Day 3

Mt of the Beatitudes overlooking Galilee and An example of the 2 fish 5 loafs

Mom a collecting sea shells at Primacy and A view of Capernaum and synagogue

Gadara: likely where pigs ran into sea and Our Lunch: A fish from the Sea of Galilee

Me, Mom and Jim before baptism and The Boat Ride!

March 28, 2008

Bible Study Theme: Be transformed from the inside out.

Places Visited:
Mount of the Beatitudes
Tabgha
Capernaum
Primacy of Peter
Gadara
Jordan River Baptism
Sea of Galilee Boat Ride

Today was by far the best day of the trip to this point! We started off across and to the north of Tiberius at the Mount of the Beatitudes. This is where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7).
Next we took a short bus ride to Tabgha (don’t ask how to pronounce). This is the location of many scenes in the Gospel stories, including: (Matt 4:18-22) “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” And the very popular (Matt 14:13-36) “(17) We have only here five loaves and two fish.” (18) He said, “Bring them to Me.” 5000 men plus women and children were fed that day and 12 baskets of fragments remained after all had their fill.
Then we took another short ride to the “Primacy of Peter,” told in John 21:1-24. This is where Peter and the other disciples went fishing after the Resurrection. They did not catch any fish and as they came to shore, they saw Jesus standing on the beach. He said, “Children have you any food? Cast your nets on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” We had time to reflect after our bible study and we took pictures of the sea and admired the Lords creation and continued to be stunned by the beauty of the area around Galilee.

Capernaum was our next visit. It is known as Jesus’ own town. Jesus was known to stay in Capernaum and healed Peter’s mother-in-law here. We saw the ruins from Jesus’ time and a synagogue that was built over the old synagogue after the time of Jesus. There are many places in the bible that referred to Capernaum including: (Matt-4:12-17), (Matt-9:1), (Matt-8:14-15), (Matt-11:20-24), (Luke-4:23), (Luke-4:31), (Luke-7:1-10), (Mark-1:21-31), (John-6:59).
We took yet another short ride to Gadara (hillside). This is the site of (Matt-8:28-34), where Jesus cast out legions of demons into the pigs who ran off the cliffs and died. Today this area is below the cliff because of the lower water level and is full of land mines from the Syrians before the Six Day War.
After seeing the hillside at Gadara we went to eat a “Fish Lunch” similar to the fish Jesus and the disciples would have eaten on the beach at the Primacy of Peter.
After lunch we went to the Baptism site at Yardenit! (Matt 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-23). Bible scholars agree that the actual site of Jesus’ baptism was about 90 miles south from Yardenit, but this location is nice because they have hand rails and waters are calm. I had to purchase/rent a robe to wear in the water, it was $9.00. Pastor Jim asked if we wanted to say anything to the group, before we were baptized, of course I couldn't resist. After that we waited as the others got baptized and we worshiped to the Lord as Pastor Phil played the guitar. Mom and I went up together and she took pictures and waited as I was being baptized and I did the same for her. Jim and Eric asked if there was anything I wanted them to pray for me about and then prayed a powerful prayer over me… I cried tears of joy thinking of the Lord and His acceptance of me. As I went under in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, I came up a new and refreshed soul. Yes, it was cold water but I felt that I had been obedient to the Lord and finally showed my outward expression of my inward heart filled with the Spirit of the Lord! Mom was also baptized and we cried together, hugged and kissed! Something amazing happen just prior to us being baptized, a white dove swooping down and gliding low across the river and down stream! “And behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” (Matt 3:16-17). My hope is that the Lord is “well pleased” in me!
When we were finished at the baptism site we took a peaceful boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We crossed from Tiberius to where we ate lunch at Peter’s Fish House. The views and knowledge of Jesus on this very lake were overwhelming and breathtaking! We went out to the middle of the sea and held bible study and worship. I also bought Zoey a Rock pendant with a fish on it.
We held bible studies at six locations today! Lots of learning and fellowshipping!
1. Mount of the Beatitudes: Bible study and time to walk around alone and pray.
2. Tabgha: Bible study (short if at all)
3. Primacy of Peter: Bible study and time on the shore. Mom and I collected sea shells and prayed while admiring and marveling at the fact we were standing on the sea shore that Jesus once stood!
4. Capernaum: Bible study given by Eric
5. Gadara: Bible study given by Jim
6. Boat ride: Bible study, worship and prayer time

Things I learned in Israel today:

1. I learned that Jesus spent most of His life teaching in the area around Galilee.

2. Shabbat (Sabbath) From 6:00 Friday night (sun down) until 6:00pm Saturday night (sun down). Most Jews spend this time with family and in prayer. It is very important and a huge part of the identity and culture of the Jewish people. There are five meals (I think) with the 1st meal containing fish and wine and the last meal is meat. I also saw another side of the Shabbat that was interesting to say the least. It is my opinion, which means nothing, but is consistent with Jesus’ teachings, some Jews take the “No work on Shabbat” to the extreme! Example: You can’t push a button in the elevator or turn on a light switch or the air conditioner. I just don’t believe Yahweh intended all the man made rules to hinder the worship and praise of the His beautiful name. But that’s just my opinion…