4 Minute Read

Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

Genesis 23-24
Matthew 7:24-8:13

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Matthew 8:5 (CSB): “When he entered Capernaum…”

Reflecting on God’s Word

Today’s reflections will be a bit different. Rather than give some feedback on a verse, I want to provide some pictures and video of a place – Capernaum.

Capernaum is the city where Peter lived and where Jesus spent much of his time. He performed miracles here and taught in the synagogue. In our Bible reading today, He healed a centurion’s servant in this city.

So, I thought I’d share a couple pictures and a video of what Capernaum looks like now. My wife and I took a trip to Israel in 2018, and I captured these. I hope you enjoy them. I also hope they will help you visualize this city a bit better as you read about it in the Gospels.

These are a small portion of the ruins of the ancient city of Capernaum.
This is the “white synagogue” that is thought to have been built on the black foundation of the synagogue where Jesus taught.

Next is a video I took in which you can see the white synagogue, the black foundation underneath, the ruins of the city, and the Sea of Galilee in the background. Simply click the play button to view.

I hope this will help you to visualize some of the events that took place in Capernaum a little bit better.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Allow the Lord to lead you in a time of prayer.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into the significance of Capernaum, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“What is the significance of Capernaum in the Bible?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)