Introduction
In the New Testament book of Luke chapter seven, verse one the bible states that, Jesus entered in to Capernaum town after leaving Nazareth. In verses two to ten it narrates how Jesus healed the Centurions’ servant without any touch or vision of the servant. This was in line with the Centurions’ request that, Jesus say a word in order for his servant to get well. In verse fourteen he raises from death the only son of a widowed woman. Word went round about Jesus after raising the widow’s son and more people came looking for him and they were healed because of their faith. Further in verse forty one to forty two the bible tells of his parable to Peter about a creditor who forgave two of his debtors. Later on, in verse forty eight he forgives an adulterous woman that cleans his feet with her tears and perfumes his feet because of her faith. The historical background of happenings in Luke chapter sevenJesus left Nazareth after being tempted in the wilderness by the devil and the imprisonment of John. He departed from Nazareth and went to a Galilean fishing town named Capernaum. Capernaum is located at shores of the Sea of Galilee. Present-day archeological evidence indicates that the town began at around the second century before Christ (2nd century B.C) (Weiss, 24).According to Easton and Tailor the town of Capernaum was a great fishing village and acted as a center for trade. The major activity of the town’s dwellers was fishing. The town is located on the North-west side of Galilean Sea and four kilometers from the River Jordan (n.pag). In the Bible and Spade journal Weiss states that this ancient town got abandoned precisely more than a thousand years ago.
Archeologists discovered the town in the 1800s (23). In the present times the place is referred to by the names Kefar Nahum and Talhum in Hebrew and Arabic languages respectively. The Sea of Galilee is the modern day Lake Kinneret. The bible also referred to the Sea by various names including Sea of Tiberias, Sea of Chinereth or Lake of Genesaret.The town and its environs are of great importance to modern and ancient Christians because its’ frequently mentioned in the historical life of Jesus Christ. It happens to be the same town that Jesus met and made some of his disciples. The disciples of Jesus that lived in this town, included Andrew, John, Peter and James. The town played a crucial role in Jesus Christ’s Ministry and personal life. It is in this town that Jesus performed many miracles and taught the word of God.The town lay in the most crowded and prosperous districts of Palestine between Caesarae maritime and Syria on the Sea of Mediterrenia. This also happened to be the location between Egypt and Tyre. At the crossroads of this district travelers paid taxes (Matthew 9-9). As mentioned in the bible this was the work that Levi, Jesus’ disciple was engaged in by the authorities of that time. Levi later changed his name to Matthew and his conversion was a subject of criticism labeled against Jesus for befriending tax collectors. This was because tax collectors were deemed to be evil people and could not associate with the righteous. Travelers’ caravans made stops in the town of Capernaum to get their supplies for the journeys. Archeologists have discovered a fish selling point at the shores of the Galilean Sea (Weiss, 24).
An interpretation of the verses in chapter seven in relation to faith
These verses show the power of faith in achieving anything that one desires. In chapter seven verse seven, the Centurion says that he is not worthy to come to Jesus but requests him only to say a word for his servant to get healed. This was out of his faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus commends his great faith, says a word by sending them home and indeed they find that his servant is healed when they get home. The following day after his entry in to Capernaum, he raised the dead son of a widow and this brought more people to him that wanted to be healed. This was due to their faith in his powers to perform miracles of healing. After forgiving the adulterous woman in chapter seven, verse forty eight Jesus declares that the woman is forgiven because of her faith. Subsequently, I can say; but for the faith, the woman would not have gotten forgiveness. These verses serve to emphasize the importance of faith in any activity or aspiration. Jesus shows faith to be an essential requirement for anything positive to happen. For example, in chapter nine, Jesus commends the Centurion who portrays great faith by saying he had never seen faith equal to that portrayed in Israel before. As a result, of his faith the Centurion gets his word and the servant gets well. Similarly, all that came after hearing of Jesus’ miracles got their desires fulfilled as stated in Luke chapter seven, verse twenty one. In all of these miraculous acts there is a display of faith shown by all whom Jesus healed, forgave or raised from the dead.On the other hand, lack of faith can lead to failure in one’s aspirations or desires. As an example Mathew chapter fourteen verses twenty eight to thirty one tells of how Jesus walked on water. Whereas, in the same context; Peter failed to walk on water like Jesus did, because his faith wavered. The example of Peter’s failure shows what can happen when we have little or no faith in the things we do or aspire to do.
Other miracles that Jesus did included;
1. Raising to life the dead daughter of Jairus (Luke 8:41).
2. Driving demons out a man at the synagogue (Mark 1:21-28).
3. Healing a paralyzed man lowered through the roof. (Mark 2:1-12).
4. Jesus helped the disciples catch a lot of fish miraculously (Luke 5:1-11).
5. He healed the son of a nobleman the king’s court (John 4: 46-54).
6. By Jesus’ guidance Peter got tax money through a fish (Matthew 17: 24-27) (Easton & Tailor, n.pag).
Despite the miraculous works of Jesus Christ and evidences of God’s might most of Capernaum’s population persisted in its evil ways and disbelieve. They hardened there hearts and were bitterly cursed. In years to follow the town was destroyed and it became uninhabited place of ruins for very many centuries. Present day inhabitants of Capernaum include a Greek Orthodox Church and a Monastery of the Franciscans.
Works Cited
Easton, G, Matthew and Taylor, S, Paul. “Capernaum”. Christiananswers.net, n.d. Web. 30th April 2010.
Weiss, Herold. “Recent Works at Capernaum”: Bible and spade, Volume 10, Number 1 (1981): Pg -24. Print.
Is this your assignment or some part of it?
We can do it for you! Click to Order!
