A Sabbath day at Capharnaum

Continuing with Fouard's Life of Christ:

II. A Sabbath day at Capharnaum

Luke iv. 34-43; Mark i. 21-38; Matt. Viii. 14-17

The first Sabbath after the return of Jesus to Capharnaum is an exceptional day for us; perhaps it is the only one during which we are able to follow the Saviour from early morning until evening and even as far as the dawning of the next day; and so this detailed account shows us how, for the most part, Jesus was wont to spend His days.

The religious service commenced in the morning at the synagogue; there the Lord found an attentive throng about Him, for His wondrous deeds were well known in Capharnaum; and moreover He could count among that gathering some faithful hearts, Mary His Mother, the sons of Zebedee and of Jonas, the disciples who had followed him from Judaea, the officer of the court of Herod with his family, who were eager to hear the Prophet whose word had already worked such marvels.

When the prayers were finished the Master ascended to take the chair.  There He bore Himself very differently from the Scribes and the Doctors, who were only accustomed to cite certain texts which would confirm their teaching by the authority of ancient traditions, or perhaps explain those of other famous Rabbis.  But Jesus taught as one having power; He spoke in His own name, interpreted the Scripture with authority, not merely stirring over the surface of the soul by subtle reasonings, but plunging deep down into the hearts of men, so that they felt themselves penetrated with His persuasion.

Healing the demoniac. J-J Tissot.

"All were in admiration of His doctrine," when a scream rent the air of the place; it was a demoniac in the throes of horrid frenzy.  He had crept through the crowded doors, and at the first had experienced a strange rapture while listening to the Divine Word; but unable any longer to withhold the foul spirit which held him in its clutches, he burst into shrieks of horror, perhaps even into unclean actions.  "Let be!" he cried.  "What is there between us and Thee, Jesus of Nazareth?  Art thou come to destroy us?  I know Who Thou art, — the Holy of God!"

What are we to see in this confession of the Demon?  Was it a ruse whereby Satan meant to interrupt the discourse of Jesus and publish prematurely his title of the Messiah, or was it an avowal wrung from the terror of the fiend, the fawning of a slave that trembles before the lash and seeks to mollify the master about to inflict well merited punishment?  Whatever may have been the motive of this homage, Jesus disdained it; at once He stood over the possessed, and threatening the devil which was torturing,

" Be silent," He said to it, "and depart from this man."

Satan obeyed: one last cry escaped the breast of the demoniac, who flung prone upon the ground for an instant writhed in terrible convulsions; then rose up before the eyes of all, free once more, completely calmed.  His body, which had served as a dwelling place for the infernal powers, now showed no trace of their awful assaults.

At this sight fright and wonderment quite overwhelmed the crowd; for man can never feel the nearness of the invisible world without a stronger sense of emotion.  And yet it was not so much the suddenness of the cure a which astonished the Jews; indeed they were accustomed to the performance and the effects of various Exorcisms, which were in fact much like the tedious ceremonials of their magicians.  But that Jesus, without sprinkling of water or, could expel the demon with a word, it was this that overwhelmed them with wonder.  Hitherto they had only experienced the eloquence of the Christ; this prodigy declared the invincible might of His word; and now their souls must needs tremble in His Presence as before the Supreme Majesty.

"What it is this?" They whispered among themselves; "what new and all powerful Doctrine is this?  He commands the spirits, and they Obey!"

In these sayings there is no trace of that bitter spirit which, in a short time, would try to brand the Miracles of the Saviour as a violation of the Sabbath, or as a proof of a compact with the fiends.  The Galileans harboured no such suspicions as these; they saw, they believed, and their faith, spreading ever further and wider, finally penetrated throughout all the countryside.

healing Peter's mother-in-law. J-J Tissot.

The marvellous deeds of that Sabbath were by no means ended now.  Leaving the synagogue, Jesus entered the dwelling of Simon.  The son of Jonas the fishermen was married to a woman of Capharnaum; thus he had in this city, as well as at Bethsaïda, both family connections and a home.  Here the Divine Master found the mother-in-law of the disciple sinking under a raging attack of fever, her anxious kinsfolk grouped about her bed.  At once all eyes were turned towards the Saviour; every voice was raised to implore His aid.

Jesus drew near, and rebuking the fever with the same authority which He was only a little later to display in quelling the rebellious powers of nature, He now bade the disease to depart; and then, taking the hand of the sick woman, He gently raise up to her shattered body, by the simple contact infusing a plenitude of health and life into her aged body.  The fever disappeared, and that without leaving behind it any weakness, which is its usual sequel.  On the instant the mother of Simon's wife arose, then, as it was the hour at which they usually dined, — for on the Sabbath it was customary to have a noonday meal, — she herself made ready what was needed for Jesus and His disciples, set the dishes in order, and herself served the guests.

Capharnaum was still talking of the miracle in the synagogue when the report of this other prodigy was noised abroad; the excitement became general, and nothing but the inviolable quiet of the Sabbath could have held the ardour of the multitude in check.  But as soon as the rays of the setting sun along the distant hills marked the end of the Holy Day, the throngs came hurrying through the streets, some bringing the insane and possessed folk to the Divine Healer, others bearing pallets, on which were laid those too ill to move themselves; soon the whole town had collected about Simon's door, displaying before the eyes of Jesus every form of wretchedness known to poor human nature, madness, deformity, and every hideous disease.

Not one of those who had besought His help was rejected by the Saviour, but without distinction laying His hands upon them, He healed them.  As for the possessed, one word from Him was enough to deliver them; trembling at the sound of the Master's voice, the devils fled away, crying aloud, "Thou art the Son of God." But with threatening words Jesus for bade them to say that He was the Christ.

healing the sick. J-J Tissot.

The Saviour’s ministrations were prolonged far into the night, and to all he showed such touching compassion, that in the wonders of that day's doings Saint Matthew sees the fulfilment of the words of Isaias: "He hath taken upon Himself our weaknesses and has borne our infirmities." None ever understood so clearly as Jesus did how disease and death have entered into the world through sin; no-one consequently has ever been so keenly struck with horror at sight of them.  Hence arose that the great pity in Him predicted by Isaiah; hence came His tears before the tomb of Lazarus; and so too, His sighs of sorrow at sight of the deaf-mute.  His Heart could never view the depth of our woes without strong throes of sympathy, and without reaching out His healing hand to dispel even this in itself, which is its source.

The last sufferer did not quits the house of Peter until the dawning of another day.  Without giving a moment to sleep, the Lord rose and went out into the morning streets.  The little city of Capharnaum was still all silent and at rest when He passed along its narrow ways, and reached at length the desert place wherein He wished to pray alone.

But this holy solitude was soon to be broken in upon; the crowds, surprised at not seeing the Saviour upon their awakening, set to work seeking Him on every side.  Peter and His companions were most noticeable in their eagerness; they found the Divine Master absorbed in God.

"Everyone is looking for You," they said to Him.

"Let us go elsewhere," replied Jesus, "into the neighbouring towns, and into the cities, so that I may preach there also; it is for this that I am come."

The throngs were coming up, close after the disciples; they wished to keep the Saviour among them; but He withstood them, and told them, as He had told the rest, that His Mission compelled Him to depart for a time, that He might carry on to others the Good Tidings of the Kingdom of God.

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam