29th Shevat ~ JESUS & HIS FAMILY MOVE TO CAPERNAUM

“After this, he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they stayed there a few days.”  (John 2:12)

DEVOTIONAL:
We often see pictures of Jesus as the divine being with halos floating over His ever staring face. The incarnation (meaning God came in the flesh) is a very hard idea to grasp and we will never really get our heads round it. But these paintings we are used to seeing of Jesus, tend to make Him seem… other… or even alien. Today’s reading is the shortest so far but that doesn’t mean it isn’t extremely profound.

At the beginning of John Jesus is described as “the Word (God) became flesh” who “dwelt among us.” Yet here we see the Word, moving home to Capernaum after facing violent rejection in His home town of Nazareth (Luke 4:13:31). The Son of God is moving house!

We also get a glimpse of Jesus’ family. He had His mother with Him and His brothers. The Son of God knows what it’s like to have brothers! Many people refuse to believe this simple truth but here we have it stated clearly in the Bible.

As astounding as Jesus is He also had a perfectly normal human life. He experienced everything it means to be human. In earlier devotions we have marvelled that Jesus was tempted just like we are and here we can marvel that He lived just like we do.

The God of the Bible in Jesus knows you and knows what it’s like to be you. He is not far off and distant as many religions portray Him. He is near and understands your daily struggles because He lived them too! And more amazingly still, He wants to know you!  

BACKGROUND:
After His first miracle at the wedding in Cana Jesus and His family seem to have moved to Capernaum.  In Luke’s account this move is directly attached to the violent opposition Jesus received from the people in His home-town of Nazareth after His preaching in their Synagogue (see Luke 4:14-31).

Contrary to the generally accepted theory that Jesus had no home to call His own during His ministry, Capernaum seems to have become His chosen base for ministry.  More than that, the Gospel account suggests that He had a home in Capernaum:  “Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:13-16)  Later on we find Capernaum being described in this way, “He entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.” (Matthew 9:1 & Mark 2:1)  It even seems Jesus owned or rented a house in this town.

Where, then, does the idea that Jesus have no home during His ministry come from?  It comes from the words of Jesus, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58)  What is not generally recognised is that this is towards the end of His ministry; September through to His last Passover in Jerusalem.

[Our picture is an aerial shot looking over Capernaum looking east towards Bethsaida.  Capernaum is at the bottom of the picture and Bethsaida is on the coast just beyond the Jordan, which can be seen entering the Sea of Galilee - just as the coast starts to bend round.  Bethsaida, of course, was the town from which a number of Disciples originated; i.e. Andrew, Simon-Peter, Philip.]

Tags: Capernaum Leaving Nazareth, Gentiles, glimpse, God, Gospel, heaven, Jerusalem, John, John Jesus, life, Luke, Mark, Matthew, Nazareth Luke, Simon Peter, Son, Word God