- Dec 20, 2003
- 13,596
- 2,659
- Country
- Germany
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
While attempting to prepare for a sermon I realised that the sermon context appears to be the location of a great deal of Jesus activity. This got me fascinated about the town and keen to understand it better and especially in the historical context of Jesus's ministry. The historical town of Capernaum was in Gaillee ruled by Herod Antipas at the time of Jesus. Simon Peter and the brothers James and John were from just down the road across the border in Bethsaida in the Tetrarchy of Phillip. I guess the border controls were quite fluid at that time. Both towns were dominated by the fishing industry. There are various accounts of interactions with the local authorities.
a) AUTHORITIES
i) ROMANS
There was a Roman Centurion, presumably now a mercenary in the employ of Herod Antipas although possibly an envoy in one of his major towns. He gave money to help build the local synagogue, where Jesus often taught, and was highly regarded by the local people. When his servant got sick and paralyzed Jesus healed him with a word of faith. This man's faith was praised.
ii) ROYALS
There was a Royal Official, most likely related to the rule of Herod Antipas who was married with a son. When the son got sick he journeyed to Cana and Jesus healed his son from there again with a word of faith. Since it was Herod Antipas who put John the Baptist, Jesus's cousin to death in the fortress of Machaerus on the East Side of the Jordan South from Galilee having a royal official in his camp probably made Capernaum a safer base of operations than other parts of Galilee.
So the gentile elements of the town seemed quite believing and respectful of Jesus.
iii) TAX COLLECTORS
But then there are the local tax collectors who this case were collecting the Temple tax. Jesus paid with a 4 drachma coin found in the mouth of a fish that Peter fished.Matthew the tax collector and traditional writer of the first gospel lived in Capernaum and was converted there.
b) PEOPLE
Jesus taught in the synagogue and all around the local area using Capernaum as a base of operations. This seems to have been the fulfilment of a prophecy from Isaiah relating to the area of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali:
15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.”
Teachings in the synagogue included: - I AM the Bread of Life, he also cast out a demon in that place
There were innumerable miracles including that of the paralysed man
But despite all these blessings showered on Capernaum and the fact that many of his disciples had homes there or in the area, Jesus had harsh words to say about the area
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Historical Questions:
1) Why was there a Roman Centurion in a town dominated by Herod Antipas
2) Why was there a Royal Official there, this was not Herod's capital?
3) Since the Kingdom of Herod Antipas was separated by the Decapolis I wonder how relations were with the 10 cities.
4) There is a church over the original home of Peter in the area which seems to have been one of the earliest found places of worship with archaeological evidence of that going back to first century. How reliable is this evidence , is this house in the right place?
5) Is there any historical evidence of a curse on the place in the generation after Jesus.
6) How do Jews regard the prophecy in Isaiah (quoted above) which points to the Messiahs ministry coming from this place
7) Do you think the fact that the Roman who built the synagogue and a local royal official were friends of Jesus gave him the opportunities to preach there despite opposition from unbelieving local rabbis and Jews. Do we have any evidence of tension between the people and authorities over him preaching there?
Theological questions:
1) Can a place be both blessed and cursed?
Anyway interested in your feedback
a) AUTHORITIES
i) ROMANS
There was a Roman Centurion, presumably now a mercenary in the employ of Herod Antipas although possibly an envoy in one of his major towns. He gave money to help build the local synagogue, where Jesus often taught, and was highly regarded by the local people. When his servant got sick and paralyzed Jesus healed him with a word of faith. This man's faith was praised.
ii) ROYALS
There was a Royal Official, most likely related to the rule of Herod Antipas who was married with a son. When the son got sick he journeyed to Cana and Jesus healed his son from there again with a word of faith. Since it was Herod Antipas who put John the Baptist, Jesus's cousin to death in the fortress of Machaerus on the East Side of the Jordan South from Galilee having a royal official in his camp probably made Capernaum a safer base of operations than other parts of Galilee.
So the gentile elements of the town seemed quite believing and respectful of Jesus.
iii) TAX COLLECTORS
But then there are the local tax collectors who this case were collecting the Temple tax. Jesus paid with a 4 drachma coin found in the mouth of a fish that Peter fished.Matthew the tax collector and traditional writer of the first gospel lived in Capernaum and was converted there.
b) PEOPLE
Jesus taught in the synagogue and all around the local area using Capernaum as a base of operations. This seems to have been the fulfilment of a prophecy from Isaiah relating to the area of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali:
15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.”
Teachings in the synagogue included: - I AM the Bread of Life, he also cast out a demon in that place
There were innumerable miracles including that of the paralysed man
But despite all these blessings showered on Capernaum and the fact that many of his disciples had homes there or in the area, Jesus had harsh words to say about the area
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Historical Questions:
1) Why was there a Roman Centurion in a town dominated by Herod Antipas
2) Why was there a Royal Official there, this was not Herod's capital?
3) Since the Kingdom of Herod Antipas was separated by the Decapolis I wonder how relations were with the 10 cities.
4) There is a church over the original home of Peter in the area which seems to have been one of the earliest found places of worship with archaeological evidence of that going back to first century. How reliable is this evidence , is this house in the right place?
5) Is there any historical evidence of a curse on the place in the generation after Jesus.
6) How do Jews regard the prophecy in Isaiah (quoted above) which points to the Messiahs ministry coming from this place
7) Do you think the fact that the Roman who built the synagogue and a local royal official were friends of Jesus gave him the opportunities to preach there despite opposition from unbelieving local rabbis and Jews. Do we have any evidence of tension between the people and authorities over him preaching there?
Theological questions:
1) Can a place be both blessed and cursed?
Anyway interested in your feedback