Today was a rain day. We began with breakfast at 6:30 am and got on the bus at 7:15. During the night we could hear it rain and it kept it up through out the day. Some times it rained like a good shower at home and other times it was just a sprinkle. Occasionally it stopped raining all together. At times we thought it would clear off but it would fill in again. Nevertheless we had a good day.
We began our studies by getting on a boat and going out on the Sea of Galilee. It was raining and a little wavy but it was a large boat that wasn’t affected by the waves. They also dropped the canvas sides on part of the boat so that we were protected from the rain if we wanted to be or we could stand near the open areas and look out. After we got out a bit they shut off the engine and Emily taught us. One of the things she pointed out is that the Hebrews only have one word for the sea – Yam. That is also the word for the god of the water. The water was seen as a dangerous place and so it is likely that when Jesus and his disciples would cross over to the other side they would not go straight across but go along the shore. She reminded us of creation and the Spirit hovering over the chaos of the water, of Jonah and some of the stories of Jesus calming the storm that can blow into the Sea of Galilee.
Our next stop was Kursi, just a little north of where we are staying on the east side of the Sea of Galilee. It was part of the Decapolis (10 Cities); this is the place where we remember Jesus healing the man who was possessed by the legions of demons. They pleaded with Jesus not to torture them but allow them to go into the herd of pigs. Jesus gave them permission and the herd ran over the cliff and into the Sea. The people of the city came out and pleaded with Jesus to leave. As he was getting into the boat the man who had been healed asked to go along. Jesus did not allow him to come but instructed him to go and tell his family and others what God had done for him. The next time Jesus comes the crowd welcomes him. The man must have done a great job letting others know.
After that we went to Bethsaida. There is some discussion on whether this is the site or if it is down closer to the water. Beth (or in Hebrew Bet) means “house.” Saida means “fisherman.” So the name of the town is house of fishermen. We found a little shelter from the rain and reviewed the 12 disciples that Jesus called to follow him. Emily noted that Jesus seems to have broken the normal pattern of that day in calling disciples. Normally the boys would seek to become disciples of a rabbi and he would either agree or not to take them. We noted Mark 3 which points out that 5 of the 12 disciples of Jesus were fishermen. We also noted that as fishermen they were maybe a little more open to risk-taking. Remember the water was seen as a dangerous place of Yam. We also noted that Simeon was a Zealot, Matthew a tax collector (seen as selling out to the Romans) and that Philip had a Hellenistic name. The main point there is that there was a variety within the 12 disciples. It was also interesting to note that Jesus gave James son of Zebedee and his brother John the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder. We wondered why Jesus might have given them that name. We also noted that we have a couple Sons of Thunder among us. We thought Pete and Loren fit that description.
Next we stopped at place along the Sea of Galilee for lunch. I think it was a closed down restaurant. The rain stopped and we were able to sit outside and enjoy our “bus lunch” once again. The group is beginning to get accustomed to pita for lunch and there is some talk about trying to learn how to make it like they do here.
Then we headed to Capernaum to which Jesus moved from Nazareth according to Matthew 4. Here there is a synagogue from the Byzantine era. Not far from that is a church which is possibly the home of Peter who was from Capernaum. Over top of that site is a church structure which is designed in such a way so as to preserve the excavated area underneath and allow for viewing of it. Also in this area is basalt – a hard dark rock. A number of olive presses have been found in this town leading people to believe that they manufactured them here and people bought them and took them elsewhere.
After that we went to the Mount of Beatitudes and looked inside the church that has been built to commemorate that event. Then we sat outside and read the entire Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7. After that we took time for quite reflection as we looked out over the Sea of Galilee. Not far from there is a place that recalls the multiplication of the loaves and fish call Tabga. Then we quickly walked over to the site that remembers Jesus reinstating Peter. This structure is located right on the Sea of Galilee as well. We were loosing our sunlight and had only a few minutes before they closed. But we took time to read the story from John 21.
The sun was setting as we headed back to the hotel. We could see the clouds breaking up over the western shoreline of the Sea of Galilee. Hopefully tomorrow will be a dry and sunny day for us. But we also recognize that the people here are thankful for the rain. As we started out our day getting on the boat the workers thanked us for bringing the rain. We are glad they were blessed with rain today. We hope they are blessed with more next week but not tomorrow. Tomorrow we head west from here and then back to Jerusalem.
Thanks for praying! Shalom.
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