Dr. Halvor Ronning at Ancient Synagogue in Capernaum
Capernaum, which means “village of Nahum” (with no apparent connection to the prophet by that name) was chosen by the Lord Jesus as the strategic center of His ministry in Galilee (Matt. 4:13). This made Capernaum a privileged place indeed. Christ may have had some family connections there (John 2:12). Simon Peter’s home was in Capernaum, and there Christ healed Peter’s mother-in-law of a severe fever, and many others (Luke 4:31–41).
It was in Capernaum that Christ was teaching in a house when four men brought a paralyzed man to Him by cutting a whole in the roof and lowering the man down. Christ used this is an opportunity to declare His authority to forgive sins, which shows that Christ is God (Mark 2:1–12).
Christ taught in Capernaum’s synagogue and cast an evil spirit out of a demonized man (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31–37; John 6:59). The synagogue building had been constructed through the generosity of a Gentile centurion who proved to be a man of great humility and faith in Christ (Luke 7:1–10). However, Christ refused to settle His ministry in Capernaum, but traveled as an itinerant preacher throughout Galilee (Luke 4:42–44).
God blessed Capernaum with great gospel privileges, and from its people the Lord drew men like Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be Christ’s disciples (Mark 1:16–21). Yet sadly, most of its people did not repent of their sins, though they heard Jesus Christ’s preaching and saw His miracles (Matt. 11:20). Later in Christ’s ministry, He pronounced this curse upon them: “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell… it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee” (Matt. 11:23–24).
Capernaum should sober us. Great gospel privileges bring great gospel responsibilities. Every sermon we hear, if we are not believers, heats hell’s fires hotter for us. How hard is the heart of mankind, that the very presence of the living Jesus was not enough to turn us back to God! Whenever the Lord gives someone us a new heart that is humble and contrite at His Word, then we should profusely thank Him. We should join Jesus in saying, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight” (Matt. 11:25–26). Thank God for saving grace!
