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Imagine the hurt that Jesus must have felt after His rejection by the people of Nazareth. These were people He had loved. There were “best buds” amidst the listeners and grouchy older woman that remembered changing his diaper. In an instant, the bond was broken. As Jesus lay awake that night overcome by grief, He prayed for Nazareth’s families to awaken to the gift He was. His ministry in the village might be over, but His heart yearned for their salvation. 

 

Waking up the next morning, a new resolve gave Jesus peace. His connection to His hometown might be broken, but His ministry needed to continue. With a strong confident step, Jesus set out for Capernaum, the town He would now call home. It was from here that Isaiah 9:2 started to be fulfilled. “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; for those who live in a land of darkness, a light will shine.” Jesus’s ministry became a beacon reconciling both Jews and Gentiles to Jehovah. 

 

Capernaum was like the difference between the night and day. Nazareth was left in darkness over their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, but Capernaum was ready to believe. The official with the healed son had been quick to spread the word about the miracle. It was the talk of the town: could what was being spoken of be true? Seven days later the synagogue was packed after word spread that Jesus would be the guest speaker.  

 

As Jesus’s words hung in the air during the service, doubt remained as an ever-consuming presence. ThrougChh the past hundreds of years, other had claimed to be the Messiah, but had died, leaving followers disillusioned. Then a glimpse of light when an older gent called out, “Hey, Jesus of Nazareth, what do you want with us? Are you here to get rid of us? I know who you are! You are God’s Holy One.” 

 

Turmoil erupted in the normally reverent atmosphere. Whispering began as people reflected on the man’s words, “You are God’s Holy One;” “Are you here to get rid of us?” Members gawked and stared at the man. 

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Jesus calmly stared back. With a voice of authority, Jesus ordered the evil spirit to leave him. The evil fought back for control of the man, their property, but had no choice but the obey. If there had been doubts about Jesus, it remained no longer. All that was left was for talk to quickly spread. After service, the desire for more miraculous healings brought people constantly to His door. (Mark 4:31-37) 

 

Ministry in Capernaum took a break when Jesus left Capernaum to attend a minor celebration in Jerusalem. The Tabernacle constantly needed wood for the sacrifices. The Feast of Wood Carrying was a minor Jewish celebration to meet this need. 

 

 While in Jerusalem, Jesus visited the Pool of Bethesda. "In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the movement of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.” (John 5:3-4). 

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Angelic beings played a significant role in Jewish history, acting as God’s messenger and even as a protector. The scribes acknowledged four major Archangels: Michael, the defender of God’s children; Gabriel, deliverer of God’s announcements; Uriel, delivering truth to God’s people; and Raphael, delivering healing. In addition, hundreds of thousands of ministering angels were created for the worship of God or for a particular purpose and then passed away. Either Raphael or a sent ministering angel brought healing to Jews at the Pool of Bethesda. 

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At the pool, lie one man that had been sick for thirty-eight years. “When Jesus saw him there and knew that he had been in that condition for a long time, He said to him, ‘Do want to be made well?’” (John 5:6). The man saw only the impossible— it would never happen; after all he had no one to help him into the pool. Jesus, though saw something inside the man- a spiritual hunger? Was he a man who could reach others with the message of Christ? For Christ’s personal reason, He had compassion. 

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“Jesus said to him, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk.’ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.” (John 5:8-9). Jesus was in trouble again. When the religious leaders heard that a healing and work—carrying a mat-- had occurred on the Sabbath, outrage overcame any rejoicing for the man. The law was the law, and it must be obeyed.  

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When questioned, the man knew not the name of his healer. “Afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and said to him, ‘You are now well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.’ (John 5:14). A renewed life was worth the effort. 

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Today, the Messiah still longs for His Spirit to overcome every barrier of negativity to His message. Fight not against others, but rather against the unseen forces of evil. Always remember, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5) Be a beacon of light to others.