Day 06 - Sea of Galilee, Mount of Beatitudes, Bet She'an, Jordan River

Our day began with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. The weather was beautiful, cool and windy, and the ride itself was rather peaceful. The sea was relatively calm today, but we learned that waves within the Sea of Galilee are regularly 3-4 ft high and can get up to 6 ft high. We were also able to see a fishing boat that was used during the time of Christ. After being buried in mud for over 2,000 years, researchers were able to bring it out of the water and preserve it. It’s easy to see why the disciples would have been terrified to be in that boat with the high waves that occur during storms. This boat was simple and would not provide enough safety and security during a storm at sea. To know that we were in the very place that Jesus calmed the storm (Matthew 8), told them to cast their nets on the other side to find fish which resulted in a miraculous yield (John 21), and where He made Peter and Andrew into fishers of men (Matthew 4:18), was somewhat overwhelming. An amazing thing about this trip is that the Bible really is brought to life and reading God’s word will never be the same.

MOUNT BEATITUDES

While driving to our next adventure, Yehuda pointed out the location of the Sermon on the Mount. Looking up into Mount Beatitude one can see that it is shaped like a bowl and would certainly have good acoustics, making it easy for the masses to hear this most important sermon.

BET SHE’AN

We spent a while exploring Bet She’an, an incredible Greco-Roman settlement of the 2nd and 3rd centuries that was renovated multiple times between the 2 – 6th centuries. Honestly the pictures do not do this site justice. The excavation of this site has uncovered multiple conquering empires such as the Canaanites, Hasmoneans, Egyptians, Romans, and the Byzantine. Bet-She’an Scythopolis was a large city constructed by the Greeks and conquered by the Romans in 66 B.C. Under Roman rule, when the people consisted of pagans, Jews, and Samaritans, the city expanded and prospered. Scythopolis became the capitol city of the Decapolis.

Yesterday we were in Chorazin, a settlement that presented God as the center of the town and their lives. The synagogue was in the middle of the town and was easily the most impressive and beautiful building in the village. Families lived in insulas which promoted intimacy and preserved family ties; they had close, modest living quarters and spent much time telling stories about God and their family – sharing their values. Chorazin was a stark contrast to what we saw in Scythopolis. Terry stated that “geography often reflects values.” The primary value of Bet-She’an was obviously commerce, and community was found outside of the family. Unlike in Chorazin, the dominant culture would disseminate its’ values through theater. Sadly, this echoes how live in the 21st century. If the center of the town is commerce and prosperity, it breeds a different kind of morality and families deteriorate.

Looking at Schythopolis, it was easy to see that this is exactly how our cities are structured today. This was an ancient place with very modern problems. Commerce is the “god” of our nation, just as it was for those in Beth-She’an, and family has taken a back seat. As followers of Christ, we live in a land that’s not very godly. Our values come from the stories that are being told. If we don’t share these stories with our families and children then who will? What stories will be heard and what values instilled? We must hold tight to our values and that starts by placing God at the center of our lives. Terry reminded us of a few things - “We came from Chorazin-we are a people of Chorazin, but we live in Scythopolis in the 21st century” and the “challenge is just as alive today as it was for the first disciples.”

JORDAN RIVER

Our last stop of the day was the Jordan River. This is where John the Baptist baptized Jesus as found in Matthew 3:13. Twenty-five of us were baptized today and each one was met with a chorus of cheers. It was amazing to be in the place where Jesus himself, even though he was without blemish and needed no such cleansing, provided this example for his followers. This was an emotional event for all involved and one that will not be forgotten. At the close of the baptisms, we sang the doxology:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen