Part of that rock

This morning, we awoke to gaze out on the Sea of Galilee. Today, we explored the northern bit of its shores, including Mt. Arbel, the Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha (the area where Jesus told Peter to “keep the sheep”), and old Capharnaum. We closed the day with a boat ride on the Sea and a dinner like the meals in Jesus’ time.

Mt. Arbel was breathtaking- quite literally. The climb was difficult but beautiful. We saw Hyrex - “rock badgers”- and pink lilies along the way. There were countless caves on the cliff face that were used as fortresses and hiding places throughout time, from Biblical times to the Crusades and beyond. Many of us were reminded of scenes from Lord of the Rings as we surveyed the bright greens, deep browns, misty greys, and soft pinks of the landscape. We made our ascent to a place of calm and silent solitude where Jesus probably sought those very things. It was really refreshing to simply sit and listen and look, taking everything in.

The Mount of Beatitudes was likely the place where Jesus gave his sermon on the mount. It was powerful to be able to look out on the very same scenery He would have seen. A lovely Roman Catholic Church overlooked the Sea and land below.

Tabgha was another beautiful spot on the Sea of Galilee. Traditionally, this was the shore on which Peter declared that Jesus is God and where Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep. A small chapel was built on a very large rock here, originally around the time of St. Helena, close to the second century.

Capharnaum was the town Jesus spent a great deal of time in. We learned that 90% of His miracles were performed around the same area. Different ruins from different time periods survive, including a bit of St. Peter’s house, some Roman columns, and a synagogue from the 4th century. The floors of the synagogue ruins have been dated to the 1st century, and we know that Jesus certainly walked there. This was one of the rare times when we could actually say, “Jesus was right here!”

To make our day even more amazing, we went on a lovely boat named Hippos (not for the animal, but for the nearby Gentile town of the Roman days) on the Sea of Galilee at sunset. This time on the boat ended in some crazy, joyful singing and dancing. We then had bread, water, vegetables, entire fish, and dates for our Jesus-style dinner. After dessert our Israeli guide, Ronen, led us in an all out sing-off, featuring pop music from the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s.

One recurring theme of today that stood out to me was Peter, the Rock. Jesus said, in Matthew 16:18, “…on this rock I will build my church…” Today we saw his house, his statue, and a chapel dedicated to him and built on a rock next to the place where Jesus said those words. As Gentiles, we should be really glad that Jesus said those words to Peter and that Peter did go out and establish the Church with the other disciples. We are so very blessed to be part of the New Covenant: “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Eph. 3:6). The Church is the new chosen people of God, built on the rock, and we get to be a part of that! We should keep in mind the image of the chapel literally built on the rock, remembering who we are in Christ and how exciting it is to be able to participate in something so earth-shattering. When earth shatters, we stay on the Rock that is higher than us (Christ) and in the Rock (the Church).

—Mikala