The transition between private and public life.
Before our Lord entered on his public life at Jerusalem, he goes back, as it were, for a moment into the retirement of his family.
I. THE SCENE OF OUR LORD'S VISIT. "After this he went down to Capernaum."
1. It was the Jewish capital of Galilee, down upon the Sea of Tiberias, an important place of commerce.
2. It became, after Nazareth, the home of Jesus. (Matthew 4:13.) It is called "his own city" (Matthew 9:1). On the occasion of the present visit he had come directly from Nazareth, after the Cana miracle.
3. It was a city honoured by the working of many miracles; yet, notwithstanding, distinguished by a most perverse unbelief. "Thou Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be cast down to hell" (Matthew 11:23).
4. It is now a ruin, identified as Tell-Hum.
II. THE OCCASION AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS VISIT. It has a double aspect so far as it relates to Christ's relatives and to his disciples. "His mother and brethren are still with him, attached merely by nature; his disciples newly attached by faith."
1. Christ recognized the tender ties of kinship. He allowed his mother and his brothers—though they did not yet believe in him—to enjoy the satisfaction of his society for a time before his entrance upon his public ministry.
2. Christ definitely called the disciples to the apostleship during this visit. This is evident from Matthew 10:1. The call was followed by the miraculous draught of fishes. The disciples were henceforth to follow Christ forever.