John 2:12

John 2:12-13 . After this he went down to Capernaum — A city that lay near the north part of the sea of Galilee, and on the south border of the land of Naphthali. See note on Matthew 4:13 . Here Christ and his disciples continued but a short time, the passover of the Jews being at hand, which Jesus, who was made under the law, and maintained a religious regard to its ceremonial, as well as its moral precepts, would not neglect attending: thus teaching us by his example a strict observance of all divine institutions, and a diligent attendance on religious assemblies. As the evangelists have not informed us how many passovers happened between the baptism and death of Christ, or during the course of his public ministry, learned men have been much divided in their opinions on the subject. But by far the greater part have supposed there were four, reckoning this the first; the feast mentioned John 5:1 , the second; the passover spoken of John 6:4 , as the third; and that at which Christ suffered, the fourth. But there are others of a different opinion. The celebrated Sir Isaac Newton reckons five; the first, this which is now before us; the second, according to him, happened four months after Christ’s discourse with the woman of Samaria, John 4:35 ; the third, a few days before the story of the disciples rubbing the ears of corn, Luke 6:1 ; the fourth, a little after the feeding of the five thousand; and the last, at the time of our Lord’s crucifixion.

John 2:12 . From Nazareth to Capernaum and thence to Jerusalem . At John 2:12 , as Calvin says, “transit Evangelista ad novam historiam”. This new section runs to the end of the fourth chapter, and gives an account of the first great series of public manifestations on the part of Christ (1) in Jerusalem, (2) in Judaea, (3) in Samaria, (4) in Galilee. These are introduced by the note of time, μετὰ τοῦτο , commonly used by John when he wishes merely to denote sequence without definitely marking the length of the interval. The interval in the present case was probably long enough at any rate to allow of the Nazareth family returning home, although this is not in the text. The motive for a fresh movement was probably the desire of the fishermen to return home. Accordingly κατέβη εἰς Καφαρναοὺμ , down from the higher lands about Nazareth to the lake side, 680 feet below sea level. His destination was Καφαρναούμ , the site of which is probably to be found at Khan Minyeh (Minia), at the north end of the plain of Gennesareth, where the great road to Damascus leaves the lake side and strikes north. [The most valuable comparison of the two competing sites, Tell Hum and Khan Minyeh , will be found in the Rob Roy on the Jordan . Mr. Macgregor spent several days sounding along the shore, measuring distances, comparing notes, and making careful examination, and concluded in favour of Khan Minyeh.

Tell Hum was thought to represent Kefr Nahum (Nahumston); which, when it ceased to be a town and became a heap of ruins, might have been called Tell Nahum, and hence Tell Hum. Authoritative opinion is, however, decidedly in favour of Khan Minyeh.] With Jesus there went to Capernaum ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ … αὐτοῦ . From the manner in which His brothers are here mentioned along with His mother the natural inference is that they were of the same father and probably of the same mother. At Capernaum no long stay was made, the reason being given in John 2:13 , ἐγγὺς ἦν τὸ πάσχα τῶν Ἰουδαίων , the Passover was approaching, here called “of the Jews,” either for the sake of Gentile readers or because the Christian Easter was sometimes called πάσχα , and John wished to distinguish it.— καὶ ἀνέβη … ὁ Ἰησοῦς , the disciples also went, as appears from John 2:17 . “Went up ” because Jerusalem was the capital, and because of its height (2500 feet) above sea level. On these movements Prof. Sanday ( Fourth Gospel , p. 53) makes the remark: “If it is all an artificial composition with a dogmatic object, why should the author carry his readers thus to Capernaum—for nothing? The apparent aimlessness of this statement seems to show that it came directly from a fresh and vivid recollection and not from any floating tradition.”

