While Capernaum may be the most interesting place in the Galilee area, Tabgha (a mere stone’s throw from Capernaum) is one of my favorite places in all of Israel. I so closely identify with Peter, and this place has his footprints all over it!

Seven warm water springs flow into the Sea of Galilee at this place.  The Sea of Galilee is fed primarily with snow melt off of Mt Hermon, and other water sources to the north.  Thus, these warm water springs make this a rich fishing area.  That, along with other archaeological clues lead us to believe that it was here on these shores that Jesus called His first disciples, Peter, Andrew, James, and John.  Read the account in Matthew 4:18-24, Mark 1:16-20, or Luke 5:1-11…then imagine that happening on this shore:

Later, crowds were pressing around Jesus when He found Peter and other fishermen cleaning their nets on this shore. (Luke 5:1-11)  Jesus got into Peter’s boat and asked him to put out a little ways from shore, creating a natural amplification so that He could teach the people.  When He finished teaching, Jesus instructed Peter to put out into the deep and let down his nets.  By all human understanding, it was not a good time to fish, and the fishermen had worked hard all night and had caught nothing!  As was his tendency, Peter questioned the Lord, yet ultimately did as he was instructed.  The result was that they caught so many fish that their nets began to break!  Jesus told those disciples that they would become fishers of men!

Are we willing to “let down the nets” at His word?

Well, we know that Peter ultimately denied Jesus three times, just prior to Jesus’ crucifixion.  Peter was devastated.  After the crucifixion, the disciples apparently went back home to resume their previous professions.  Peter returned to this area to resume fishing.  According to John 21, the disciples were fishing, and again were catching nothing.  From the shore, Jesus shouted to them to cast their nets on the other side.  Again, they caught so many fish that they couldn’t get them into the boat!  Ultimately, they recognized the man on shore…Jesus!

Then Jesus did a very special thing to my man, Peter.  (John 21:15-17) After preparing breakfast and feeding the disciples, Jesus asked Peter 3 times if he loved Him.  Though Peter didn’t understand the agape love Jesus was talking about, he had the opportunity to declare his love 3 times to Jesus…the same number of times he had denied Him that fateful night prior to Jesus’ crucifixion.  Jesus totally restored Peter, and we know that Peter went on to become a very bold proclaimer of the Gospel!  In fact, it was Peter who first brought the Gospel to the Gentiles!

Peter was fully restored at Tabgha.  Have you ever “denied the Lord,” or thought that you’ve blown it so badly that you would never be forgiven, much less restored?  Well, just as Peter “blew it” and was restored, so the Lord’s grace reaches just as fully to us!  Don’t think for a moment that our precious Lord does not have special plans for you!  He is able to turn our worst into something powerful!  He loves you…and has left this sign on the shores of Tabgha!

Thank God for Peter…and for this place that teaches us such deep truths about the Lord’s calling and faithfulness to us!