Jesus often stopped and stayed at Capernaum as He traveled back and forth across the land. It was a place where He could meet people from many countries as they stopped to rest from their travel. Because of that, His teachings and the stories of His miracles were carried all over the known world. In many places, sincere people began to ask about the prophecies and about God's plans for this world.
In spite of the Sanhedrin's warnings about Jesus, people everywhere wanted to learn more about Him and His mission. The angels of heaven were busy working on people's hearts, leading them to the Savior. Nowhere was this more true than in Capernaum.
Everyone who heard Jesus teach was amazed. The teaching they were used to hearing-from the scribes and elders-was very formal, very cold. But Jesus' words were full of life and power! The words He used were clear and understandable. His voice was like music to their ears after the droning of the Pharisees.
Jesus' way was practical. He didn't ignore the importance of the everyday life. He showed how following God prepares a person to deal successfully with life. Jesus used stories and illustrations taken from life around them-the birds, the flowers, seeds, the shepherd and the sheep. These simple stories carried real lessons that the people remembered every time they saw a bird, a sheep, or a flower. His words charmed those who were educated, but also were understood by those who had never studied in school.
Even with angry enemies all around Him, Jesus was surrounded by an atmosphere of peace. Love showed in the look on His face and was heard in the tone of His voice. It attracted people to Him. Those in trouble felt immediately that He was a friend they could count on. They wanted to know more about the truths He taught.
Jesus watched people's faces. He could tell when the truth struck home. When someone's eyes lit up with understanding, He was filled with joy. When a face was hardened and a person turned away from truth, His heart nearly broke.
A Demon-possessed Man
One day in Capernaum, Jesus was in the synagogue explaining His mission to set free those who were slaves of Satan. Suddenly, a wild-looking man rushed out of the crowd and started shouting. "Leave us alone! What do you want from us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you here to destroy us? I know you are the Holy One from God!"
This man was possessed by a demon. He had spent his life chasing pleasure and sin and when his nature was perverted enough Satan took control of his mind. He had been driven away from his family and friends to wander the land as a wild man, living in disgusting filth and frightening everyone who saw him.
But the human mind in chains sensed Jesus' presence and power. He rushed into the synagogue to reach out to Jesus and beg for help, but the demon controlled his voice.
The people backed away from the shouting, demon-possessed man. Jesus didn't. He heard the unspoken prayer of a human He loved. He commanded the demon, "Be quiet and come out of this man." The demon fought to hold on to his victim and tossed the man to the ground. But at Jesus' words, it left the man without hurting him anymore. Eyes that had been glazed with insanity now overflowed with grateful tears.
The watching people were amazed. "What is this? When this Man speaks, even the evil spirits obey!"
The man had thought that his pursuit of pleasure was just harmless fun. When finally, he would have given anything to escape his sinful life, it was too late. Satan took complete control. It will be the same for everyone who surrenders to evil-their hunt for thrills and pleasure will end in addictions, despair, and madness.
The same evil spirit that possessed this man also controlled the Jewish priests and leaders. Instead of driving them to run wildly through the countryside, Satan gave them a sense of godliness, as if they were holy and all others were unclean. They were even more hopeless than the possessed man, because they felt no need for Jesus at all. They could have found protection in the Scripture, but the way they twisted the words robbed them of their power against Satan.
During these years of Jesus' ministry, Satan worked furiously to control the bodies and minds of humans. Likewise in the future, at the time of the final conflict, as Jesus' followers finally take His message of love and hope to the whole world, Satan and his demons will work harder than ever to confuse and deceive humans.
The leaders and teachers in Israel neglected their only protection from evil spirits-the Word of God. Jesus used Scripture to defeat Satan in the desert. The Jewish leaders twisted God's Word to say things God never intended. They argued over trivial things and ignored important truths. So God's Word lost its power and evil spirits had their way.
History is repeating itself. Religious leaders today dissect God's Word and twist it with their own opinions until honest seekers turn away in disgust. Without the truths of God's Word to protect them, people are opening themselves to be controlled by demons. As spiritualism is more and more acceptable in our society and in our churches, many are being lured into contact with mysterious "higher powers or beings" As their defenses are broken down, they give up control of their own will.
But their situation is not hopeless--through faith in the promises of God's Word, anyone can be freed from the traps they have fallen into. No person is ever so trapped, so tied down by evil, that Jesus cannot set him or her free. The cry of a person in need-even unspoken-will always be heard.
Healing at Peter's house
While the crowd in the synagogue was still buzzing, Jesus left for Peter's house to rest. But there was trouble at Peter's also-his wife's mother was sick with a serious fever. Jesus banished the sickness from her body. She felt completely well and got up to help serve dinner to Peter's guests-Jesus and the other disciples.
News about the man at the synagogue and about the healing of Peter's mother-in-law spread through the whole city. No one dared to come and ask for healing on the Sabbath-that would anger the rabbis. But as soon as the sun disappeared below the horizon, it seemed like everyone in the city headed toward Peter's house-for healing, for a blessing, for a chance to be near Jesus.
Hour after hour, families brought their sick loved ones through the door of Peter's house to be healed by Jesus. They kept coming, because no one knew if Jesus would still be there the next morning. It was a day like no one in Capernaum had ever seen-the city was filled with tears of joy, with shouts of praise, with a feeling that heaven had indeed reached down and touched their little piece of earth.
Jesus took great joy in His power to give these people back their health and happiness.
It was very late before the crowds began to thin out. By the time the last had left and Peter's home had fallen silent, Jesus, exhausted, rested for a time. But long before sunrise, while the city still slept, Jesus left the house to find a private place to pray.
Jesus often sent His disciples to their homes to visit their families and to rest, but He didn't often take time out for rest Himself. In the early morning, or in the evening after working all day teaching and healing people, He would go to the mountains to talk to His Father. Often He would spend the whole time praying and meditating, and then return to His work at sunrise.
That morning, Peter and the other disciples followed Jesus to tell Him that people were already gathering and asking for Him. This was especially exciting to the disciples. They knew that the rabbis and leaders at Jerusalem wanted Jesus dead. They had seen the people of His own hometown try to kill Him. But here in Capernaum, the people loved Him. Maybe these liberty-loving people of Galilee would be the first ones to support the Messiah and the new kingdom.
His response surprised them. "Let's go on to other towns, so I can preach there also. That is why I came."
Jesus wasn't interested in becoming a famous miracle worker or healer. He knew the people were eager to believe that He had come to be their new king. He wanted to turn their minds away from earthly kingdoms and physical healing to spiritual things.
The applause and adoration of the crushing crowds jarred Jesus' spirit. The honor the world gives to the famous, the wealthy, or the talented was foreign to Him. Jesus didn't do anything to get attention or applause. Everything He did was according to the plans and will of His Father. God was revealed in the actions and teachings of His Son.
Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, did not burst upon the world to dazzle the senses with His glory. Quietly and gently, like the dawn of a new day, He worked to push back the darkness and wake the world to a new life.
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Jerry D. Thomas is the author of more than 20 books.
n the time of Jesus, Capernaum was a warm and beautiful city, filled with palm and olive trees. The streams flowing from the cliffs to the Sea of Galilee watered its orchards, vineyards, green fields and bright flower gardens.
Capernaum sat on the shores of the deep blue lake called the Sea of Galilee, on the edge of the great plain called Gennesaret. Travelers from all over-from Damascus to Jerusalem to Egypt to the Mediterranean-passed through its gates. The shores of the lake and the hills around it were dotted with towns and villages. From farms and fishing boats came the goods that were traded in the city market. It was a vibrant city, full of life.
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