Miracles in Capernaum

Daily Thoughts – September 2^nd

In May of 2001, just 4 months before 9-11 happened in the US, Lisa and I were fortunate enough to travel to Israel.  Over the span of 10 days we saw amazing archaeological findings from the time Jesus walked the earth.  And if you are questioning if he really walked the earth, there is plenty of documented evidence to prove that He did.  Several first century non-biblical writers captured the history of a man “called the Messiah”, “Christus”, “Chrestus”, put to death at the hands of Pontius Pilate, and even written documents to Roman Emperor Claudius, referencing the uprising and movement of the early Christian church (see: Flavius Josephus, Tacitus, governor Pliney the Younger, and Suetonius).

So we didn’t go to Israel to determine if Jesus existed, but rather to deepen our understanding of who He was and to draw closer to Him through a first-hand experience.  Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing a few of these experiences with you, in the hope that you may also find connection and spiritual growth.  By all means though, I strongly recommend, if you have the opportunity to visit Israel and these archaeological sites, please do.  It can be life changing.


Miracles in Capernaum

“After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.” – Mark 1:29-31 (in context)

We look right past the simple things in life, and in doing so miss some of the miracles God is working all around us.  The baby gets sick and we pray for him/her to feel better.  The car is low on gas, so we pray to God, just let me make it to the next gas station.  Unsure of how we will pay the bills this month, so we pray for God’s help.  We are quick to look to God for help when we are facing challenges in life, big or small, but are we as quick to thank Him for answering our prayers?  You see, a quick “pop-corn” prayer in the middle of the day is a good way to communicate with our Lord, but we need to be as quick to respond with gratefulness and thanksgiving when those prayers are answered.

Capernaum was a city on the northeastern edge of the Sea of Galilee, in the North-East area of Israel.  Jesus spent much of his final 3 years using Capernaum as the base for His ministerial treks.  The majority of the city walls, and buildings have been unearthed over the last 180 years, since the Synagogue was first uncovered in 1838.  The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke capture the story of Jesus teaching in the synagogue of Capernaum.  According to scripture; Jesus performed many miracles in Capernaum including:

- Jesus called Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow Him

- Healed Peter’s Mother In-Law

- Casting out demons from a possessed man

- Healing many others who were ill

- Healed the centurion’s servant

- Stilled the storming sea after pushing from shore in Capernaum

- Peter was told to cast his nets to the other side of the boat, and hauled in more fish than
  he could contain

Just to name a few.

Walking amongst this fisherman’s village of Capernaum, there is strong visual evidence to corroborate the timing of biblical events that happened here.  There are no footprints in the sand, or left over crumbs of bread or fish skeletal remain as a hardened investigator would look for.  But, through scriptural writings, logical thought, and application one can easily tie the location to the writings.  Yes, it does take faith, but it also takes an openness to accept what the writers of the gospels penned, as historical evidence.

For Mark, Matthew and Luke to capture the events in and around Capernaum based on their own first hand experiences had to be done for 1 of 3 possible reasons. 

1) The writings are indeed factual and captured as evidence to real events
2) The writings are fabricated to create a false narrative of Jesus Christ’s power and authority

3) The writings are completely fictional for entertainment purposes in 1^st century AD

Let’s first remove #3, simply based on the fact that papyrus wasn’t plentiful and never used for just entertainment purposes.  1^st Century writers were writing with a purpose, not for entertainment.  Writers were classified as Poets, Philosophers, Historians, Scholars, Greek Mythology, and Scribes.  The only classification that fits the disciples writing from 1^st century is that of historian.  The scriptures are not poems, nor philosophical, nor university targeted, or mythological.  They are written as fact based events from a historical representation.
What benefit would be gained for these men from #2.  They would see no monetary gain, they lived from the work of their hands as fisherman, tent makers, and laborers.  Following Christ and then evangelizing His works after His death, was not for monetary gain, so think through why would any of these men want to fabricate such a wild tale of Jesus life and miracles?
That leaves us with #1, that these men wrote the scriptures as an accurate (best to their memories) account of Jesus Christ’s life.  They were first hand witnesses or walked closely with those who were first hand witnesses (Mark was extremely close to Simon Peter).  They captured the events in Capernaum based on the testimony of their own experiences, and wrote it as inspired by God the Father. 

Capernaum is real.  It’s archaeologically evident to be right where it had been recorded to be.  It is obviously a fishing village, and the scriptural references of the Synagogue, the homes in the city, and specifically the home of Peter’s Mother In-Law are demonstrably true through the evidence of the written word and location.  The scriptures were written between 68 and 86 AD, as a historical record of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.  These writers were intent to capture the details that would stand the test of time and provide wisdom and guidance for generations to come.  1950 years later we are able to use these as reference and accurate testament to align with our first hand evidenced physical exploration to better understand the life of our Savior. 

I hope and pray for you to have a better perspective on the reality of the scriptures through this memoir.  Miracles were evident in the life and times of Jesus Christ, but are very much part of our lives today as well.  Let your heart and mind seek the truth through prayer and hearing from God alone, and you will also see the miracles experienced every day in our life.  Let’s be sure to lift up our thanksgiving when these occur.


© Sondove Enterprises, 2019
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If these Walls Could Talk

Make 2014 a year for sharing

““When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him”” – Matthew 8:14-15

I realized this weekend that summer is soon upon us and with it the opportunity to spend more time with family and friends.  The ability to reconnect with all of those that have the opportunity to visit during vacations and weekends.  Those late night conversations that seem less complete over a phone or through e-mail.  Sure, it’s more buy with sports and activities, but it’s also a very wonderful time of year to enjoy each other’s company.  We spent the weekend at a beach here in Texas and I was reminded of another beach I visited several years ago.

