Israel Day 10 - The Sea of Galilee

Written yesterday but didn't post:

We started off our rainy day by sailing across the Sea of Galilee! I actually liked that it was raining – it helped me picture what it would have been like for Jesus and his disciples on a stormy day. I was picturing a torrential downpour and huge waves in Matthew 8:23-27 when Jesus calms the storm, but actually, it would have taken only three- to four-foot waves to rock the fishing boats they were likely on. They found a fishing boat in the early 1980’s and have worked to preserve the fragile waterlogged wood so that we can see it today!

View of Tiberias from the Sea of Galilee

Flat Raina made it out of my backpack! (Sry Ray)

Next, we went to the Magdala Synagogue. Only eight of this kind of first century synagogue have been found, and we can, with a fair amount of confidence, say that Jesus was in this synagogue. It's appropriate to say that this is where Jesus would have met Mary Magdalene (of Magdala). Interestingly, this synagogue was not destroyed when the Romans came because the people of Magdala actually disassembled and covered it themselves. Therefore, the floor and foundation is still pretty intact! This site also held a shrine/chapel for women. The inscription around the ceiling read, "Hoc loco sancto sanctissimae trinitati ecclesia grates rependit pro mysterio mulieris pro unaquaque mulierum pro aeterna earum dignitate proque magnalibus a deo in humanarum aetatum historia in ipsis peractis," which translates to, "In this holy place, the Church desires to give thanks to the Most Holy Trinity for the mystery of woman and for every woman - for that which constitutes the eternal measure of her feminine dignity, for the great works of God, which throughout human history have been accomplished in and through her." So that was pretty cool! Below the shrine was the foundation of another synagogue or meeting place and depicted a beautiful image of Jesus healing the bleeding woman from Mark 5:25-34.

The Magdala Synagogue

Painting of Mark 5:25-34 - look at the detail!

Then we stopped at the site traditionally believed to be where Jesus met Peter after being risen from the dead (John 21:15-19). We know that we were on the beach where it happened, but can't say exactly where on the beach this incident occurred.

Next, we stopped at Capernaum where Jesus performed many miracles and spent much of His ministry. We saw a fourth century synagogue that was built over a first century synagogue that Jesus likely frequented. We also saw a house believed to be Peter's home! If so, Jesus would have spent a lot of time there. It was really cool to just wander around the city Jesus spent so much of His time in!

You're probably used to looking at synagogues but here's another one

Peter's house!

We finished the day at the traditional site of the Beatitudes (the Mount of Beatitudes). It probably wasn't the site that Jesus proclaimed the Sermon on the Mount but we were at least on a mountain in the same region! The Mount of Beatitudes was this lush garden following a pathway that led to a small chapel.

I loved that this day was filled with Scripture and wandering where Jesus walked (even on water!). We've seen so many amazing things that I have to remind myself to be in awe. Kinda funny, right? Here's to two more awe-filled days!