There is nothing like waking up with the Sea of Galilee out my windows! This is a place we have fallen in love with, and it will be hard to leave. But, that’s for another day!
This was a special day, as we began with baptisms of anyone who wished to be baptized in the Jordan River, as Jesus was. It may not be the exact spot, but Yardinit is a gorgeous setting for such a memorable moment. Baptism is an acknowledgment of faith and a representation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism saves no one, but it is an outward symbol of what God has done inwardly.
(Reminder: click on pictures to see a larger version.)
After time to dry off and change clothes, we headed a few miles up the road to board a boat for a time on the Sea of Galilee. After raising the flags of the US, Canada, and South Africa (all represented on our tour), we settled in with a devotional from Mark 4:35-41 (backed up with extra details in Luke 8:22-25).
Following the devotional, it was party time! Our good natured skipper taught us how to cast nets and walk on water! Then we learned the Hava Nagila and danced around the boat for quite some time! Its easy, its fun, and we had a great time!
The party boat then dumped us off at Nof Ginosar, a kibbutz that hosts the Jesus Boat, a 1st century fishing vessel very much like the ones Jesus and His disciples were in from time to time. It is an amazing story how fishermen found and recovered the ancient vessel in 1986.
Upon leaving Nof Ginosar, we headed to lunch where we were served St Peter’s fish (talapia from the Sea of Galilee). A few of us were brave enough to order it served as it would have been on the shores of the Galilee!
(Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!)
Then, on to Tabgha, Mt of Beatitudes, Capernaum, and Magdala, all sites of Jesus’ ministry around the Galilee. At Tabgha, one of my favorite spots to sit and contemplate, we camped out in John 21. Following Jesus’ resurrection, He “showed Himself” at the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee). After following Jesus, many went back to their old professions, so Peter and the fishermen went out to fish. Having caught nothing, they returned to shore where Jesus stood. Yet they did not recognize Him. “Cast your nets on the other side,” Jesus yelled to the men in the boat. When they brought in a haul, the disciples suddenly recognized Jesus!
Then, following breakfast, Jesus went on to restore Peter. Recall that, prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, Peter had denied Him three times. On this shore, Jesus restored Peter by asking three times if he loved Him, then commanding him to feed and tend His sheep. The chapter ends in proclamation that all the books in the world could not contain all the things Jesus did. All this, right here on this shore!
After Tabgha, on to Capernaum, Jesus’ ministry headquarters. Jesus performed many miracles here (healing Peter’s mother-in-law, healing the centurion’s daughter, healing the lame man let down through the roof, healing the woman with the issue of blood, and more). We entered the 4th century synagogue (built on top of the synagogue of Jesus’ day, in which He would have taught) and gazed upon the house of Peter and his family. These are amazing discoveries that give us such great assurance of Jesus’ ministry here.
The Mt of Beatitudes was next. Near this very place is thought to be the place where Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount to thousands of people. There is a natural theater nearby. Meanwhile, the Mt of Beatitudes is run by the monastery on the grounds. It is a beautiful, peaceful place of prayer and quiet contemplation of the Beatitudes.
Our final tour stop of the day was Magdala. A fairly recently excavated area, this is undoubtedly the village of Mary Magdalene. Having cast out 7 demons from her, she became a follower of Jesus, and Jesus would almost certainly have taught in the synagogue in this village. Of great interest here is the 1st century synagogue and the Magdala Stone found there. The stone was a pulpit of sorts upon which teachers would unroll the scrolls to teach the congregation. It is believed that Jesus unrolled scrolls and taught from that stone many times.
Also of note here is the beautiful “boat chapel” in which the platform appears as a boat sitting on the sea. (The Sea of Galilee is just outside the window.) When we were there, a priest was giving mass, providing the perfect photo op. Several other coves in that chapel have wall murals meaningful to Jesus’ teachings. Downstairs is the increasingly famous mural of the woman touching the hem of Jesus’ garment. That occurred in nearby Capernaum, but is memorialized in mural on the wall in Magdala.
It was a long day, but a fun morning and contemplative afternoon. I think we’re all ready for some rest!
Tomorrow is transition day. We say goodbye to the Galilee (always a tough goodbye), as well as goodbye to a really nice hotel right on the shore. We’ll travel southward down the Jordan River Valley all the way into the desert area near the Dead Sea. Along the way, we will hike Ein Gedi, one of David’s hiding places from Saul, visit majestic Masada, site of the Jews last stand as they were overtaken by the Romans in 70AD, and experience a float in the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth and so mineral rich it is literally impossible to sink! We will also enter the Holy City…Jerusalem…tomorrow night!
Please follow along as we journey to the heart of Judaism and the roots of our Christian faith. Blessings!
