SECTION IX.

THE SECOND STAGE IN THE PILGRIMAGE OF JESUS. HE FIXES HIS ABODE AT CAPERNAUM.

(Luke iv. 31-44.)

The second stage of the wanderings of Jesus was Capernaum, a city in Galilee (Upper Galilee).¹

Here also He appeared in the synagogues on the Sabbath-days, and taught. And here His audience felt that His word was in power, without taking offence at His lowly origin. Therefore also did Capernaum become a chief scene of His mighty works. On a previous occasion He must have performed miracles in this place, as has been stated. Hence we may explain the fact, that here He was already an object of terror to those who were demoniacally possessed. That He was so, is proved by the healing of a demoniac in the synagogue at Capernaum, which Luke also narrates. The Evangelist characterizes the demoniac more exactly — he had the spirit of an unclean devil. He distinguishes thus between the demon himself in his individuality, and his spirit. This seems to indicate that the patient was possessed by the demon in the joint action of his entire spiritual being. The words with which the demon received the Lord, and which are also narrated by Mark, he uttered, or rather cried out, with a loud voice. In this case of healing occurred the singular circumstance, that during the paroxysm of recovery, the demon suddenly dragged the patient into the very midst of the assembly, without, however, doing him any injury. This may have helped to increase the astonishment of the people at the power of Jesus over devils.

The second miracle consisted in the cure of Peter's wife's mother, who had been taken with a great fever, Jesus healed her, bending over her and rebuking the fever. In this case also a cure took place by delivering the spirit of the sufferer from the ban of sickness.

In the numerous cures which Jesus effected on the sick, who were brought to Him after the sun was set. He systematically employed the laying on of hands. 'He laid His hands,' we are told, 'on every one of them, and healed them.' From these cases of healing we must distinguish the casting out of devils, who came out of many. He rejected the honour attempted to be given Him by the demoniacs, who proclaimed Him to be the Son of God. He rebuked them, suffering them not to speak: they knew that He was the Christ.

On the following morning, when the Lord departed into a desert place, a great multitude of people went after Him, We learn also what their purpose was: they wished Him to stay, and not depart from Capernaum. They thus formed a marked contrast to the people of Nazareth, who had cast Him out from their city. He however declared that He must proclaim the Gospel of the kingdom in other cities also, being thereunto sent. On this He commenced His journey through Galilee, and preached everywhere in the synagogues.

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