Capernaum – the home of Jesus

Stepping into the very places, streets and vicinities where Scripture captures the specifics of God walking and talking with men, continues to be a transformational experience for many. But what is there about the places Jesus chose for his home and ministry? For example, why Capernaum (Nahum’s village)? Strolling through the exposed foundations of basalt stone gives little reason to believe that from this place arose a community of world changers.

Having a centre for strategic ministry is crucial but what is there about Capernaum that drew Jesus to share the bulk of his miracles in this place? Scripture does say in Isaiah 9:1-2 that the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, “In Galilee of the Gentiles” would witness the dawning of a great light. Matthew 4:13 sees Jesus as fulfilling this prophecy in his move to Capernaum.

In this area we see the miraculous catch of fish (Luke 5:1-11); the sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7); the healing of Peter’s Mother-In-Law (Matthew 8:14-15); the healing of the paralytic (Mark 2:1-12); the releasing of the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34); the raising of Jairus’s daughter from the dead (Luke 8:40-56); the healing of two blind men (Matthew 9:27-31); the freeing of the dumb demoniac (Matthew 9:32-34); the healing of the man with the withered hand (Matthew 12:9-13); the fish with the tax money in its mouth (Matthew 17:24-27); plus the release of many other demonized, immobilized and diseased people.

But what else is happening here? Family, that’s what. Jesus’ aunt Salome (his mother Mary’s sister) married Zebedee and gave birth to James and John – Jesus’ cousins. When Nazareth rejects Jesus he moves in with family at the Sea of Galilee. He has known them growing up and they are among the first to commit to him when he starts his ministry. When Salome asks Jesus to put James and John at his right and left in his kingdom, she is drawing on the power of family connection. At the cross, when Jesus assigns the care of his mother to John, he is doing so into the hands of family. Salome is there supporting her sister.

It’s not surprising that Matthew records many of the miraculous happenings since he was the tax collector in Capernaum and likely a witness. James, John, Peter and Andrew are also from this town and as partners in the fishing business had a lot of interaction with Jesus even before he moved there. With so many acts and so many of his significant teachings, it may be surprising to hear of the rejection of the religious leaders and residents. Jesus talks about the judgment of the town in Matthew 11:20-24; Luke 10:13-16.

Luke 7:4 reminds us that Capernaum is a Roman administrative centre where the centurion has garnered the good will of the people through building them a synagogue. This foreign leader shows incredible deference and respect for Jesus when it comes to the healing of his servant and Jesus says that he hasn’t seen this level of faith in all of Israel. As in Nazareth, perhaps this village of 1,500 or more has a level of familiarity which built more contempt since Jesus is well known.

Noting that the Capernaum synagogue is a few hundred steps from Peter’s house gives depth to the story of Jesus healing the mother-in-law. While excavations started in 1920 it wasn’t until 1981 that Italian archaeologists uncovered much of what we see now. The fourth century limestone synagogue you see sits atop a first century synagogue which was likely the one Jesus spoke in. The first century synagogue has a basalt floor 60 feet wide and 79 feet long.

Strolling through the layout of residential ruins gives perspective on what Jesus experienced and shows the proximity to the lake where fishing and commerce happened. This was an international hub for peoples of many nations and is a key hub for sharing the good news with travellers. It is called “the city of comfort” and seems to have provided a refuge for Jesus after John the Baptist’s murder and after many of his strenuous days of demands.

What else do we understand about this strategic site? It’s a fishing village and a centre for trade. It’s located along the main throughway from Egypt to Damascus. It also sat along the route from Egypt to Babylon. It’s also a short distance from the Galilean border to make escape easier if necessary. Capernaum was between the eastern lands ruled by Herod Philip and the western lands ruled by Herod Antipas. Capernaum was the base for a ministry that was to extend to all nations.

In 1986, during a time of unusual drought and low lake levels, two Israeli men found a plank protruding through the mud. An eleven-day excavation uncovered a 27 foot long first century fishing boat which was preserved and is now on display in the Yigal Allon Centre near Migdal. Four rowers and a helmsman had sufficient space to use a seine net. New evidences of biblical realities are still being uncovered in a land where faith in Jesus is discouraged. Yet, the faithful around the globe continue to come and their songs drift into every space where Jesus once walked.

Now, in Capernaum, it doesn’t take long to stop and look around. In the church straddling over the ruins of Peter’s house, in the place where one of the first churches was established, you can hear services in all languages. We met groups from Ethiopia, Ghana, Korea, Peru, Columbia, Mexico, the Philippines and Europe in the course of an hour.

A tour of Israel definitely needs to include time at this important site of Capernaum.