Jesus arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them (Luke 4:38-39, ESV).
I’ve been to Israel six times. On five of those trips, I visited Capernaum.
Capernaum was a fishing village with a population of about 1,500 people in the first century. It also became “Jesus Central” as it was the base of operations from which Jesus traveled and returned for most of His earthly ministry.
If you travel to Capernaum, you will note a synagogue and 90 feet outside the door of this synagogue is Simon’s house (aka Peter’s). If you read Luke 4 carefully, it indicates that Jesus left the synagogue and — the text indicates — immediately entered Simon’s house.
Let’s get this straight. Jesus leaves the synagogue and walks about a minute or 90 feet to the house where Peter’s mother-in-law was sick.
I’ve been to this location five times, and yes, it takes a minute to walk the distance.
Why am I making such a big deal of 90 feet?
Because those who follow a Theology of Doubt debunk the accuracy of the Bible. There are two prevalent Theologies of Doubt influencing our culture today — Liberalism, which started in the early 1900s, and today, a regurgitation of Liberalism (same thoughts but different words) known as Progressivism.
Doubting began with the Garden of Eden when Satan said to Eve, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of this garden?’”
Liberals and progressives doubt both the existence of Satan, the garden historical event, and pretty much everything else in the Bible that besmirches their supposedly scientific presuppositions or “do your own thing” morals.
The Bible takes itself literally — historically and with truth.
Theologies of Doubt must undermine both for their self-serving agendas.
Wow, what a rant, Pastor Grant! Why?
Because into the midst of doubt, an established fact exists that Peter’s house was mentioned in the Bible as right outside the door of the synagogue, and over two thousand years later, we can prove that the Bible is accurate in this seemingly inconsequential detail.
Yes, just 90 feet.
There are hundreds of other small details that have been proven as well.
Yes, there are some questions about the historicity of the Bible that the Theologies of Doubt keep harping about, but in my experience, as new historical discoveries about the lands of the Bible pile up, we find that the liberal and progressive debunking usually ends with archeological mud thrown on the faces of these doubters!
Increase your faith today in the reliability of the Bible — remember 90 feet!