Capernaum was a place much frequented by the Lord. It is spoken of as His own city. Indeed, in Mark 2:11And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. (Mark 2:1), where we read “in the house,” we might say “at home,” as we should say that our home was the town or village where we lived. Alas, what a home was Capernaum for the Lord! What a sad dwelling-place for unbelief was Capernaum! There were many of His “mighty works” done, there were many of His “gracious words” heard, but Capernaum was proud and lifted up, and it would not hearken to Jesus.
Whether Capernaum was a large town or merely a village, we do not know; the ruins of Tell Hum are supposed by some learned people to be those of Capernaum, but others think it stood a few miles nearer the lake of Gennesaret. God would have us all realize the terrible truth of the sentence which the Lord recorded against this Christ-rejecting city— “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee” (Matt. 11:23-2423And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. (Matthew 11:23‑24)).
Pride was the ruin of Capernaum; pride produces hardness of heart, hardness of heart prevents the gracious words of Jesus’ love from entering in. Whenever I think of Capermaum, and the Lord’s solemn words we have just read, I think of the people of our land, who have heard so much about God and Jesus, and who still refuse to believe. There are no people on the great wide earth who hear so much of God, as those who speak the English language. Poor heathen people would be astonished if they heard that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life! Many a poor heathen has heard the good news, and has leapt for joy to think that the Almighty God should love a worm like man. Dear young friends, how is it with you? You have those around you who tell you the way to heaven. Have you gone to Jesus? He wants your hearts. “Come unto Me,” He says, “and I will give your rest.” The rest He gives is rest from all your fears as to sin, and rest for your heart also. It is such happy rest!
May you give the Lord what Capernaum never did—a Home in your heart. May He be “at home” in your affections.