Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Be With Me is a daily 7 minute chronological walk through the New Testament hosted by Michael Smith. It is for everyone who is curious about what Jesus actually said and did in the gospels. Most episodes will leave you with at least one good thought to chew on for the rest of the day. We start with the Bible and hopefully end with Awe. We are walking through the chronological events of Jesus' life and then thoughtfully considering them. It is meant to spur the devotional life of the Christian and the not-yet-Christian. We occasionally venture into the Old Testament when it helps our understanding of the New Testament events. Everybody has 7 minutes. Everybody needs to wonder. Be With Me is hosted by Michael Smith who has absolutely no special qualifications to do a podcast. He is not a pastor. He has not been to seminary. He does not lead a mega-church. He is not a professional and he has no more credentials than you do. He does, however, follow a great God with an observant eye and a curious heart. Each day, he starts with a study bible and aims for astonishment. ‘be with him’ for 7 minutes as he sets out daily to discover the God who invites us to ‘Be With Me.’
Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Will the PLACE that is given the MOST give back the most? S31e28 Mt4:12
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You have heard the expression:To Him who is given much, much is required.
Capernaum is given, of all places in Israel, THE MOST. Will Capernaum be the epicenter of repentance? Will spiritual revival happen there?
Will the PLACE that is given the MOST give back the most?
Have you been given a lot? or at least ENOUGH to do the right thing with? Let's use Capernaum as an example for us in 7 short minutes.
https://youtu.be/wZb2vrUqh-8
Will the PLACE that is given the MOST give back the most?
S31e28 Mt4:12
To Him who is given much, much is required. Capernaum is given, of all places in Israel, THE MOST. Will Capernaum be the epicenter of repentance. Will spiritual revival happen there?
Will the PLACE that is given the MOST give back the most?
Jesus Begins His Ministry
12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Jesus was baptized in Jordan near Jerusalem
John the Baptist area was in the wilderness in southern Israel.
He is arrested there.Loss liberty. More physical suffering. More confusion: how can the #1 guy on the planet be under circumstances that he does not prefer? Let’s ask Joseph. Lets ask Hagar. Lets ask Abraham.
Now, in our beloved story of God, one of his favorites is arrested.
He is arrested by Herod Antipas, son of Herod the great, who killed the infants because of the coming of the wise men.
Jesus withdrew into Galilee. Goes north 50-80 miles. Leaves Nazareth (south) to new place to minister and new place to live: Capernaum by the sea in territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. All of this is predicted by prophesy. Of all the towns, of all the places on earth, God’s eye is to be focused here, again.
This is the place where Jesus is most focused on, focused from during the heavily documented part of His life: ministry life.
During Jesus’ ministry life He lived and worked out of Capernaum.
It is described in retruning there: He came to His own city mt 9:1
It is on the north shore of the sea of Galilee “the way of the sea”
Refers to not the mediterranian, but the sea of Galilee
Synagogue where Jesus taught, there. Peter and Andrew’s Mother in law house house was there. Healed paralytic, healed man with unclean demon, healed MANY there
Land of history. Land of newcomers.
Galilee of the Gentiles
Interacted with the gentile centurion asking for healing of his servant.
Prophesy calls this regaon 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”
Galilee of the Gentiles
People dwelling in darkness now have seen a great light
For those dwelling the int region and SHADOW OF DEATH.
Nice fishing village: It wasn’t always like this: “only 700 years”
Assyrian conquest of the particularly rebellious northern Israel
Termed ISRAEL, the relatively good guys were JUDAH in the s.
King of Israel was PEKAH 722bc
Assyrian king Tiglath-peleser—tiger pleaser came and capurted this whole region GALILEE by name, all the land of Naphtali, 2 Kg 15:29: and he carried the people captive to Assyria.
This is a piece of real estate, now all shiney and bright that had seen some trouble. The assyrians meant business with their conquered people, as all conquerors do.
All my relatives were slaves—and they were the lucky ones to survive. We are a region known for specific Jewish rebellion to the one true God, who then allowed nasty neighbors to discipline us.
So this is the place that Jesus comes to set up shop for 3 years. This is the place where Jesus was most frequently. Capernaum is specifically mentioned 19x NT.
Place of great opportunity. Spiritual opportunity.
Before Jesus really began to preach what did He do? He met John the Baptist in the wilderness in southern Israel to MEET PEOPLE AT THEIR repentance. I’m sorry? I agree? I regret. I intend to change. Im’ gonna turn my heart. Im’ gonna turn my feet and their should then be FRUIT in keeping with repentance.
What is repentance? Repentance is the attachment of a sinner worthy of WRATH to a Savior worth of WORSHIP.
Repentance is the attachement of sinners to Savior
Jesus’ first message in public ministry: just same as John the Baptist but with more specificity to Himself: REPENT, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
To Him who is given much, much is required. Capernaum is given, of all places in Israel, THE MOST. Will Capernaum be the epicenter of repentance. Will spiritual revival happen there?
Will the PLACE that is given the MOST give back the most?
Place of great disappointment. Matthew 11:23
23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.