Published on 04/16/2008

Pope Benedict XVI arrived yesterday on his first papal visit to America. Today's Wall Street Journal reports that the pope's two stadium Masses, in Washington tomorrow and Yankee Stadium Sunday, are completely "sold out." Church officials had just 103,000 free tickets to give away, far less than demand. For America's 64 million Roman Catholics, this is a rare chance to see the pontiff. If they will not come to the Vatican, he will come to them. Hold that thought for a moment.

This week we are taking a tour of the Holy Land for the heart. Having just returned from nearly three weeks in Israel, it is my privilege to be your guide. Yesterday we surveyed the Galilee from Mt. Arbel; today we make our way to Capernaum on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. This vibrant city was Jesus' ministry base (Matthew 4:13). Simon and Andrew, James and John, and Matthew the tax collector all lived in this community.

Capernaum lay near the major trading route which led to Syria and the East. Peter's home was likely situated in the southeastern corner of the present-day city ruins; inscriptions dating to the first century in Latin, Syriac, Greek and Hebrew attest to its significance for pilgrims. It is the largest home yet discovered in the city, and lay closest to the beach.

The synagogue in Capernaum was large and impressive. A fourth-century structure stands today on the first-century foundation of Jesus' "home church." Here he taught, healed, and worshiped his Father. And from this lakeside community our Lord chose to go "to the nearby villages so I can preach there also. That is why I have come" (Mark 1:38). The result: "He traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons" (v. 39).

Jesus could have set up his ministry in Jerusalem and waited for the Galileans to come to him, but he came to them. He could have waited in Capernaum for them to find him, but he went to find them. His initiative demonstrates the difference between Christianity and religion. The latter is our effort to climb up to God; the former is God's decision to climb down to us. We could not find God, so he came to find us: "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

Now he has come for you this morning. Perhaps through this essay, or a moment spent in Bible study and prayer, or a sunrise, or a song on the radio, or the kind word of a friend. The God of the universe longs for time alone with us. Is he waiting on you?