Day 04 - Galilee: Boat Ride, Tabgha, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Chorazin, Mount Arbel

Today, we delved deeper into what it meant to be a disciple in first century Judea. We learned how the original twelve interacted with their calling to “Follow me” – how they lived up to the standards of discipleship and how they fell short.

As Christians, we are followers of Jesus. Put simply, we are his disciples. Just like the original twelve, we are so grateful to be called by Christ but often forget both our identity and purpose: to listen to our rabbi, imitate him and then teach others–making fellow disciples. To be fishers of men.

Matthew 23:8 came to my mind today, “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.” 

As we walked the streets of Capernaum and sat in its synagogue I thought of my brothers and sisters, the original disciples and apostles.  
 

Sailing the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret), when sitting still to listen to teaching and then dancing together in joyful community– I pictured the vibrant lives of my brothers.  
 

Climbing to the top of Mt. Arbel, soaking in the beauty of the wildflowers and sitting among the rocks that once heard the prayers of Jesus (if these rocks could talk!)– we climbed alongside our siblings. We considered the flowers of the field as they did (Matthew 6:28).
 

Sitting on the Mount of Beatitudes to hear Glenn Plum deliver the Sermon on the Mount- for a moment we felt a taste of what it was like on that Galilean hill on the day it was first delivered, sitting by our brothers and sisters in wonder.  
 

We are a family of faith that transcends time. Our bonds eternal. Just as we saw in the ruins of Chorazin, we are all members of one household with many rooms, serving the same Father. 

We stood in these places, surround by all those who have gone before, and their presence was palpable. Christ’s presence was undeniable. Let us not forget that the presence of our rabbi is always with us, that  we are daily answering the call to follow him. 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrew 12:1-2)