Praise the Lord!

We were up and running at 4:30 am. Our group headed to Mt. Arbel and wasted no time to start hiking eagerly. The excitement was high as we learned that most sources agree that a trail following the valley behind Mt. Arbel and connecting the cities on the northeast of the Sea of Galilee to Southern Israel all the way to Jerusalem, was a path that Jesus took with his disciples regularly. It took us a solid 45 mins to hike the Arbel through a few harrowing twists.

Mt Arbel is a mountain ridge 1,000 feet above the Sea of Galilee and the site of a brutal battle in 38 B.C. between Galilean Jews and Herod the Great for the control of Galilee. It is said that Herod’s army managed to bring a basket tied down from a pulley from the top and shot fire arrows to the Hasmoneans hidden in the caves. They were hooked and killed as they fled from smoke.

Still early (9:00 am) and following Jesus’s footsteps around and about Galilee, we stopped at a Franciscan monastery and the church of Peter’s Primacy where we were blessed with two powerful and touching reflections by Jennifer Greer (Beatitudes) and President Stowell (Peter’s restoration in John 21). Yes, we were at the spot Jesus performed the miraculous fishing bonanza and prepared breakfast for these disciples.

We then arrived at Capernaum, saw Peter’s house and visited the synagogue meters away to the north. Interesting enough to find ourselves just above the same spot Jesus preached. Synagogues, as holy places, can only be built on top of another synagogue – nothing else. Jennifer brought to life Jesus teachings about this new kingdom near us but yet to be completed - powerful and emotional.

Now (1:06 pm) we were heading to Old Magdala (Birth city of Maria Magdalena). This city at the northeast corner of the Sea of Galilee experienced the power of the Lord’s presence regularly. It is now being excavated and preserved confirming that its narrow streets hosted some 10,000 inhabitants. Its anti-roman position provoked a bloody ending at the Sea of Galilee.

A museum nearby keeps the only existing boat from the time of Jesus; and we were very impacted by its capacity to hold only 12 – 14 people. That explains how 153 fish was a huge load to sustain.

What would be better than riding a boat from shore to shore in the Sea of Galilee? Well, we did that while Dr. Stowell brought an insightful meditation (On the boat) on God’s strategy to use this low but connected place (traders from all over) to trigger his mission for humanity. This Sea is only 7 miles wide by 14 miles long.

We couldn’t finish the day in a better way. We tasted a delicious tilapia (Peter’s fish) at the time that Orthodox Israel prepared for the Shabbat and we shared the joy to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of Tom & Arlene. May His peace, wisdom and grace be with them as they keep on reflecting His glory through such a healthy union-Congratulations!

Julian Guzman (GRTS MA Student)