Day 04 - Galilee: Mount Arbel, Chorazin, Tabgha, Capernaum, Cliff of Gadarenes

Friday Feb 20 / Day 4 -  Galilee

Being in Galilee today was like waking up in the New Testament after our Old Testament days in the desert!  From our morning devotional time overlooking the water, to watching the sun dip behind the same mountains where Jesus prayed, it was all awesome. Literally, awesome, because were overcome with awe today.   As Yehuda said, coming to Israel makes the pages and the people of the Bible come alive.  

Chorazin

Our first stop was the ancient city of Chorazin. Here, we learned much about Jewish life and worship through this well-preserved architectural site. Most of the ruins were from the 3rd and 4th century, and built from the black volcanic basalt stone that’s typical to this region of Galilee.  At the synagogue, we even saw a “Moses seat” – a place of highest honor– just like the one Jesus referred to in Matthew 23:1! It was inscribed with a recognition of the primary donor to the synagogue.  

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat,  so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. 

The highlight of Chorazin was learning about the insula-style housing where many Jewish people lived.  We sat in the large courtyard, which was surrounded by many rooms where an extended family would share a communal life. Terry taught on how the values of Jewish life revolved around the synagogue and the home. Theirs was a "high-intimacy, low-privacy" life – where people really knew one another. Our culture values just the opposite; we are high on privacy, at the expense of real intimacy. We had such a rich group discussion about how the church is meant to be a place for real relationship, where we can be known and loved– and how true healing occurs in the context of Christian community. 

As we sat together in this house–one with many rooms– Terry told us that when a young Jewish man became betrothed, his father would add another room to the insula. At its completion (no one knew when the exact time!), the bridegroom would bring his bride home for the wedding. This brought Jesus’ teaching from John 14 to life in a new way: that His Father’s house has many rooms and He has gone to prepare a place for His people, so we can be where He is.  

The Christian life is not one of independence and privacy. Sin thrives in secrecy, and to experience healing, we must trust Jesus (and others!) enough to let ourselves be truly known. But also–He wants that for us because it’s best for us.  AND– Jesus wants us in his insula!  Jesus has made a way for us to live forever in His Father’s house.

Tabgha

Our next stop was Tabgha (a name that comes from the Greek Heptapegon, meaning “seven Springs).  This lush area on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee is known for the springs that flow into the sea, creating a prime fishing spot.  Because of this, the area was likely frequented by Peter, Andrew, James and John!  A church was built at Tabgha to commemorate the calling of the disciples and Jesus’ resurrection appearance in Galilee, when He made them breakfast over a charcoal fire and restored Peter.

Terry read from both Luke 5 (when Jesus called Peter) and John 21 (when Jesus restored Peter). In both stories, Jesus gave instructions that made no sense to seasoned fishermen, and in both stories, there was a miraculous catch of fish. Many times, Jesus tells us to do things that don’t make logical sense to us– but Peter’s response is the faithful one. “Master,” he said, “we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Jesus gives the disciples a similar command in John 21– and when the fish began to break their nets, John recognized the Lord. This echo of his calling sends Peter splashing through the sea and back to Jesus– his first recorded encounter with the risen Christ. Peter finally and fully leaves his nets behind. Jesus restores and commissions Peter to feed his sheep.  Terry challenged us “not to go back to fishing”-- to fully trust Jesus with our whole lives and not to return to pre-Christ patterns of behavior!  

We got to take pictures at the shore, and many of us picked up stones and seashells to remember the moment. Matt even found a hand-carved fishing weight, which according to Yehuda was “very, very old.”

Mount Arbel

After a picnic lunch, we hiked up Mt. Arbel, located on the western side of the Sea of Galilee. From its height we could take in so much of Galilee – the real-life places where Jesus traveled, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God, healing, doing miracles, and setting people free! Since Jesus often went to deserted places to pray, it’s very likely that Jesus got away to be with his Father on Mt. Arbel. What better place to pray for those He came to seek and save, than from a height where he could see the villages all around him?

Fittingly, we took some time to pray on Mt Arbel, too. It was a sacred time of being still and seeking God’s presence.

Capernaum

Next, we went to the city of Capernaum. This was so special, because it’s an area with clear archeological evidence that Jesus walked here. Capernaum was the home base for Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. So many miracles and moments from the Gospels occurred in Capernaum:  it was here that Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law, healed and forgave the paralyzed man lowered through a roof, healed the centurion’s servant with a word, and healed the woman who was bent for 18 years on the Sabbath… and more!  

We saw the site of Peter’s house, which has been commemorated with churches since early in Christian history…and we stood in the synagogue that stands in the very place the first century synagogue once was. 

Cliff of Gadarenes

Our last tour stop was on the side of the road. Literally, our bus pulled over along the east side of the Sea, in the area once known as the Decapolis– where Gentiles lived in the time of Christ. Because this is the only cliff in the area, scholars have identified it as the place where Jesus delivered the demon-possessed man who lived among the tombs. Jesus allowed the unclean spirits that had tormented him to enter some pigs, and they ran off the cliff and into the sea. Talk about awe-some: this was a day of visiting holy places and receiving holy moments!

Sea of Galilee

A few folks in our group ended the day with a sunset cold plunge into the lake. That’s right, we couldn’t resist full immersion in the Galilee experience!  

Our hearts are burning within us: Jesus, thank you for this opportunity to walk where you walked. By your Spirit, help us to walk AS you walked. We don’t want to ever go back to “fishing.” Amen.

Quote of the Day

While Andy was wading in the water at Tagha, Kellie asked if the rocky ground underfoot was painful (it was). She joked, “Well, that’s why Jesus walked on the water!”