Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: Capernaum

skip church — November 13, 2024

skip church

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Jesus had every reason to skip church!  

OK technically Jesus did not go to church, but He was actively involved in His local synagogue (Luke 4:16).  That was how Jews in the first century kept the Sabbath day holy. 

Each Saturday He would join the congregation to sing Psalms, read Scripture, listen to a message and pray (and maybe go out to eat at the Golden Corral afterwards).  In fact, He was often invited to speak Himself. 

During His ministry years, Jesus made His home in Capernaum (Matt 4:13).  The Biblical record finds Him in the local synagogue very often. 

But here’s what puzzles me. Jesus had lots of reasons not to go.

For instance:  The building there had no heat or AC and it was crowded and full of smelly people that rarely bathed (Mark 2:1-2) and there was a gaping big hole in the roof (Mark 2:4).  And the seating was horrendous.  The pews in every synagogue back then were flat blocks of cold stone (Oh my hemorrhoids). 

As for the people, well, there was a crazy guy in the congregation who was demon possessed and when he spoke, it sent icy shivers down one’s spine (Luke 4:33-34).  But then that guy got serious with God and became what you might call a holy roller (Luke 4:35).

And then there were also two long-time members in the congregation who were serious hotheads.  They were nicknamed the Sons of Thunder (Mark 3:17).  You didn’t want to sit next to one of them.    

The culture of the congregation was toxic.  It was all about do’s and dont’s – what you could eat and when you could work.  And – if you were a woman, you were required to sit in the back while all the men sat up front. 

The folks in general, were shameless takers.  The congregation drained Jesus for everything they could get out of Him (Mark 1:32-37) and then deserted Him when He needed them (John 6:59-66). 

As for the leaders – they were the worst.  They were all about the money (Matthew 17:24-27).  Most were hypocritical, heartless nitpickers that focused on the rules and neglected compassion (Mark 2:5-7).

And sadly, Jesus didn’t have a best friend in the congregation and in fact was personally disliked by many there and sometimes even laughed at (Mark 5:40). 

Now these issues feel familiar to us, don’t they?  Because we have experienced one or more of them at our local churches – and some of us are maybe wrestling with them now. 

So why didn’t Jesus quit going?  If I were Him, I might have stayed at home and watched a tele-rabbi on TV.  Or maybe I would gather others who were disenchanted and do a home synagogue (with padded stone benches).

But not Jesus!  He was ever faithful to be there.  He loved the Father and He demonstrated that through His obedience.  He was there for His Father, not the congregation.   He kept holy the Lord’s Day even at the famously flawed synagogue of Capernaum!  I bet he even dropped some cash in the basket.

This doesn’t mean He approved of everything that happened in that place.  He did not in fact.  Yet He was faithful to attend there, or when traveling, at some other synagogue.  

God expects His people today to be in relationship with a local church.  He expects us to be regularly involved. His word to us is Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.” – NETBible®

We may have a thousand legitimate reasons to stay home, but we have one supreme reason to go – to honor the will of the one who saved us.

I’ll see you at church!

A PRAYER: Lord, help me keep my eyes on you and not on the congregation.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

where miracles became entitlements — September 13, 2023

where miracles became entitlements

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My wife bought us some multivitamins the other day – the kind you take when you are over 50.  I took one out and looked it over, and frankly I was offended.  It was a ghostly grey color. 

It was like the manufacturer was saying, “Hey, you don’t get a nice blue or shiny red vitamin like the kids, because you are old and grey.  So, deal with it.”  Hey, I’m surprised the vitamins didn’t come with wrinkles!

It is good to know though, that our Lord has power over aging, death, and disease. He proved it in a town called Capernaum.   In Jesus’ day, the town was a prosperous fishing village – the jewel of the Sea of Galilee.  Jesus made it His ministry headquarters calling it His, “own city.” (Matthew 9:1)

The ruins of it exist today.  It has not been buried or bulldozed away.  The foundation of the ancient synagogue is still in place.  It is the stone on which Jesus once stood and taught. 

Why did He choose Capernaum as a base?  It was located on an international highway that reached from empire-to-empire.  Any newsworthy event in Capernaum would have been carried far and wide.

The Jews understood from the prophet Isaiah (35:5, 61:1) that the coming Messiah would be known by the miracles He did.  In fact, John the Baptist once asked if Jesus was truly the promised Messiah. 

This is how Jesus answered, “Go tell John what you hear and see:  The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them.”  (Matthew 11:4-5) These miracles were the proof.

