Sea of Galilee

Today is Friday, November 4. Our morning began with a view of the Sea of Galilee from our hotel windows. It was hard to believe I was in the place where Jesus lived and walked until I looked on the hotel wall and it said, "Jesus slept here!" 

Breakfast was a multitude of options: pancakes, omelets, vegetable quiche, herring, etc. Thank God for coffee!! Following breakfast we made our way to the Jordan River. One in the group from SC was going to be baptized today. The leader of the SC group, Dr. Jim Bross, performed the baptism in the Jordan River and also administered sprinkling to those who would like to be sprinkled. The place where the baptisms took place was quite a set up! Multiple entry points into the Jordan with concrete steps and medal fencing forming various baptism "pools". To be baptized - a white garment is rented along with a towel. (Bathing suits were worn underneath) Changing rooms are available with showers, etc. The cost of the rental is $10 and you receive a certificate of baptism in the Jordan. The baptisms were administered accompanied by catfish swimming close by as well as a frequent river rat that made its way into the "pool". For a benediction we sang the Doxology - it was truly amazing - when we sang "praise Him all creatures here below" - a school of fish poked their heads out of the water and it looked like they were singing with us! 

There were hundreds being baptized at various "pools". There was also a gift shop! Seeing the whole operation I found myself wondering WWJD? 

From the Jordan River we traveled to a port on the Sea of Galilee. There we boarded a boat designed like a boat Jesus would have traveled on when on the Sea of Galilee. In the distance we could see Capernaum and the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Dr. Bross and I decided to forego the canned music during the boat ride. We decided, "why mess up a moment for meditation?" It was quite pleasant hearing the waves hit the side of the boat as we journeyed across. On our journey, we stopped the engines and read the story of Peter walking on the water and the story of Jesus calming the storm. After reading the story, we sang "Peace, Be Still". Peter, our tour guide, shared a parable about two bodies of water - the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. Both bodies of water receive water from the Jordan River. However, only the Sea of Galilee gives back. In our own lives we may be one to receive but are we also someone who gives in return?

After our return to shore, we made our way to Capernaum, the home of Jesus. There we saw the remnants of a "second" century synagogue and the location of the home where Jesus lived. Peter, our tour guide, spent a good amount of time helping us to understand what the home would have looked like and what the community would have looked like where Jesus lived.

After Capernaum, we went to see the House of Peter which is located on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where the story of breakfast on the beach with Jesus took place. Here, Peter and others were fishing but not catching anything - Jesus told them to cast on the other side - they did and their nets filled to overflowing. It is also here that Jesus asked Peter three times - "Do you love me?" Within the church at the altar is a rock that many believe is where the breakfast was served. Several took off their shoes and waded in the water.

Lunch was at a local restaurant that served St. Peter fish (tilapia). Some had the fish -head and all - others enjoyed beef kabob or chicken. 

Following lunch we saw the Church of the Beatitudes near Tabgha - located on the traditional site of Jesus' delivery of the Sermon on the Mount. The church is octagonal - 8 sides for the 8 beatitudes. The church is Byzantine style with a mosaic tile and marble. The grounds were beautiful!!

Our last stop for the day was Tabgha - Greek name Heptapegon - "seven springs". At Tabgha, the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes commemorates the miracle of Jesus' feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. A Byzatine mosaic floor in the church portrays a pair of fishes and a basket of 4 loaves - the one missing? -Jesus, the Bread of LIfe!

Back to Tiberias for the evening! We will depart in the morning at 8 a.m. for 5 nights in Jerusalem.

Shalom!