Capernaum was a city lifted up to heaven, for mercies of all sorts, which Christ foretold, Matthew 11:28 , should be brought down to hell, for their contempt of his doctrine and miracles. It was in the tribe of Naphtali, whose lot was contiguous to Zebulun, and lay on the north east of it; a place where Christ afterwards preached much, and wrought many miracles, Matthew 8:13,14 9:18 Mark 2:1 5:22 ; a place brought so low in Hierom’s time, that it scarce consisted of seven poor cottages of fishermen. Thither at this time went Christ, and his mother, and his brethren, ( by which term the Scripture often expresses any near kinsmen), and his disciples; whether only the five mentioned in the former chapter, or others also, is not said. But they did not at that time stay long there, probably because the passover time (when they were to be at Jerusalem) was so nigh, as would not admit any long stay before they began their journey; and it is likely that the company mentioned here to be with Christ at Capernaum, did also design to go along with him to the passover, of which we next read.

12 . “Now follows a section of which we can only say with M. Renan, that it constitutes a decisive triumph for our Gospel.… If it is at all an artificial composition, with a dogmatic object, why should the author carry his readers thus to Capernaum—for nothing?” S. p. 52. If S. John wrote it, all is simple and natural. He records this visit to Capernaum because it actually took place, and because he well remembers those ‘not many days.’ went down ] Capernaum (the modern Tell-Hûm) being on the shore of the lake. It was situated in one of the most busy and populous districts of Palestine, and was therefore a good centre. his mother, and his brethren ] Natural ties still hold Him; in the next verse they disappear. On the vexed question of the ‘brethren of the Lord’ see the Introduction to the Epistle of S. James . It is impossible to determine with certainty whether they are (1) the children of Joseph and Mary, born after the birth of Jesus; (2) the children of Joseph by a former marriage, whether levirate or not; or (3) adopted children. There is nothing in Scripture to warn us against (1), the most natural view antecedently; but it has against it the general consensus of the Fathers, and the prevailing tradition of the perpetual virginity of S. Mary.

Jerome’s theory, that they were our Lord’s cousins, sons of Alphaeus, is the one most commonly adopted, but John 7:5 (see note there) is fatal to it, and it labours under other difficulties as well. (2) is on the whole the most probable. continued there ] Better, abode there . See on John 1:33 . not many days ] Because the Passover was at hand, and He must be about His Father’s business.

John 2:12 . Κατέβη ) He went down from Cana.— καί , and ) A holy family. His Brethren are put before His disciples . The privileges of His brethren had been great, if they had used them. [ These are here mentioned in the first place: and Joseph is not now added. It is not without good reason one may suspect, that Joseph died during the interval between the twelfth and thirtieth year of Jesus’ age, and that His brethren were not Joseph’s own children ( for Jesus, as He was reputed the Son, so was He reputed to be absolutely the first-begotten of Joseph ), but Mary’s sisters sons.—Harm. , p. 160.]— οὐ πολλὰς ἡμέρας , not many days ) He accustomed them to travelling from place to place; and His journey to Jerusalem was at hand. See the following ver. [ Manifestly by this phrase (comp. Acts 1:5 , οὐ μετὰ πολλὰς ταύτας ἡμέρας ; John 13:31 , ἐπὶ ἡμέρας πλείους ) this continuing [ ἔμειναν , they continued there ] is distinguished from His dwelling at Capernaum. That went before,—this followed the imprisonment of John.—Harm. , l. c.]

(12) After this he went down to Capernaum. —For the position of Capernaum comp. Note on Matthew 4:13 . It was on the shore of the lake of Tiberias, and He must have gone “down” to it from any locality among the hills of Galilee. The words do not imply that they went to Capernaum direct from Cana. The “after this” allows of a return to Nazareth, and the mention of the “brethren” makes such a return probable. The place of this sojourn in the order of events belongs to the narrative of the earlier Gospels, and here, as elsewhere, questions which recur are treated when they are first mentioned. To deal with them on each occurrence would be to save the trouble of reference at the cost of much space; and this would be ill-saved; the spiritual profit arising from constant reference is one which no earnest student of the Gospels could desire to lose. He will wish to study every event in that life in every word which records it. (Comp. Matthew 4:13 et seq., and Matthew 9:1 ; Mark 3:21-31 ; Mark 6:3 ; Luke 4:16-30 ). For the “brethren of the Lord,” see Note on Matthew 13:55 .