Understanding Jesus’ Mission in Galilee

Synagogue in Jesus Town of Capernaum, Israel

“In the future He will honor Galilee of the nations by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:1-2).

Jesus is the fulfillment of these verses, written seven hundred years before He walked the earth. He didn’t stay in Judah where the Jews lived. He went to the Gentiles on the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee. The center of His ministry was Capernaum where He delivered a legion of demons from a man living in the tombs, healed a paralyzed man, raised the synagogue leader’s daughter from death and healed a woman who suffered twelve long years from an issue of bleeding. He called several fishermen from this vicinity to be His disciples. Peter lived next door to the synagogue in the picture above. Jesus was the light shining in the darkness. He used miracles to demonstrate His compassion for the people. Did His love make a difference in their lives? No!

What Did Jesus Say?

Jesus said, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you” ( Matthew 11:21-24).

God loved the world so much He sent His Son into the world so that the people would be saved from loneliness and despair, from anxiety, vengeance and malice. He came to give us a peace that transcends understanding, a peace that comes from repentance and humbling ourselves before God. He came to rescue us from the slavery to sin as Moses came to rescue Israel from slavery in Egypt. Jesus made this deliverance possible through His mighty act of forgiveness on the cross. He died to take away our sin. Have you accepted this amazing love of God? If not, today is a good day. Come to know God by reading His word and know peace regardless of your circumstances. Pray a simple prayer asking God to be with you and to help you live for Him.

Prayer

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your Son and for saving us from our sin. Help us to live our lives pleasing to you by getting to know you in your word; loving you and others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Two Things Amazed Jesus

Synagogue in Capernaum

Have you wondered what might amaze Jesus? One time when Jesus was in Capernaum a Roman Centurion asked Him to heal his servant who was sick and paralyzed. Jesus was ready to go to his house but the centurion said, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, He was amazed and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done as you believed it would,” and his servant was healed at that moment (Matthew 8:5-13).

Peter lived next door to the synagogue in Capernaum. Jesus healed his mother in law of a high fever. He raised the daughter of Jairus, the synagogue leader, from death to life. Jesus also healed a woman of perpetual bleeding and a paralyzed man in Capernaum. He performed more miracles here and in the surrounding area–Chorazin and Bethsaida–than anyplace else.

The Pharisees came to Jesus and asked Him for a sign. This amazed Jesus because it was the place of so many of His miracles–what more could they want? He replied, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it” (Mark 8:11-12). Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of His miracles had been performed because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on that day of judgment than for you” (Matthew 11:20-24).

Would you like to amaze Jesus? I pray that it would be with a faith like the centurion rather than the lack of faith of the Pharisees.

Prayer: Thank you Father God, for Jesus, His teaching and miracles. Incline our hearts to you so we might hunger and thirst for the springs of the living God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.