Situated in the Golan Heights about three miles from the Sea of Galilee are the ruins of Korazin, once cursed by Yeshua for the unbelief of its citizens. Nearby Capernaum and Bethsaida joined Korazin as the other corners of the “orthodox triangle,” an area inhabited primarily by devout Jews. Jesus spent a great deal of time in this small area, living in Capernaum and teaching in the towns and villages nearby. From the Galilee His fame spread throughout Israel and to the adjacent countries. At Korazin, archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a synagogue, several public buildings, and an oil pressing installation. Also discovered was a Moses’ seat, the special seat for the weekly Torah readers in the Korazin synagogue. Studying the ruins of Korazin and other Galilean towns, scholars have pieced together a picture of family life in the first century.

In Jesus’ time, families frequently lived together in clusters of buildings called an insula. These family compounds were built around a central courtyard. Grandparents, cousins, uncles, and aunts all lived and interacted together in the insula as a close-knit unit. When a son grew up and was ready for marriage, a new building was added to the insula. After a bride agreed to marry him, the future husband would return to his family insula and build new rooms onto his father’s home. The son, anxious to be married, waited for the day when his father would pronounce the rooms ready to be occupied. Only then would he marry his bride and bring her to their new home.

As He taught, Yeshua drew on many family practices that were common in His day. Jesus presented a beautiful picture of heaven when He said; “In my Father’s house are many rooms. I am going there to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2 & 3). This word-picture presented Jesus as a bridegroom, preparing new rooms for His followers in the insula of heaven. When Jesus described His second coming, He again used the picture of a young bridegroom, waiting for his father’s approval to return and claim his bride: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father” (Matt. 24:36).

By using the familiar images of an insula, Jesus helped his followers to understand our eternal home. He also painted a picture of the household believers, where God’s family lives in close community. Living the Christian life successfully is a team sport. Unfortunately, most Christians have little time to spend with their ‘family of faith.’ Most of the time we can’t even find the time to sit down at the dinner table with our own family. In both cases, we act this way because we don’t understand the importance or the consequences of not making that time happen with those we say we love. Thought about in the context of Yeshua's imagery, it is clear that He spoke to an audience who understood the value of living life together, for the mutual benefit of all. They loved one another and their actions proved it.