A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture/XVIII. Miracles of Jesus at Caphamaum

by Friedrich Justus Knecht

Chapter XVIII.

MIRACLES OF JESUS AT CAPHARNAUM.

[Luke 4, 31—44. Mark x, 21—39. Mat. 4, 13 — 17 and 8, 13.]

FROM Nazareth Jesus went to Capharnaum^[1], and there He taught them on the Sabbath-days. The people were astonished at His doctrine, and at the wonderful force and unction of His preaching. There was, in the synagogue, a man who had an unclean spirit^[2], and he^[3] cried aloud, saying: “Let us^[4] alone, what have we to do with Thee^[5], Jesus of Nazareth? Art Thou come to destroy us?^[6] I know Thee, who Thou art, the Holy One of God.” ^[7]

Jesus rebuked the spirit, commanding him to be silent^[8], and to go out from the man. Then the devil, throwing the man into the midst of the crowd, went out of him, and left him unharmed^[9]. A great fear^[10] came upon all who witnessed this miracle, and they said one to another: “What word is this? For with authority and power He commandeth the unclean spirits, and they go out.”

From the synagogue Jesus went to the house of Simon Peter. It so happened that the mother-in-law of Peter was grievously sick^[11], and Jesus was asked^[12] to cure her. He drew near her bed, commanded the fever, and it left her. Immediately^[13] she arose, cured of the fever, and waited on them as they sat at table.

When the sun was down^[14], the sick and infirm^[15] of the city were brought to Jesus, and He laid His hands upon them, and they were healed.

Early next morning He left Capharnaum and retired to a desert place^[16]. But the people followed Him in crowds, beseeching Him not to leave them. He said to them: “I must preach the kingdom of God^[17] in other places also; for therefore am I sent.”

He then preached in the synagogues of Galilee: “The time is accomplished, and the kingdom of God is at hand ^[18]; repent and believe the Gospel.” He healed all manner of diseases; and the fame of His power and holiness spread over all the country ^[19], and people came from far and near to see and hear Him.

COMMENTARY.

The Divinity of our Lord. The astounding miracles which Jesus wrought, in the presence of so many people, are a proof of His Divine Omnipotence. He took the death-stricken mother-in-law of Peter by the hand, and immediately she got up well and strong. He laid His hand on the sick who were brought to Him in front of Peter’s house, and at once they were cured. He drove the devils out of those whom they possessed, and imposed silence on them by His word. “What is this?” asked the awe-struck people; “that He commandeth even the unclean spirits and they go out!” This was a proof that Jesus is Lord not only of the visible creation, but of the unseen world of spirits as well.

The Kindness of Jesus was wonderful, for He helped all those who were afflicted by diseases and sickness. “He went about doing good” (Acts 10, 38).

The Prayer of Jesus, when He retired into a desert place, was one of intercession for sinful men. It was also an example to us to pray and not to faint (Luke 18, 1).

The Preaching of Jesus. The gist of our Lord’s preaching was: “Repent and believe the Gospel.” This is still, and will be for all time, the most important obligation of Christianity and the indispensable condition of salvation. He wrho wishes to have a part in the kingdom of God, must believe in our Lord and His teaching, and must do penance for his sins.

Dead faith. “The devils also believe and tremble”, writes St. James (2, 19). These words are confirmed by the story we have just read, which relates that the devil confessed: “Thou art the Holy One of God.” There is a faith which does not avail to salvation — a dead faith, which is not a free act of obedience and love.

The power of intercession. Our Lord yielded to the intercession of His disciples for Peter’s mother-in-law. To pray for the living and the dead is a work of mercy and a duty of brotherly love. “Pray for one another that you may be saved”, writes St. James (5, 16).

The hatred and power of the devil. The devil hates and envies man, and does all he can to injure him. Before our Lord came, the devil had obtained a great power over men, especially over idolators; and when our Blessed Redeemer came to conquer Satan, the latter made a last and desperate effort to maintain his supremacy. This is why, during our Lord’s sojourn on earth, there were so many cases of possession. They were by the eternal counsel of God permitted, in order that the object of our Lord’s mission as well as His power and glory might be made manifest.

Exorcisms. Cases of possession still occur: but the Church, by exorcisms, drives away the evil spirit in the name of Jesus.

The cruelty of the devil. Jesus allowed the devil to throw down the possessed man and rend him, to show us from how cruel an enemy He has delivered us; and to put us on our guard, lest we should allow ourselves to be subjected to his everlasting rage.

Jesus the Physician of our souls. We too are sick of a fever — the fever of anger, ambition, covetousness, gluttony, and all other passions, which incite us to evil and keep us from what is good. Jesus alone can cure us. He can give us grace to overcome our evil inclinations, if only we will ask Him for it; and He will cool the ardour of our passions by His Presence, if we worthily receive Him in Holy Communion.

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Application. Are you prompt in getting up in the morning, or have you to be called several times? Prize the golden hours of the morning.

Do you say your morning prayers devoutly every day? and do you make good resolutions, when you say them? Begin the day with God, and your day will not be spent without Him.

1. Capharnaum. Capharnaum, situated on the north-west shore of the Lake of Genesareth, was a busy commercial town, much frequented by travellers, in which many Gentiles lived. Here Jesus dwelt, not as a house-holder, but merely as a guest in the house of Simon Peter. Simon was a native of Bethesda, and had probably obtained possession of his house in Capharnaum by his marriage. From this house Jesus went forth on His many journeys for the conversion of sinners; and for this reason Capharnaum is spoken of as "his town".
2. Unclean spirit. A devil had taken possession of this man, governing his senses and bodily organs. A man thus possessed was no longer his own master. His consciousness and free-will were impeded and governed by the evil spirit, under whose despotism he lived.
3. lie. The possessed man uttered the words, but it was the devil who really cried out through him. The near presence of Jesus, the Most Holy One, who had overcome the tempter, filled the evil spirit with anguish and terror.
4. Us. He used the plural number, because he felt sure that Jesus had come to destroy the power of all the infernal spirits.
5. With Thee. We wish to have nothing to do with you: leave us in peace.
6. Destroy us. To take from us the dominion of the world, and banish us to hell.
7. The Holy One of God. How did the devil know this? He knew it by the irresistible authority of Jesus, which he was constrained to obey. He knew that the power which rested both in His commands and in the very touch of His Hands, was a divine power.
8. To be silent. Jesus refused to receive testimony to His Godhead from the spirit of lies, who only speaks the truth with an evil intention. According to the plan of divine wisdom our Lord’s Divinity was to be revealed little by little. Men were to come to the knowledge of it by degrees, and not by the premature testimony of the devil. Thus Jesus refused to be questioned by this evil spirit, and said to him: “Be still.” Hence Spiritism is unlawful.
9. Unharmed. The devil was obliged to obey the command of Jesus and come out of the man; but, before he did so, he showed his spite against his victim by throwing him to the ground. His rage, however, was futile, for he could not hurt the man, and left him quite restored to himself.
10. Great fear. A holy awe.
11. Sick. Of fever.
12. Asked. It was the disciples Simon and Andrew as well as James and John (these according to Mark I, 29 being also present), who made this petition. James, the brother of John, had therefore also become a disciple.
13. Immediately. She prepared and served food for them. This shows that she had immediately recovered her full strength, whereas generally a person who has had a fever remains weak and exhausted for a long time.
14. The sun was down. i. e. when the Sabbath was over. The Sabbath of the Jews began at sunset on Friday evening, and ended at sunset on Saturday. The Feasts began and ended in the same way.
15. The sick and infirm. Besides those actually sick there were present those who carried them, as well as many of their friends and relations, who were attracted by curiosity. Picture the scene to yourselves — the sick moaning and crying for help, while those possessed by evil spirits raged and howled; and all present turning their eyes on Jesus, full of expectation and wonder whether He would be able to cure all who were there. Picture Jesus passing from one sick person to another, laying His Hand on each, and behold, each one was cured, whatsoever his malady!
16. Desert place. On a neighbouring mountain.
17. The kingdom of God. i. e. the message of salvation.
18. At hand. The time of preparation and of waiting for the Messias is over, for the kingdom of the Messias, i. e. the kingdom which God will found through Him, has begun. Do penance, therefore, and believe the glad tidings.
19. All the country. Throughout Galilee.