breath to come into a valley of dry bones and an exceedingly great army filled with His Spirit with a resolve to fulfill the Word of God is arising to their feet in this hour!
Capernaum is where Jesus executed more miracles and preached more in the surroundings than any other place during His ministry. Capernaum is known for numerous events and one strong rebuke, as it was one of the three cities, along with Chorazin and Bethsaida) cursed by Jesus for its lack of faith (Matthew 11:21-23; Luke 10:13-15). When Jesus returns, may our lives be marked by faith!
The area around Capernaum was where Jesus chose some of His disciples, Peter and his brother Andrew (Mark 1:16-18), James and his brother, John—the sons of Zebedee (Mark 1:19-20), and Matthew the tax collector (Mark 2:13-14).
Jesus used Capernaum as His ministry base. His revival hub, if you will. Matthew 4:13 tells us ‘He lived there.” In Mark 2:1, it is reported as His home, Matthew 9:1 refers to it as “His own city,” and in John 6:24, when the disciples could not find Jesus, they sought for Him in Capernaum.
Jesus was a missionary. He transitioned from Nazareth to pioneer and establish his home base where he would work miracles, teach at its synagogue, cast out demons and make disciples. When our cities become like that of Capernaum with the presence of Jesus, we will see the same and even greater results (John 14:12).
The same Holy Spirit who rested on Jesus also is at work in and through us, the church. We are not called to wait on the Holy Spirit who already came, but to behold the face of Jesus in the Spirit and advance the Kingdom in obedience. Simple obedience changes history.