Triangle of Disbelief

A region east of Florida, northwest of Puerto Rico, and southeast of Bermuda is called the Bermuda or Devil’s Triangle, as several aircraft and ships have disappeared in this region. The unique and unpredictable weather in the region contributes to these disappearances.

(Wikipedia)

Similarly, the northern region of the Sea of Galilee had a triangle of three cities called the Triangle of Disbelief – Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. (Two adjoining cities were called Bethsaida; later, one was renamed Julias.)

Although the New Testament writers didn’t record any miracles in Chorazin, they recorded some of the miracles in Bethsaida and Capernaum. They told us that Peter, Andrew, and Philip were from Bethsaida, Jesus healed a blind man in Bethsaida (Mark 8:22), and he fed the 5,000 people with five pieces of bread near Bethsaida. When his ministry began, Jesus left Nazareth and lived in Capernaum, by the lake in the territory allotted to Zebulun and Naphtali (Matt 4:13). Peter’s mother-in-law lived in Capernaum. There he healed the son of a centurion (Matt 8:5), Peter found two drachma coins in the mouth of a fish as Jesus predicted (Matt 17:24), Jesus walked on water as the disciples were heading to Capernaum on a boat (John 6:17), and he frequently taught in their synagogue (Luke 4:31). Even after seeing all these miracles and wonders, the people were filled with disbelieved and hesitant to believe in Jesus.

So, one time, the Lord said,

“Aiyo, Chorazin! Aiyo, Bethsaida! If powers demonstrated among you happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have sat in sackcloth and ashes and repented! In judgment, it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you – Capernaum – didn’t you exalt yourself to the heaven? You’ll be brought down to the Hades.” (Luke 10:13–15)

The Greek ουαί (pronounced u-i) was an exclamation like Phew! Whoa! Ouch! Ow! Oh! Wow! (I have used a common exclamation in Singapore, Aiyo.) Since it was often associated with hardship or distress, English translations use “Woe!” Jesus wasn’t exactly proclaiming a punishment declaration as much as a statement of astonishment – if only these miracles were done in a harsh city like Tyre and Sidon, they would have grieved and repented.

Miracles were meant to lead people to God, beginning with them changing their former lifestyle (i.e., repenting). That was what those seventy disciples were to remember as they went village to village proclaiming God’s rule.

“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me. And the one who rejects me, rejects Him who sent me [God]” (Luke 10:16)

Sometimes, in ministry (and life), we can feel dejected, as if no one hears our message. We may think: Why do we keep preaching, teaching, or leading? No one cares. It isn’t about us. Our messages (including miracles) must focus on the Lord and God who sent him. Ultimately, those who accept or reject the message are accountable to him. They should be like Tyre and Sidon and return to God rather than be like Chroazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum.