Day 06 - Capernaum, Katzrin, Magdala, Ancient Boat, Galilee Boat Ride

What a day! We came off the bus this evening saying, “I can’t believe how much we did in one day!” It started with a meaningful devotion led by Pastor Adam after breakfast. He shared a story about questioning his faith as a young adult and feeling overwhelmed by the spiritual darkness around him. He reminded us that, even in moments of weakness and doubt, our Father is still there saying, “I love you. I am with you. I am for you.” And that Jesus came in person to earth to deliver that message.
 
Our guide Ronen and leader Rich made a change in our itinerary and added Capernaum, Jesus’ ministry headquarters on the Sea of Galilee! Several of us had been there before but were delighted to return. Any time in the Galilee is well spent, but even better when the weather is perfect and the group is in good spirits! We arrived early to try and beat some of the crowds at the popular site.
 
Capernaum sits on the NW corner of the Sea of Galilee. In Hebrew it breaks down to KFAR (village) of NAHUM (comfort of consolation). It is mentioned so often in the Gospels and was the location of many miracles, including the healing of the centurion’s servant in Luke 7. It was a fishing village and sat along the busy highway called the Via Maris, a major trade route in the first century. Ronen taught us for a little while to give context to what we were seeing, then we entered the main attraction of the synagogue.
 
The Capernaum synagogue was one of 8 in the world before the destruction of 70 AD. The one we stepped into was a 4th-century structure built of white limestone, built on top of the previous 1st-century synagogue made of darker basalt stone. This original building would have been where Jesus taught. We sat on the synagogue steps and learned more from Ronen as he referred to scripture.
 
We then moved onto a site in the Golan Heights called Katzrin. Katzrin isn’t a biblical site, but the ruins there do date back to the first century. What makes it unique is that it offers a hands-on cultural experience. The moment we stepped through the gates, we were directed to a rack of robes and a basket of headdresses to wear. We learned about winemaking – and even got to stomp barefoot on grapes to produce a small bottle of juice (the brave – or maybe crazy – among us even tasted it). We learned how to make incredibly simple and delicious bread. The experience you have at Katzrin is dependent upon the time of year. At the end of the olive harvest, for example, we would have learned about oil pressing rather than winemaking.
 
There’s also a reconstructed home at Katzrin. They took the ruins they found there and rebuilt what would have been a typical 1st-century home complete with a thatched roof.
 
We read the story of some men who brought their paralyzed friend to be healed by Jesus. That story didn’t happen here, but the house placed it in context. It happened at a house like this one. The people heard that Jesus had returned to His home in Capernaum. They packed inside, hoping to hear Him teach. When the men arrived with their friend, they couldn’t get in. They undoubtedly begged people to let them through. They must have exhausted every option – except for one. They climbed on top of the house and began chipping away at the roof.
 
Imagine this for a moment. Jesus is teaching to a room crowded with people and suddenly dirt and twigs begin falling from the ceiling – first in small pieces and then in large chunks. It would have taken a while for the men to make a hole large enough to lower their friend down. I imagine the crowd grumbling at the interruption and inconvenience. I imagine Jesus looking up, watching, waiting, smiling.
 
They eventually get their friend lowered to the ground in front of Jesus. I imagine the men peering down through the now opened ceiling, hoping and praying Jesus will heal their friend. Jesus, though, sees that this man needs more than physical healing – he needs spiritual healing. So, He takes care of that first. “Friend,” He says, “your sins are forgiven.”
 
This caused quite a stir among the scribes and Pharisees in the crowd. Only God could forgive sins. Was this man – this rabbi from Nazareth – claiming to be God? Yes, He was. Then He confirmed His claim by doing what the men had hoped He would. “Rise,” he told the man. “Pick up your mat and go home.” And He did. I want friends like that. I need friends like that. I need people who will bring me to Jesus when I don’t have the strength to bring myself.
 
Our next stop was Olea Essence, a unique shop at Katzrin which processes and sells olive oil and olive oil products. Let’s just say many of us are coming home with heavier suitcases (wink, wink).
 
Next, we visited the ancient village of Magdala on the east side of the lake. The ruins were found in 2009 when construction for a large retreat center on the Sea of Galilee began. A first-century synagogue was discovered and soon they had uncovered large portions of the town. The Bible tells us that Jesus taught in synagogues throughout Galilee (Luke 4:14-15) and, given His friendship with a woman named Mary who came from Magdala, He was almost certainly here.
 
Being around the Sea of Galilee today afforded us a unique opportunity. Five of us chose to be baptized this afternoon by Pastor Adam! Our two youngest participants, ages 14 and 17, were doing this for the first time. The other 3 of us were recommitting to Christ. We will never forget it!
 
In the mid-1980s, archaeologists discovered a first-century fishing boat buried beneath the seashore. They were able to extract it from the mud and sand and it’s now on display at the Yigal Allon Museum on the west side of the Sea of Galilee. We first visited the museum and then went on a boat ride around the Sea. A local fisherman named Moses joined us and gave a demonstration on how fishing was done in the 1st-century. He even let several of us try it! We didn’t catch anything (fishing is best done in the early hours of the morning while it’s still dark), but it was incredible to see the process. We then had a dance party above the boat and took turns demonstrating dance moves.
 
Jesus called His first disciples here. He calmed a storm that came raging over the sea one night. He cooked breakfast for His disciples and restored Peter on these shores. How incredible to stand at the bow of a boat and to see these biblical sites at a distance: Capernaum, Tabgha, Mount of Beatitudes, Chorazin, and to know not only the miracles but the Person who performed them!
 
We will sleep well tonight no doubt, with our hearts and heads full and expectant for tomorrow!
LAILA TOV (goodnight) from Israel.