From Walking on Water to Hava Nagila
Today was an amazing day. We started a little early (7:45 am) to travel over to En Gev on the east side of the lake to take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. The lake is 8 miles wide and around 13 miles long. As we sailed along, the crew played praise music; Nir explained what we were seeing all around us, how this was the cradle of most of Jesus’ ministry; Pastor Jim and Pastor Paul shared an encouraging message about Jesus walking on the water and inviting Peter to join Him and we prayed. We also took time for personal reflection. After all this, the crew invited us, according to a tradition they like to follow, to learn to dance to the Jewish folk song Hava Nagila. While I can’t post it here, you can check out the team having a fun time doing this here: https://vimeo.com/372102221
We landed at Nof Ginosar (the kibbutz where we are staying) and went into the museum to see the Jesus Boat. This first century boat was found in the mud during a drought in 1986 by two brothers. After watching the video about its discovery, Nir explained how the owner used 13 different kinds of wood to build or repair this boat. We also saw how the fishermen used these boats to fight the Romans in the rebellion around 68 AD or 69 AD.
Next we went up to the Mount of Beatitudes. This is where Jesus sat and taught Matthew 5-7. Nir told us about how the FBI did a test that showed that a man could stand at a particular place and be heard by thousands of people because of the natural theater setting. We discussed some aspects of the Sermon on the Mount and then released everyone to spend some time in meditation in the gardens and chapel.
From there we headed to Capernaum at the “cap” of the Sea of Galilee. This was the headquarters of Jesus’ ministry during the three years. We started at what is thought to be Peter’s home. It has evidence of three different octagon churches built to celebrate what happened here, with a final one built over top of it by the Catholic Church. We then visited the 4th century synagogue built in this town. It is amazingly constructed of stone that is not native to this area. After explaining how the synagogue was developed and functioned, Nir took us to see one of the neatest points in the whole town. There is one of the columns that dates from the 4th century and has the names of the builder and benefactors. Those names, from this town, are the same as James and John the sons of Zebedee and James the son of Alphaeus. So it shows a connection of family names hundreds of years later. There was also a decorated capitol that included a menorah and potentially a wagon carrying an ark of the covenant.
We made a stop next at Tabgha, the place where Jesus made fish for the disciples after the resurrection. It was during this encounter that Jesus restored Peter from his denials (Read John 21).
Following a lunch of St. Peter fish, we closed out our day visiting the village of Magdala. Mary, who had seven demons cast out of her, was from this town. It was the most prominent Jewish town in the region, perhaps having several thousand inhabitants. The synagogue with a replica of the ark of the covenant was found here. A unique Catholic Church was build here over some of the ruins of the main port street. In this lower area we met Eamon Kelly, an Irish priest who speaks multiple languages. He explained a picture to us of Jesus being touched by the woman with the issue of blood. He told us stories of people praying here, bolstered by her faith, and healings have taken place. Suzanne raised her hand to receive a special gift and the gift was the honor of standing with a finger outstretched like the picture to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment as Eamon led in prayer for all people we know who need healing. It was very moving.
Tomorrow, we head up the Golan.
We landed at Nof Ginosar (the kibbutz where we are staying) and went into the museum to see the Jesus Boat. This first century boat was found in the mud during a drought in 1986 by two brothers. After watching the video about its discovery, Nir explained how the owner used 13 different kinds of wood to build or repair this boat. We also saw how the fishermen used these boats to fight the Romans in the rebellion around 68 AD or 69 AD.
Next we went up to the Mount of Beatitudes. This is where Jesus sat and taught Matthew 5-7. Nir told us about how the FBI did a test that showed that a man could stand at a particular place and be heard by thousands of people because of the natural theater setting. We discussed some aspects of the Sermon on the Mount and then released everyone to spend some time in meditation in the gardens and chapel.
From there we headed to Capernaum at the “cap” of the Sea of Galilee. This was the headquarters of Jesus’ ministry during the three years. We started at what is thought to be Peter’s home. It has evidence of three different octagon churches built to celebrate what happened here, with a final one built over top of it by the Catholic Church. We then visited the 4th century synagogue built in this town. It is amazingly constructed of stone that is not native to this area. After explaining how the synagogue was developed and functioned, Nir took us to see one of the neatest points in the whole town. There is one of the columns that dates from the 4th century and has the names of the builder and benefactors. Those names, from this town, are the same as James and John the sons of Zebedee and James the son of Alphaeus. So it shows a connection of family names hundreds of years later. There was also a decorated capitol that included a menorah and potentially a wagon carrying an ark of the covenant.
We made a stop next at Tabgha, the place where Jesus made fish for the disciples after the resurrection. It was during this encounter that Jesus restored Peter from his denials (Read John 21).
Following a lunch of St. Peter fish, we closed out our day visiting the village of Magdala. Mary, who had seven demons cast out of her, was from this town. It was the most prominent Jewish town in the region, perhaps having several thousand inhabitants. The synagogue with a replica of the ark of the covenant was found here. A unique Catholic Church was build here over some of the ruins of the main port street. In this lower area we met Eamon Kelly, an Irish priest who speaks multiple languages. He explained a picture to us of Jesus being touched by the woman with the issue of blood. He told us stories of people praying here, bolstered by her faith, and healings have taken place. Suzanne raised her hand to receive a special gift and the gift was the honor of standing with a finger outstretched like the picture to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment as Eamon led in prayer for all people we know who need healing. It was very moving.
Tomorrow, we head up the Golan.
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