Where Jesus Lived and Ministered

Wow!  What a day we have had!  We spent most of our time around the north part of the Sea of Galilee visiting sites where Jesus ministered and lived.  Too much to take in at one time.

We started our morning visiting Chorazin, one of the two cities of which Jesus spoke when he said "Woe to you Chorazin, Woe to you Bethsaida, if the miracles performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago..."  Obviously, Jesus did a number of miracles there!

In the remains of the synagogue of Chorazin

Bill Sharp sitting in the Moses Seat -- was discovered at this site in Chorazin

From there we traveled a short distance up the mountain to the place where Jesus gave the sermon on the mount.  David Miller, our guide, gave a wonderful teaching on the beattitudes, and the purpose of all Scripture --- to reveal God.   There is a church built on the site to commemorate the teaching of Jesus in that place.

The ceiling of the Church of the Beautitudes

The Church of the Beatitudes 

21st Century Beatitudes ??

Next we went to a beautiful solitary garden on the east side of Tabga, and listened to a wonderful explanation of the story of Jesus healing the woman who was losing blood. You may remember that she touched his robe in desperation, and he asked the throng gathered around him who it was that touched him.  This site in somewhere in the vicinity of that event.

Just down the coast is Capernaum, the place where Jesus centered his ministry.   It was here that became his ministry headquarters and from where he would travel to and fro.  There is pretty strong evidence that the house here which commemorates Peter's home (and where Jesus would have stayed) is actually the site.  Situated on the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum was a vibrant fishing village with a strong agriculture economy.  It was also near the Via Maris, the main highway which connected Europe and Africa, so there would have been numerous travelers as well.

Alton Wilson in the remains of the synagogue in Capernaum

The Sea of Galilee from Capernaum

In the afternoon we were able to view an actual fishing boat from the first century which was recovered a few years back during a drought when the lake level was very low.   We then went out on the water in a tourist version of the fishing boat, but it was none-the-less a great experience to be out on the Sea of Galilee. But the way - we got to experience how a wind can come out of nowhere.  In a matter of minutes the weather conditions went from brutal hot with no wind, to gusty winds, white caps, and big waves on the water -- blue sky, no clouds, but big wind.

Beverly Thomas on the "Jesus Boat"

The Sea of Galilee

From being on the water, we traveled to the beach which replicates the Resurrection breakfast which Jesus fixed for Peter and the disciples.  We went to the beach and heard a brief teaching on Peter's restoration.

Our group at the beach on the north shore  commemorating John 21 and the Resurrection Breakfast Jesus had with Peter and  the disciples

We ended our day by going to an overlook from way up on the Golan on the eastern side of the lake.  In a matter of minutes, we had traveled up a huge mountain and could literally see the whole Sea of Galilee!  Shalom from Israel.

Sea of Galilee from the Golan