 Wednesday, February 28, 2007
We began this beautiful day with a short bus ride around the lake from Tiberias to Capernaum and the mount of Beatitudes. The photo on the left here is in Tiberias near where our bus parked each day. This land is filled with reminders of the rich history that has been part of Eretz Israel (Land of Israel) for over 5000 years. Here we see a church bell which comes from the Crusader period in the town of Tiberias yet this town has been primarily Jewish since Herod. With period under control of Christians and Islam the town now is Jewish. It struck us that the Jews allows the other religions to continue and offer great hospitality to visitors such as us from a different land. What we say in our times in the Arab cities was clearly different and much less tolerant.
Mount of Beatitudes
Known also as Mount Eremos there is an octagonal church on top of this hill that was built in the 1930's. This is a rolling hill at the north side of the lake which is not much different in size than Lake Tahoe in California near our home. Here we see a view of the Mount from the Sea near the spot where Peter was asked by Jesus "Do you love me?" A Franciscan chapel is there now. (Black building with red roof) Just a short walk away from the shore this beautiful hill was found along a major highway (well in Roman time anyway) called the Via Marias or Way of the Sea that links Damascus in Syria and points north with Egypt. Within a half days walk of this area we find most of the work of Jesus took place. At the bottom of this hill to the east of this location is Capernaum which is where Jesus spent much of his time with his disciples at the home of Peter's mother in-law. On the Mount we had a Bible study and looked at the teaching of Jesus. As pastor Ruben spoke we could look out over the rolling hills and Sea and just feel the presence of God in His creation.
Capernaum
 Located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee is the town of Capernaum. No longer a populated city much of the remains here date to the 4th Century AD. Here we see a Synagogue built in the Byzantine period on top of what many believe was the location of one that existed when Jesus was here with His disciples. Here in a town that was home to many of the disciples, we took a look at Matthew 4:13 and reviewed how this was the center of the ministry of Jesus. This site also has ruins of what many believe was the home of Peter and now has a church built on top of the ruins. Again it was impressive to stand where Jesus spent a lot of his ministry years yet as we did we were reminded that the things of this earth will all pass away yet the ministry and work of Jesus will go on forever.
Sea of Galilee Boat
 After our Bible study at Capernaum we got back on the bus for a short trip around the lake to an area near Tabkha where we took a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Today the weather was sunny and the water was calm. The there was a lot more water in the lake 2000 years ago we could still get a better context of where Jesus walked on water and spent time with His disciples. The trip was about a half hour. We stopped for a bit near the spot where Peter was approached by Jesus after the resurrection and asked if he loved Him. Ruben taught from Matthew 6:45-52 about Jesus walking on the water near this spot. After the trip we spent some time in a store and looked at a recent discovery of what many call the "Jesus Boat" which was uncovered and placed in a museum here by Kibbutz Ginosar. We had time to do some serious shopping here.
Gadera
 Back on the bus after the boat and up north and then back south to the eastern shore of the Sea to the location where Jesus cast out the legion of demons into swine in Matthew 8:28. This is the steep hill that the swine ran into the sea. The lake was much higher in that time. Today this area is a mine field and very dangerous. The site of our Bible study was once a gun location for Jordanian soldiers to fire on Tiberias and on fishermen in the Sea. This area of the east shore was near what in that time was called the Decopolus or 10 cities. In the distance on the shore to the left is Capernaum a distance of around 8 or 9 miles. Many times stories in the Bible are read with no idea of the real life that was connected to them. Here we see the caves where a man once lived with the possession of many demons. How ironic that today this spot is filled with explosives and still aims to keep people from taking part in the blessings God has to offer in His Kingdom. 
Kibbutz Ein Gev - Lunch
Now back onto the bus for a short ride about less than 10 miles down the road south to Kibbutz Ein Gev. The boat from Tiberias goes here at night. During the day this Kibbutz serves a St. Peters fish dinner to tourists like us. The fish was a white fish and it had a LOT of bones so beware. It was, however, tasty. Lunch was part of our tour. We got another glimpse of the lake and life along its shores during our lunch break.
Jordan River Baptism - Yardenet
 After lunch it was back on the bus and around the bottom of the lake and up to the Jordan Riven and the Yardenet Baptism Site. I believe this site was built by Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel. This place allows groups such as ours to come and have a clean and safe place to baptize people in the river. Each person is given a white robe or gown and a towel. We began with a Bible study on baptism and what it means to us as believers.
After this we returned to Tiberias where we spent a little time in the Caprice diamond shop and then walked through town to our hotel stopping at shops along the way. This gave us a complete around the lake drive today. Another fine meal at the Scotts Hotel and off to bed early this night. |
