Day 06 - Galilee: Capernaum, Katzrin, Chorazin, Bethsaida, Upper Jordan

Today was our halfway point! We’ve been deep in the text, preparing our hearts for the
Savior we desperately need. Not only have we been diving into the Scriptures but also
submerging ourselves within the Jewish culture. Today we visited the Talmudic
Village of Katzrin, an interactive museum that walks you through the ancient ruins of Katzrin. We dressed in tunics and head coverings (to step into character) and proceeded into the village to make
bread and run the only operating ancient olive press in Israel. Our tour through the civilization
led us to pile our party of 55 people into a house no larger than the size of an average public
restroom. There we heard the story in Mark 2:1-11 where Jesus heals the paralytic. All the
elements of the day - the clothes, the bread, the labor of the olive press, the small space
surrounded by ancient stone - brought the story to life. We no longer had to imagine the
paralytic descending from the ceiling to Jesus - we were there!

Our next stop was Chorazin where we were taught about the function of a “beit
haknesset” or better known to us: a synagogue. Learning the process of a Jewish boy growing
up reciting the Hebrew scriptures everyday for 13 years of his life was crazy!
It brought conviction for us as believers to know the Word of God and to be a student of the Word.
Archeologists are still studying the site, which is a humble reminder of how much there is to still
discover (much like our spiritual journey chasing Jesus).

Until this point, the day had been chilly, rainy, and occasionally the sun would make an appearance. Upon arriving at Mount Arbel, the wind picked up drastically, and the rain became a steady drizzle. However, the view alone was well-worth the cold and wet conditions! On top of the mountain, we could see almost all of the Sea of Galilee, with a full view of the fertile valley of Gennesaret below. More than the view, was soaking in the reality that Jesus
prayed along the very mountain-side we were standing on. Amongst the white and yellow spring flowers, up high on limestone boulders, overlooking the water, Jesus talked to God and had made this mountain his “desolate place” (Mark 1:35-39, Luke 5:12-16). We studied Matthew 28:16-20 when Jesus delivers the Great Commission on Mount Arbel. This sight brought us a beautiful picture of
coming to the Father with prayer in our time of need, knowing that we can ask Him anything.
Like a child who runs to His Father in desperation, we can seek and find the ever-present help
of God when we ask Him.