Daily devotion – Wednesday 16th June 2021
Mat 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,
Leaving the location of Dan and beautiful Caesarea Philippi, we had south to the ruins of Capernaum located on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee about 2 ½ miles west of the entrance of the Jordan. Capernaum appears in the biblical record only in the Gospels where it is mentioned 16 times.
Jesus chose this “city” to be the base of His operations. Here we find the ruins of Peter’s house as this is where he, James and John ran their family fishing businesses. We also visit the location of the synagogue where Jesus would have taught often.
Helen and I, weather permitting, love to sit on the edge of the Galilee at Capernaum and picture in our minds, the fishermen drying and mending their nets on the shores back in Jesus’ day. It’s a truly beautiful and restful location!
Even though Jesus lived, taught and performed many miracles in this city, the populace of the city did not accept His messianic role because they fell under the same condemnation as Chorazin and Bethsaida for failing to repent – Matthew 11: 20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
People will often say to you and me when we are sharing the Gospel such things as, “If God would do a miracle that I could see then I would believe.”
This is really not the truth of the matter at all but an excuse. People choose NOT to believe or to believe. Many people knowing that the Bible is true and even believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God still do not choose to follow Him. Why?
Because to follow Christ requires our repentance and seeking His forgiveness. The Gospel is clear and simple in what it teaches. It’s just that people don’t want to change the way they live and get saved.
However, God in His mercy and His grace, continues to offer His forgiveness to anyone who would simply repent and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
In the beautiful fishing town of Capernaum Jesus called fishermen to become fishers of men. He has placed that same calling upon you and me. We are called to go into the world and throw the net of God’s love and grace. Let us not be deterred by those who do not desire to receive Christ. But let us continue to throw the net of salvation over the ‘other side of the boat’ knowing that a great harvest of fish is only the touch of the Lord’s hand away.