Capernaum saw more miracles of Jesus than any other town around. Jesus comes and He’s preaching a very simple message, but a message of hope and a message of peace. But it all has to do with are you ready. Are you ready to live life that matters? Are you ready to be released to break off from shackles of tradition and religion and follow Me, the living God, the way the Bible tells you to?

Many have said or thought at times: If only God would do this or do that then my family or friend would believe. This pondering is usually in the realm of the miraculous. If God would heal, if God would provide, if God would protect, and, even, if God would avenge, then more people would come to believe in Him.

That is how the thought process works. The problem with that thinking is that it isn’t true.

Matthew 4:23-24 KJV – “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.”

John 21:25 KJV – “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.”

All four of the gospels record many of the physics-defying, chain-breaking, captive-freeing miracles done by Jesus. The whole region knew of His displays of miraculous power, and, yet, He wound up on a cross at the wishes of the people who saw, heard of, or even experienced His divine power. Think about His earthly ministry headquarters of Capernaum:

Matthew 11:20-24 KJV – “Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”

God came down to the earth and inhabited a body in the likeness of sinful flesh. He healed thousands, fed tens of thousands, cast out demons, and, as John said, did many other things that the volume of books necessary to record them all would be greater that the earth’s capacity to store them. Yet, His mighty works didn’t convince the majority of people to repent. When the church was born after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, it was comprised of about 120 people. Why? People didn’t like Jesus’ message. They didn’t think they needed to repent. They thought their righteousness came from being Jews and adhering to the law.

The problem in Capernaum was the same problem many have today, which is the love of religion and tradition. These things are what makes many people feel worthy of eternal rewards. After all, they did what they were supposed to, they honored the traditions of their belief system, and, thus, they deserve the best in the next life and have no need for a Savior.

What Jesus offered to those in His day is what He still offers to all mankind today – freedom. Freedom from religion, freedom from rituals, freedom from tradition. What He offers instead of rituals and traditions is to make you free.

John 8:36 KJV – “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

The problem with “works righteousness” – or worthiness achieved by observing religious rituals and traditions – is that if you become worthy by keeping them, then you become unworthy when you don’t. This leaves you living a life that could hardly be called free. Instead, you live a roller coaster life of emotional ups and downs based on your performance or adherence to rituals and traditions.

Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

As a Christian we know what and where our eternal destiny is and why we have that assurance. Our hope of heaven is not based on what was done “by” us, but rather what Christ did “for” us. 

Galatians 2:20 KJV – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Yes, there are ordinances and traditions within the Christian faith, but they serve as reminders, not achievements that make us deserving. We have been saved by faith through God’s gracious offer of salvation through His only begotten Son, and whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life. Not because they earned or deserve it, but because of what He did on our behalf.

Rituals and traditions can be good when in their proper place, but when keeping them is what you depend on to become worthy of salvation, you’re missing out on the beauty of the free gift of God through Christ Jesus our Lord!

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus,