Glimpses from the Holy Land – The Sea of Galilee
April 13, 2011
Jesus began his ministry by the Sea of Galilee. Two years of his ministry was spent in this region and many of the miracles he performed took place here.
In January I went with a group of Christians on a Holy Pilgrimage to Israel. Two nights were spent by the sea at a Kibbutz which was not far from where Jesus spent many days in Capernaum. The Sea of Galilee is a beautiful scenic area, it is so lush with vegetation and the water is so blue. It was a pinch me moment, “wow” I thought, I am really here!”
On our first morning we took a boat ride on the water and what impressed me was how peaceful on the sea it was. Our guide told us that the water was unusually calm that morning. We smiled to one another with a knowing glance, confident that it was God’s favour!
What an experience to float on the same body of water where Jesus called Peter and the other disciples to follow him. Jesus walked on this water and Peter bravely tried. Remember the miracle of the paralytic who was lowered through the roof and Jesus saw their great faith? That was Simon Peter’s house! This site was recently discovered and excavated in 1968 by the Franciscans and is open for tourists.
Peter lived in Capernaum and Jesus would have stayed as a guest in his home. What was interesting was how close to the synagogue Peter’s house was, it was literally next door. This was the same home Jesus healed Peter’s mother in law and the same city where the woman with the issue of blood lived and was healed.
Jesus performed numerous miracles in this region; the feeding of the 5,000, the feeding of the 4,000, turning water into wine at the Cana wedding, delivering Mary Magdalene from demons, healing of the 2 blind men, healing the man with the withered hand, raising Jarius’ daughter from the dead, the coin in the fish that covered the taxes, and many more. These are the ones that were recorded in the gospels. How many were not recorded in the bible?
Countless miracles…but this is the area that Jesus cursed in Matthew 11:20-24. “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!”… “Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”– Jesus was performing miracles right in front of them, for two years, but only a few understood who He was. A city once thriving with people and known for its fishing industry sits desolate today. Although the Franciscans purchased the area, built a church, and has preserved it as a holy site, the region is largely uninhabited. In Isaiah 9:2 it says “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light, on those living in the land of shadow of death a light has dawned.” The people of Capernaum had witnessed the great light – Jesus, in the flesh, the light of this world. Thousands ate of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, but they didn’t understand He was the bread of life.
Over 2,000 years have past since Jesus walked the streets of Capernaum; yet today, we are closer to His return more than ever. Revelation 22:17 says “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”
Christ promised that He will return again, but how many will choose to follow Him? How many will pray that they will?
This lent season many have been fasting and praying for family salvation. Let us pray that this generation will thirst for Jesus and drink from the water of life!
