Luke 4:31-32 :

He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. He was teaching them on the Sabbath day, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority.

Nazareth, the town where Jesus was brought up, is in Galilee. Jesus left to a different city in this region of Galilee called Capernaum. Instead of questioning Jesus, the people of Capernaum “were astonished at his teaching.” They took Jesus’ words as if they had authority instead of as merely “gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth” as they did in Nazareth.

I believe that God may not want all of us to “bloom where we are planted.” Jesus had to move to a different city in order to be respected, perhaps some of us need to move to a different place in order to find our ministry too. I am very sure that some people are to stay where they are, but it appears to be common, at least among prophets, to get to a place where people respond to your words in faith. Of course it is absolutely required that any prophet speak the true word of God as is written in the Bible. If we don’t speak the truth, we shouldn’t be surprised if we get ourselves into trouble no matter where we go. Knowing the word of God that was written down is a requirement of a true prophet just as Jesus was well aware of the Scriptures in His day and would go “into the synagogue on the Sabbath day” and read to others with authority.

I share with the people of Capernaum in that I am also “astonished at His teaching.” Jesus spoke the world into existence, it must have been amazing to actually listen to His words in the synagogue! When writing a book, it can be difficult to express meaning with words when you have to translate it through text. I am unable to use my tone of voice or body language to communicate. I am forced to use a limited vocabulary that is more clear and uses less implication than I would when I am able to gesture and use tone of voice. These people were listing to the Word of God in broadband and it was amazing to them as it will be to you and I when we hear the Lord someday with our own ears and see Him with our own eyes. Could today be the day?