Galilee

We had another great day in Israel, and we continue to be blessed with safety and good weather. We had a steep climb up Mt. Arbel today with an even more exciting climb down! It definitely challenged several people’s fears of heights, but we all made it to the bottom safely. It has been neat to see our community growing closer together and encouraging each other in different ways! Mt. Arbel is a beautiful spot overlooking the Sea of Galilee and the surrounding towns where Jesus’ ministry took place. This is the mountain that is thought of to be the place where Jesus often went when the Bible says, “Jesus went up to a mountainside to pray.” We were encouraged by the story of Peter walking on the water. Jesus sent the disciples into the storm and then went up to pray. He saw the disciples in the storm before going out to them, which was encouraging to remember that God is with us in our storms. Even though the storms are tough, you don’t get to experience God without the storms. We finished out Peter’s story on the shore of Galilee where Jesus may have called the fishermen disciples to follow Him. While Peter often had times of doubt, he also loved Jesus so much. We were reminded that doubt is part of faith.

We enjoyed a delicious falafel lunch and then headed to Capernaum where Jesus performed many miracles. We went in what’s left of the synagogue that was rebuilt a couple hundred years after Jesus’ time. It is in the same place and is the same size as when Jesus was there. Then we took the very short walk over to where Peter’s mother-in-law lived, where Jesus healed her.

Our next stop was Chorazin where we saw a synagogue and an insula where families share life together—live together, eat together, share life together. To them, life wasn’t about the individual but the whole group. We learned about the marriage process and how that imagery is used in John 14 when Jesus talks about returning.

We ended our day at the Mount of Beatitudes. Here we were challenged to not just memorize Scripture but really know it. If Jesus is the most important person to us, then His words should also be really important to us, the Sermon on the Mount in particular. As we sat up there and looked over the sea, the Sermon on the Mount was recited to us. It was a really neat to hear Jesus’ words and challenges to His disciples in the same location He would have shared them.

We continue to enjoy and appreciate being here in this place where Jesus has walked. We all are challenged and encouraged by things Rod, Libby, and Dan share with us. We also continue to enjoy God’s beautiful creation. We are glad we get to enjoy two more nights here at this hotel right on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

- Elizabeth Burgess