It’s interesting that Jesus performed every one of those miracles in Capernaum.   According to the Gospel of Matthew, He healed a lame man there (9:1) and also raised up from the dead the daughter of an official of the synagogue. (9:18-23)

He healed 2 blind men in Capernaum (9:27) and gave speech to a mute/dumb man there. (9:32) and we are told that He preached the good news to those there and elsewhere.  (9:35) 

So there in that tiny seaside town, it appears that every single type of miraculous sign to validate the Messiah had been performed.  He fulfilled the script of Isaiah perfectly.   And it took place before the eyes of the Capernaum populace.  No other place in Israel could boast the same thing. 

The appropriate response to those miracles would have been, “Wow Jesus, you are obviously divine, God in the flesh, and you are so holy and so, so good to us.”

So, we are yours.  We are trading in our sinful pleasures to follow You and your plan for us.  Your priorities are now ours.”

Instead, we read these stunning words in Matthew 11:23-24.  Jesus said, “And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be thrown down to Hades! For if the miracles done among you had been done in Sodom, it would have continued to this day. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!”

The city saw a lot – but responded with little.  In their self-centered world, His miracles became their entitlements.  There was no gratitude or repentance.

Perhaps we need to challenge our own creeping entitlement mentality. 

The Lord owes us nothing – not a thing!  He, however, sometimes does miraculous and wonderful things for us anyway.  Why? To capture our hearts.

Jesus gives us reasons to believe.  He wants our hearts in exchange!   He hopes to be entrusted with our eternal soul.  He wants to help us avoid the condemnation placed on Capernaum.  

That’s who He is.  That’s what He does.  And it’s you and me that He seeks.

A PRAYER: Lord you have done mighty things.  Help our faithless hearts recognize it!

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you!

Scripture references are from the NETBible.com®

wiping off a kiss — September 6, 2022

wiping off a kiss

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She gave her granddaughter a kiss on the cheek as she was about to leave, and it seemed to make the girl a little uncomfortable.  Grandma asked, “Are you wiping off my kiss?”  With a bit of guilt, she sheepishly replied, “No ma’am, I am just rubbing it in.”

She didn’t fully appreciate the blessing she had in her grandma.

It could be worse though.  Some fail to appreciate what they have in Jesus.  

When Jesus launched his ministry, it was from a small city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.  It was called Capernaum.

I have visited the ruins of this place.  I made it a point to walk upon the same synagogue foundation on which Jesus stood and taught.  An amazing privilege. 

He spent 18 months of His public ministry in that city, which amounts to about half of his 3 ½ years.  It was called his, “own city” – Matthew 9:1. 

Why Capernaum?  It was a stop on the international road that reached from empire to empire.   If something happened in Capernaum, news of it would reach far and wide.  It was a perfect place from which to preach His message.

When Jesus first came on the scene, John the Baptist asked if He was the truly promised Messiah.  This is how Jesus answered, “Go tell John what you hear and see:  The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them.” – Matthew 11:4-5

He quoted the prophet Isaiah who predicted that the coming Messiah would perform those specific miracles as evidence that He was the one sent from God.  (Isaiah 35:5-6)

So, guess what happened in Capernaum?   Jesus performed more miracles there than in any other one place.   It was there that He hugely fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy. 

There in Capernaum he healed a lame man – a paralytic (Matthew 9:1); raised up from the dead the daughter of a synagogue official.  (Matthew 9:18-23)   He healed two blind men there (Matthew 9:27-29) and later restored a mute man. (Matthew 9:32)  Along with the miracles, He preached the good news in Capernaum. (Matthew 9:35)   

In that modest little city, He worked through Isaiah’s list of the miraculous to validate Himself as the Messiah.  The ancient prophecy was fulfilled in Capernaum.

All the proof needed was manifested there.  No other one place in Israel could say the same thing. 

AND YET, it wasn’t enough! The people of Capernaum were hardhearted.  In fact, Matthew 11:20 says, “Then Jesus began to criticize openly the cities in which he had done many of his miracles because they did not repent.”

Among those cities, was Capernaum.  “And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be thrown down to Hades! For if the miracles done among you had been done in Sodom, it would have continued to this day. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!” – Matthew 11:23-24

Capernaum saw Christ authenticated in every way, and yet failed to believe.  She saw a lot but responded with little.

May I say that Jesus is the real deal.  He lived and died and was raised from the grave.   He continues to provide ample evidence that He is true God, and He works His miraculous proof in the changed lives of people that you know.  They live down the street, or work with you or maybe even dwell in your home.

You have seen Him at work.  You have sensed His power.  You have longed for what He offers.  Maybe it’s time to respond to His call.

A PRAYER: Lord, gather us, your wandering sheep, to your side. 

This has been Jim Johnson with pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scripture references are from the NETBible.com