Sermons of Robert Murray MCheyne 1. Capernaum

Extract

“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” Matthew 11:20-24.

On the north-west border of the lake of Galilee, there is a beautiful little plain, which was called in ancient times ‘the land of Gennesaret.’ It is in the shape of a crescent, and is about four miles in length, and two in breadth at its broadest part. It has two fine streams which rush down from the mountains, and it has, besides, two large fountains; so that it is well watered and very fertile. On that little plain stood long ago the three cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. At the northern corner, almost at the sea, there is a fine fountain, and beside it a heap of ruins half buried by the reeds and thorny bushes that spread over them. This is believed to mark the site of Capernaum. Of the other two not a vestige remains, and no man can tell in what part of the plain they stood. And yet it was there in that little plain that Jesus did most of his mighty works. But the woe which he pronounced over them has fallen with silent but exterminating power. It is more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for Chorazin and Bethsaida; and Capernaum, long exalted to heaven, has been brought down to hell. Tell me, brethren, is there no voice of warning rising from these blasted ruins addressed to this favoured land? Is there no warning here for you and me? You, too, have been favoured like Capernaum, and if you do not repent, you will be brought down to hell.

I. Capernaum was exalted to heaven.
The reason why Capernaum is said to have been exalted to heaven was because of Christ’s preaching and performing so many …