Catholic Scripture Study Series I
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CATHOLIC SCRIPTURE STUDY Catholic Scripture Study Notes written by Sister Marie Therese, are provided for the personal use of students during their active participa- tion and must not be loaned or given to others. SERIES I THE GOSPEL OF LUKE AND ACTS OF THE APOSTLES Lesson 9 Commentary Luke 4:31 – 6:16 Lesson 10 Questions Luke 6:17 – 7:50 THE GALILEAN MINISTRY IN CAPERNAUM AND NEARBY Luke 4:31-6:16 I. INTRODUCTION A. In the Synagogue (Luke 4:31-37). Je- sus and five disciples He had called in Judea, Jesus’ home town had rejected Him—in His went to the synagogue in Capernaum on the Sab- own synagogue. It was a small scale scenario of bath. It had been built by a Roman centurion. The the final rejection to come in the city of the Tem- people there had already heard about Jesus ple—Jerusalem. Jesus begins the ten-hour jour- through the cure of the little son of one of Herod ney down from the hills of Nazareth to the shores Antipas’ officials there, who had gone to Jesus in of the Sea of Galilee, 680 feet below sea level. Cana about his son. The boy had been healed at John tells us that His mother, disciples, and “his the same hour as he talked to Jesus. brothers” went with Him (John 2:12). Neither Peter nor the townsfolk were ever to II. A DAY IN CAPERNAUM (Luke 4:31-44) forget this Sabbath. Jesus was asked to give the commentary that day, and as he did so, “they were Capernaum, a fishing and commercial town, astonished at his teaching, for his word was with was thoroughly Jewish, and was the home of Peter authority.” He did not quote Rabbis and rabbinical and Andrew. It became Jesus’ home, His town. books, nor famous scribes. He spoke simply Here, in a very significant way, He began to build words full of light, authority and wisdom. Not on- His Church, His new family, upon these disciples, ly were the good Jews astonished, but among and particularly on Simon Peter, their future lead- them was a man “possessed by an unclean devil” er. Not only theirs, but the whole future church. who recognized, more than anyone there, the truth Each event that Luke tells of the first days there is about Jesus. related to Peter’s presence and influence. Luke wrote for his Christian community and he is In a terrifying scene, Jesus suddenly encoun- teaching about the Church. tered the Adversary of God whom He had faced in the desert. The devils, hearing Jesus, “cried out with a loud voice,” shrieking with hatred and © Copyright, 1986-1987 Catholic Scripture Study, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Series I Lesson 9 Page 2 dread, “Let us alone!” They loudly called him Jesus tried to let His hearers gradually realize who “Jesus of Nazareth, the Holy One of God.” The He was, and also, to prevent the jealous and proud first of these titles belonged to Jesus as man; the Pharisees and rulers to fear His popularity before second, as God. It must have shocked and horri- it was His “hour.” fied the assembled Jews of the town to hear the name of God shouted out, which no one but the This great show of Jesus’ real nature and call, high priest was allowed to say! They heard Jesus at the close of a day with a crowd gathered at Pe- say in a firm voice, “Be quiet and go out of him!” ter’s house where Jesus stayed has a strong theo- Immediately, the man was thrown down in front logical lesson. Jesus came to save body and soul; of Jesus, as if in a forced homage, and lay quiet. His miracles and His liberation from evils of mind All there saw the authority of Jesus over a dread- are signs of the final state of those who follow and ful presence, an influence none of them had ever accept Him: the resurrected state, a triumph over seen controlled; but before their eyes, by one death and bodily ills, over sin and mental ills, a word from this young man from Nazareth, it was state of a renewed humanity. Utter truth and done. Rumors went everywhere that day when wholeness is the gift of Jesus, the Kingdom of a they left the synagogue, concerning Jesus. new Adam and Eve, the original paradise restored to His Father. B. In Simon Peter’s Home (Luke 4:38- 44). Jesus then went to the home of Simon and For this, we count all as loss, as we try to live Andrew for dinner. They hopefully told Him of the way of Jesus on earth, enduring any illness, Simon’s mother-in-law, lying in her room