Holy Land Day 3

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Holy Land Tour Day 3 June 20, 2010

What an absolutely amazing day...It began with a ride on a boat to the middle of The Sea of Galilee. At first we noticed someone swimming in the Sea. I said, " Well we certainly know who that is NOT!" Then Dean replied, "Hello, Peter " :)

On the way, we sang the Star Spangled Banner, as the crew raised the flag. Our Israeli crew stated the quote we have been hearing, "Do not worry America, Israel is behind you."

We sang hymns, Pastor Sydney Tomkins preached, and the services culminated with the spreading of a dear lady's ashes on the Sea of Galilee. I am sure she was there to comfort her friends, as was my Mama as we sang "How Great Thou Art". When I closed my eyes, I could imagine our Savior walking right up to me, taking my hand and pulling me up from the depths of my doubts...just as Peter's faith allowed him to walk with Jesus, his doubts allowed him to sink. It is the same with me...this is such a journey.

As we landed on the opposite side of The Sea of Galilee, we arrived at the city of Magdala, where Jesus first met and saved Mary Magdalene from stoning. Sam, our guide, explained the Kibbutz that operated the businesses at this spot. These "communes" were given land to develop and not charged with taxes. Of course, if they begin to be too successful, trouble arises and now, tax exemptions are being battled over.

Our bus climbed the next mountain to the Mountain of the Beatitudes. This is definitely the site of the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus introduced the beatitudes. We had another scripture lesson at this beautiful spot and visited the church that sits as a reminder of this important moment in Jesus' ministry. Of course, I had to re-visualize this sermon, because I had a picture of Jesus at the top speaking down to the throngs of followers. Actually, the opposite was probably true. As we learned in Caesare, water acts as an amplification for sound. Jesus probably stood on the shore and spoke UP to the people. Anyway, praying and meditating in the spot where Jesus, Himself, spent time alone in prayer with the Father...an awesome way to spend Father's Day.

We traveled down the hill and stopped at the church that is located on the site where Jesus fixed breakfast for his disciples after His resurrection. This was also the site where Jesus directed Peter to be the Rock on which His church would be built. That is why this church was built out of a rock, as you can see in the pictures. Dean and I gathered shells and stones from the Sea of Galilee. As we left, on our left, was the site where Jesus fed the 5,000 with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread.

Then, it was back on the bus and on to Capernaum. Jesus traveled there from Nazareth, where he selected his first disciples, Andrew, Peter, James and John. He even resided in Peter's home for awhile, taught in the synagogue there, and performed many healings, including the lowering of the man through the roof of Peter's house. We observed the ruins of the synagogue and Peter's home. This was an extremely hot day, and there was little shade, so we did not remain long there.

Lunch was a little late today, but we stopped at a restaurant that was known for its St. Peter's fish. It is a delicious fish, that we call Tilapia....the same fish that Jesus' disciples caught those many years ago. The Sea of Galilee flows into and is fed by the Jordan River, and due to large water use and the diversion of water from the River Jordan, in Jordan, and the shortage of rain, it has receded far from the shores in Jesus' time. It is also summer here, and there will be no rain until December.

Finally, it was time to actually visit the River Jordan, and those pilgrims who wished to do so, rededicated their baptisms. One young man was baptized for the very first time. I cannot explain to you the emotions we were feeling as we were immersed...yes, my Baptist friends and family, IMMERSED in the Jordan River. This was the perfect ending to a most perfect day.

Now, we are back at the hotel, wishing that we had more time here in the places where Jesus spent His last three years on earth. Just riding on the Sea of Galilee and seeing all the important places we have read about, visiting the sites of many of His miracles and important teachings, reviewing the scriptures, praying where Jesus prayed, well the old hymn means so much more than ever before.."I walked today where Jesus walked and felt Him close to me."