ARTICLES

By Stephen Faircloth

Nestled along the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, the ancient village of Capernaum was once a quiet fishing town that became a pivotal center for Jesus’ ministry, where He taught His fellow Jews and performed many remarkable miracles.

Although largely unknown in earlier historical records, Capernaum bursts onto the biblical scene in the Gospels as a place of extraordinary significance. Apart from Jerusalem, no other location is mentioned more frequently. Referred to by Matthew as Jesus’ “own city” (Matthew 9:1), it became His home base during His Galilean ministry, a hub for healing, teaching, and transformation.

Here, Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the paralyzed, and restored the broken. He taught in the synagogue, even honoring the faith of a Roman centurion who had helped build it (Luke 7:5). In Capernaum, divine power met human need on a daily basis.

Modern archaeological discoveries have brought new depth to our understanding of this sacred village. Excavations have revealed first-century homes built in a clustered courtyard style known as an insula, where multiple generations lived and worked around shared space. These homes help us visualize Gospel scenes: friends lowering a paralytic through a roof, neighbors crowding doorways to hear Jesus speak, meals shared in intimate settings.

The synagogue standing today, made of bright limestone, was likely constructed centuries after Jesus walked its streets. But beneath its foundation, black basalt stones hint at an earlier structure, possibly the synagogue where Jesus Himself once read and taught. Nearby, under a modern church, lie the remains of an ancient house that transitioned into a place of worship by early Christians, possibly the very home of Simon Peter.

While time has worn away the original walls, the message of Capernaum remains: God stepped into ordinary places. He didn’t choose temples of grandeur, but village homes and fishing docks to unveil His glory. He moved into the rhythms of daily life, healing, teaching, forgiving, and calling people to follow Him.

Capernaum invites us to see our own spaces, our homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods, as potential places where heaven still touches earth. The same Jesus who walked through its dusty paths walks with us today, desiring to heal, to teach, and to dwell among His people.

Where has Jesus made His home in your life? Are you open to Him working through the everyday spaces around you? What would it look like for your home or community to become a modern-day Capernaum, a place of healing, hope, and holy presence?

Stephen Faircloth is the President of CBN Israel, an initiative dedicated to sharing the true story of the Jewish nation and inspiring a global community of Christians to stand with Israel and support her people in need. Our vision is to reshape the global conversation about Israel by fostering understanding, hope, and healing between Jews and Christians around the world. For more than 50 years, the Christian Broadcasting Network has supported Israel. By joining CBN Israel, you become part of this enduring legacy, transforming lives today and strengthening Christian support for Israel for generations to come.