On day five, we traveled to Capernaum, located on the Sea of Galilee. It was amazing to see where Peter grew up and the synagogue where Jesus spent most of his time preaching. I even got to touch the original volcanic rock floor he stood on! Before reaching Capernaum, we had time to share and reflect on the stories of the paralytic man and the bleeding woman. As I stood in the synagogue, I realized- this is where Jesus corrected those who judged him and thought he could not forgive this man’s sins but Jesus healed him.
“But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed, and go home.””
Matthew 9:4, 6 ESV
Jesus called out those who made assumptions. Jesus released this man from his physical disabilities and removed him from his tether or the stigma tying him down. Jesus did the same for the bleeding woman.
“He told her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
Mark 5:34 NIV
Where have we allowed other things to enter our life? To tether us down? When have we allowed fear to keep us from pressing through the crowd toward Jesus?
Before going up to the synagogue, we were able to pause and stand on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. I listened to the water hit the rocks. Those rocks reminded me of Peter, and I kind of laughed to myself. Peter, the Rock, the loving but stubborn one, that Jesus chose to build his church upon. I remembered the scripture we had read earlier as a group. The story of Jesus reinstating Peter on the same banks.
When Peter denied Jesus, he was near a charcoal fire. Again, he meets Jesus and is asked three times, “Do you love me?”
“Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.””
John 21:17-18 ESV
Peter denied Jesus three times, but Jesus forgave Peter. Have we allowed the lack of forgiving others to keep us from Christ? Jesus told us to “Feed my sheep.” Jesus gave us the authority to forgive! How can we ignore and feed others?
Baptismal font found at Church of the Multiplication.