Today has been one of the most weather-perfect days that we have had on any of our trips. We started the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We toured the lake in the morning sun, then came to a stop in the middle for a devotional time of scripture and prayer together, followed by time for personal worship and reflection on our own.
We docked at Ginnosar on the lakeshore to see a fishing boat from the first century. The boat was discovered in the mud during an especially dry year about 35 years ago when the water level was low. The story of how it was recovered is a fascinating feat of science.
The rest of the morning focused on the life and ministry of Jesus and the churches on the north shore of the lake that commemorate some of that ministry: the Church of Beatitudes (Matt 5), the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy (John 21), and the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish (Matt 14). These stops gave us meaningful opportunities to connect with Jesus’ teaching, mercy, and miracles.
Another highlight of the morning was a visit to the spectacular archaeological remains of the crossroads city of Capernaum—Jesus’ home base after he left Nazareth (Luke 4). The remains of the city, the house of Peter’s mother-in-law, and the foundations of the first century synagogue upon which sit the remains of a fourth century synagogue are all visible at the site.
We departed from Galilee after a lunch of St. Peter’s fish caught from the lake itself, and we began the journey south to Bethlehem. The drive took us along the Jordan River valley and gave us excellent views of the river, the hills of Samaria, and the Jordanian highlands known in ancient times as Gilead. Tomorrow, we’ll spend the day in Bethlehem!