A small city on the shores of the Sea of Galilee is recorded as the home for Jesus for more than 20 months of his 3 year ministry.  This is the village of Capernaum, where Peter lived.  It was here that Jesus would visit, and stay for the evening after preaching, teaching and healing people throughout the day.  It was here where Jesus would teach in the synagogue.  It is here that He healed the centurion’s servant based upon the faith of the Roman soldier.  Capernaum is where Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law, in Peter’s home. 

Peter’s home became the home for Jesus when he was traveling through Capernaum.  Many nights were spent with the disciples gathered in this home, listening to the deep teaching of our Lord and Savior.   Jesus would preach on the streets and in the synagogues a message of love and grace, and then retire to this home to teach the disciples with more depth and purpose.  We see this many times throughout the scriptures where Jesus and His disciples would retire to the house for the evening as He prepared them for their mission in life through parables and life lessons. 

I’ve traveled through Israel on 2 different occasions.  I have walked the streets of Capernaum, and seen the excavation of homes from the biblical times, verified through carbon dating of the artifacts and the black basalt stones used for building.  I’ve stepped foot upon the very floor of the synagogue in Capernaum where Jesus taught, as referenced in passages in all four of the Gospels.  It’s amazing to actually see the excavation of Peter’s home, according to tax rolls and historical records, and the inner walls which would have been the very room Jesus and the disciples retired too for these deep, meaningful teachings.  The old cliché, “If these walls could speak, what a story they would tell.”  Immediately came to mind as I stood observing the history of this place. 

We draw two things from today’s Daily Thoughts:
1) It is important to spend time fellowshipping with one another and building up the strength in the Lord through dedicated time together.  Step away from the busyness of life and gather with others to reflect, teach, learn and listen to the Lord’s message.  It is in these situations where we come to a deeper relationship with our Lord and Savior.

2) Open your doors to welcome the weary traveler.  So many times it is convenient to stay at hotels when we travel, but have you considered the loss of reconnecting with friends and family.  Jesus had no home during His ministry.  He laid His head to rest in many different homes throughout His 3 year ministry, each of which were blessed to have had His presence.  Take time this summer to reconnect with your friends and family by inviting them to stay at your home.  Don’t waste the opportunity, for you never know when you may get another chance.

Prayer:
Loving Father,
We thank You for Your grace and Your mercy on our lives.  We ask for You to bless us with knowledge and understanding of Your word and it’s purpose in our life.  We ask for those opportunities to engage with others in fellowship and reunion over this busy summer season, that we might be able to learn and grow stronger in our faith as a result.  Bless us with peace, calmness and clearness of mind as we seek rest and relaxation this summer.  In Your name we pray – Amen


© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Words of a King - "Repent"

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It

“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 4:17

Do you want to know how amazing God is?
Last week, I was struggling with the inability of today’s society to trust and follow the examples that Jesus Christ left us with.  In our life we are purposed to grow and learn and become more Christlike, in our actions, in our words and in our spiritual journey.  Becoming more Christlike requires that we study and better understand the Messiah.  It requires that we accept Him as Lord and Savior, and acknowledge that He is who He says He is – the Son of the Most High God.  We must recognize the Holy Bible as the Word of God, and accept that the words contained there-in as truth.  Last week I began looking at the words of Christ and what they meant to me.  On Sunday, Pastor Randy Harvey (www.thecrossing.cc) preached his sermon on Matthew 4:17, which just happen to be the next words from Christ following the temptations in the wilderness that I discussed last week.

Jesus Christ walked this earth for 33 years and yet His ministry upon this earth was less than 3.  He was human and God at the same time, in the same place and existence.  We know little of his life between 12 and 30, but it is mentioned that he was the son of the carpenter Joseph, and thereby a conclusion may be drawn that he followed in his handicraft as a carpenter through those years.  As any Jewish boy of that era, he would have spent significant time in the Synagogue with his father, learning and memorizing the scriptures from the scrolls. 

Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the river Jordan, and then tempted by Satan in the wilderness for 40 days (see last week’s posts).  He then went on to Nazareth, the home city of his parents; Joseph and Mary, where he proclaimed fulfilling the prophecy from Isaiah.  This brought him rejection from those in Nazareth, and foretold the rejection he would receive from the nation of Israel in due time.  Jesus left Nazareth and went on to Capernaum where he spent a significant part of his life over the next 3 years.  In his first statements to the people of Capernaum he proclaims that the “Kingdom of God is at hand”. 

The Israelites had been 400 years without a prophet or a sign from God.  Living on their faith and strong beliefs passed on from generation to generation, these people in Capernaum on that day witnessed firsthand the unveiling of the Messiah, the King, the Anointed One.  By His authority, He proclaimed to the masses, what you have waited for has now begun.  In His words He preached repentance for the sins of mankind.  Turn from your wickedness and come from the darkness into the light.  Choose to seek the Kingdom first, rather than the ways of the world. 

The message to you and I has not changed.  Jesus has ushered in the Kingdom of God amongst mankind.  He has demonstrated the purity, the righteousness, the love and sacrifice of a life in the new Kingdom.  Just as the people of that day had longed for a King, a Messiah, to save them from the persecutions of this world, how much more are we the same.  We must repent, turn from our sinful ways, and follow His teaching, His words and His actions to become more Christ-like.  In doing so we become more aware of His Kingdom that is around us and what our part in that Kingdom is.  He is our one and only King, worthy of our praise, honor and glory.  We are His subjects, meant to serve and worship Him alone.

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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