Today started early, especially for me. I awoke extra early in order to get a half-hour run in before our touring day began. The sun wasn't quite up yet, so in early morning darkness, I ran along the Promenade the stretches for a few blocks along the western shore of the Sea of Galilee and then ran south on one of the main streets through Tiberias. The day was getting lighter, but the cloud cover kept the morning cool. It was quiet run except for the songbirds making a lot of noise throughout the city. I got back to the hotel room with a few miles behind me and an adventure ahead of me.
Following breakfast, we boarded our tour bus and headed north through the Upper Jordan River valley for about an hour's drive to Caesarea Philippi. Yesterday, after arriving in Israel, we went to Caesarea-on-the-Sea. This city is also named Caesarea because these cities in Bible times named their cities after Caesar in order to avoid paying taxes. Ancient Caesarea Philippi was located near one of the main sources of the Jordan River at the foot of Mount Hermon. The original name was Panias, after the Greek god Pan (the modern name Banias is an Arabic corruption of Panias). In Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus took his disciples to Caesarea Philippi as kind of a teaching road trip. This area was a cultural crossroads on a busy thoroughfare. Travelers could stop in this grotto and pay homage to the god of their choice—Pan, Zeus, whomever. It was in this place of worshipping dead gods that Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" Peter answered for the disciples saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." To see the environment where Jesus asked this question makes so much sense now. He and the disciples were surrounded by temples for worshipping dead gods. Peter proclaims Jesus is the Son of the living God.
After Caesarea Philippi, we turned south with the Golan Heights to our left (and Syria beyond them) and Lebanon to our right, and drove to the ancient village of Korazim. The National Park that is there now has remains from the village including homes, streets, and a synagogue built from basalt. This city is notable in the Bible (Matt. 11:21) as one of three Jesus cursed for their lack of belief and repentance.
Our next stop was the Mount of Beatitudes. This beautiful church and gardens is located overlooking the Sea of Galilee on what is believed to be spot Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Here, we gathered together in a quiet corner of the garden while Pastor Jim shared briefly and then had each of us read three verses from Jesus' teaching. Here we were reading the words Jesus spoke on this mountainside 2,000 years earlier.
From the Mount of Beatitudes, we continued around the north edge of the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, Jesus' home base during his three years of ministry. The location now reveals a synagogue built from sandstone probably in the 4th century. There is also the site of which is believed to be the Apostle Peter's home.
Our journey continued around the Sea of Galilee, across the mouth of the Jordan River, through the region of the Gadarenes where Jesus healed a demon-possessed man and cast 6,000 demonic spirits into the bodies of pigs grazing on a nearby hill (Matt. 8:28-34) and then they chucked themselves off a cliff and into the water below. We saw the cliff where this would have taken place and learned that this area, just below the Golan Heights, is noted for wild boars that can weigh up to 600 pounds and are open year-round for hunting.
Our lunch stop was next at a restaurant at Ein Gev Harbor that featured local tilapia from the Sea of Galilee known as "St. Peter's Fish." The fish came on the bone, head and all, and was delicious. Some in our group were looking for coins in its mouth (Matt. 17:27). After lunch, we boarded a boat that took us on a ride around the Sea of Galilee. The day was beautiful with the sun shining and a light breeze. But you could easily imagine the wind and the waves picking up quickly and Jesus silencing the storm. In fact, storms on this lake are common and they do come about very quickly. While on the boat, Pastor Jim and Betsey's daughter, Laurie, gave an excellent devotional about casting our nets on the other side of the boat. We took time also to give thanks to God for what He's doing in our lives and celebrating this experience so far.
The final stop of the day was a real special one. We went to the southern edge of the Sea of Galilee to the Jordan River at a place known as "Yardenit—The Baptismal Site on the Jordan River." Here, about 20 or so from our group decided to be baptized by Pastor Jim in the waters of the Jordan River—the same river where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Yardenit is a large resort-like complex with baptism areas set up along the river for groups to conduct public baptisms. There's a viewing area for spectators, and even a snack bar and a gift shop. (Wanna buy a video and a t-shirt of your Jordan River baptism?) But, even with all that, the atmosphere is really special and meaningful. Each person in our group was genuinely touched by this experience and it will be a lifelong memory for each of them. The other thing that struck me was the diversity and internationality of the place. After our group got out of the water, a Russian Orthodox church group of about 30 men, women, and children from Moscow, Russia were being baptized. They sang worship songs in Russian and then all climbed into the water for what looked more like a "group swim" then a baptism!
Our journey concluded once we returned to the hotel to clean up and have dinner. Tomorrow, we leave Tiberias, our hotel, and the Sea of Galilee and head for Jerusalem!
You'll find all the photos from today here.
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Wow, this is amazing! Love following along on the blog and enjoying every one of your pictures. Keep on posting! This is one trip that Ken and I hope to make in the future sometime. What an awesome experience for you both. Thanks for sharing.
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