with a persecution, mental distress, or trial, for the sake “great fever.” Malaria was common around the of the time that Paul describes, “When Christ, lake in the low altitude. Here, Luke is careful to your life, appears, then you too will appear with note that Jesus’ first miracle of healing is in Pe- Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). ter’s house, and is for a woman who was loving and caring in her service to others. Jesus went to III. THE NEW PEOPLE OF GOD—THE her, took her hand and “checked the fever.” CHURCH (Luke 4:42 - 5:11) C. This quiet miracle soon was spread A. Early Morning (Luke 4:42-44). The around the neighborhood and the town that Sab- wonderful but exhausting day closed with Jesus bath afternoon, as friends and relatives visited. asleep in Simon’s house. Yet not for long. He After the Sabbath rest was over and people could arose early, went to a secluded spot on the shore, go more than 2,000 cubits (about half a mile), “the and communed with His Father. This restored Je- whole town,” says Luke, swarmed to Peter’s sus as nothing else. It is an example for us; we, house, bringing their sick. Luke the physician too, need prayer with God, alone, Luke tells us notes that Jesus “laid his hands upon each of elsewhere that He “always went to a deserted them” in the crowded street. Each one was im- place to pray.” portant, Jesus did not heal in an impersonal way. All were healed. Here, too, devils recognized Je- The townspeople were up early the next morn- sus and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” ing, looking for Jesus at Peter’s house; He was not Again Jesus rebuked them and forbade them to there. Alarmed, Peter and the others looked for speak. Him and found Him on the shore. “All are look- ing for you,” they told him. Jesus quietly replied, These two instances when Jesus commanded “I must go to other towns, for this is why I have devils not to speak of Him as they did, are exam- been sent.” The Father sent Him to all the towns, ples of what scholars call “The Messianic Secret.” all the world, not just Capernaum. Series I Lesson 9 Page 3 light of Christ’s holiness revealed to Peter his own Jesus is totally dependent on His Father for sinful unworthiness, and he knelt in lowly awe His mission; He returns to Him for counsel and and said, “Depart from me, LORD, for I am a sin- unity and life. “All” are looking for Jesus, and He ful man.” The use of the title LORD, is a sign that came for all. The Greek for “All”—universal is a revelation came to Peter, although not yet clear- “catolica.” This word was first used for the ly, that this man had the power of GOD! And Pe- Church about 100 years after Christ by Ignatius, ter was suddenly afraid of such an awesome Be- bishop of Antioch, who was instructed by the ing. James and John, sons of Zebedee and Simon Apostle John. Ignatius was martyred in 110 (Faith Peter’s partners, heard the significant words. of the Early Fathers, Wm. Jurgens). The Church is for all, is founded by God’s Son, upon the “rock” Jesus replies with a common Biblical phrase of Peter. to those in the presence of the Divine—“Do not be afraid.” Then He singles Peter out, commis- B. In Simon’s Boat (Luke 5:1-11). Jesus sioning Him to “catch men” from “henceforth”— went back with Simon and astounded him and his a lifelong job for Peter the Rock, who finally laid associates, as well as the townspeople, with an- it down on a cross similar to Jesus’, when Peter other day of deeds pointing at universal salvation. died in Rome for his Master. The successors of Peter ever since have been, as he was when he The crowd gathered on the seashore, and Je- died, Bishops of Rome, and head of the Bishops, sus, in Simon’s boat, preached to them. Luke the successors of the other Apostles, over all the places here a miracle that John places after the universal church, a church for all races and times. resurrection. But placed here, it has a strong symbolic meaning, again connected with Peter. After Peter, James and John brought their For this whole beginning of the public ministry is boats to land, “They left everything and became happening in Peter’s town, house, family, work His followers” (Luke 5:11). Jesus continued His and friends. We are all included, for it is in Pe- miracles attracting great crowds. ter’s house, the church of Rome, that we are rowed to shore and where crowds are saved by the IV.