The Second Call

So it is not a surprise that Jesus brought His family there and settled. It would have been great for the family, and would also serve as the hub for His ministry. He could reach out to many Jews and Gentiles. As we will soon discover, a number of His key disciples also lived there. All of this reminds us of one more prophecy that was fulfilled. It is recorded in Isaiah 9:1 and quoted by Matthew.

This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES — THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.” (NASB) Matt. 4:14-16

When Jesus came to Capernaum, He did not come with the goal of having a “big ministry” or building a large church, nor was He looking for fame. He came to give us truth and to die for our sins. He was the Way and the Truth (John 14:6). In the gospel of John we read,

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (NASB) John 8:12

Jesus was and still is the Light of the world. The Greek word translated as “dawned” actually has the sense of “to rise” or “to come to light.” It is used of a sunrise. So Jesus was not just a little light, a fluorescent light, a flashlight, a beacon light, or light from a lighthouse. He was brighter than all of them. He was like the rays of the sun shining into the darkness of night upon the men and women. They could not see until He came. Their darkness was the deepest dark of the night and they did not know the truth or admit that they were sinners.

For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God. (NASB) John 3:20-21

Jesus was truth and light. He was on a mission to save the souls of people like you and me! He was fishing for the souls of men and women.

Jesus’ Message. We are not told about Jesus’ journey from Nazareth to Capernaum. Nazareth was hill country, and Capernaum was along a lake. It would have been a great journey. We do not know if He talked with others, stopped to rest, eat, or sleep along the 20 mile (32 km) journey. When He arrived, did He go home and visit His brothers, sisters, and mother? We know nothing about the city from scripture. Did they ask Him about the trip to Nazareth? Did He describe the reactions of their old friends?

When Jesus came to Capernaum this time, He started preaching the very same message that John the Baptist had been proclaiming.