The sign on the gates of Capernaum labels it “The City of Jesus,” but the word really means “Village of Comfort.” Aptly named, Capernaum is one of the most peaceful spots I can ever remember being. Its location on the Sea of Galilee not only allows for a breathtaking view of the sun’s reflection shimmering over the water, but also provides a gentle breeze. The shade of tall trees and flowering bushes is a refuge from the relentless Israeli sun.
This is where Jesus lived, in the home of his disciple Peter, for two years of his ministry.
Now, the city is in ruins. Pillars rise out of rubble and low, crumbling walls designate the places where houses once stood. The most well-preserved structure is the synagogue. And while this specific synagogue did not exist during Jesus’s residence here, archaeologists know that ruins of a second-temple period synagogue are buried directly below this one. The buried synagogue would have been where Jesus preached, where he declared “I am the bread of life.”
Capernaum would also have been the site of Jesus healing and forgiving the paralytic who was lowered through the roof by his friends. And the location of the healing of Peter’s mother.
As I recall the town, Capernaum stands out to me as a wonderful symbol of Jesus’s purpose and of his ministry on earth. God is called the “God of all comfort.” He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. He is a God of peace and a God of refuge. And when we are beaten down and exhausted by the mid-day sun of life, he provides cool breezes from deep blue waters and palm trees that sway over our heads. In the midst of a hot and dry country, he gives us a village of comfort.
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