My Pilgrimage to Israel (2013) - Part Three

Pilgrimage - 1) a journey to a sacred place or shrine trip, 2) a long journey or search, especially one of exalted purpose or moral significance.

Day Two: this portion of the trip was as significant as any of the week: an early morning departure for a day at a variety of significant sites along the shore of the Sea of Galilee (also known as the Sea of Tiberius which is really a big lake surrounded by very hilly terrain).  Jesus spent a lot of time during his ministry in the area around the Sea of Galilee.  He also gathered his apostles, performed many miracles, and reappeared after his resurrection in this area.  Before coming to Israel, I tried to imagine what it would be like to walk along these shores, but I couldn't quite grasp what the experience would be like.  This is one of the legs of the trip that I was most excited to experience.

The Valley of Winds - Via Maris - picture by James Stewart

On our way to our first destination, The Valley of Winds - Via Maris, we drove past the village of Migdal.  This small village is a relatively new excavation and was once the home of Mary Magdalene.  Jesus was considered radical in so many ways including how he broke with societal norms when he included Mary in his ministry.  He turned the values of the world upside down and that included his treatment of all women.  Mary was with Jesus during his crucifixion, was the first to see the resurrected Christ, and announced that he had risen to the other apostles.  To see Mary Magdalene's humble village, even if just from the road, was inspiring.

Church of the Primacy of St Peter

We started the day at The Valley of Winds - Via Maris which is an ancient trade route pathway that leads through the mountainous terrain surrounding the Sea of Galilee.  It was very heavily traveled during Jesus' time and would have been used by anyone visiting Migdal and Capernaum.  In other words, Jesus undoubtedly used this road when he traveled from Nazareth to visit Peter, James, John, Matthew and Andrew in Capernaum.  Caves at the top of the tall mounts attest the age of this place.  It was serene, extraordinarily peaceful, and beautiful during this early morning.  Many of the group said that this was one of their favorite places.  We were right in the middle of a sacred place.  The atmosphere was palpable.

After considering Jesus' journeys through these valleys, we traveled along the shore of the Sea of Galilee to Taghba.  Within Taghba, there are two significant locations in Christian history: the Church of the Multiplication and the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter.  Among other evidences, these two buildings sit atop two 4th century churches that were built to honor one of Jesus' reappearances after his crucifixion and the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes.  Both of these sites sit along the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Sea of Galilee at Church of the Primacy of St Peter

"Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize it was Jesus" - this is the story where the resurrected Jesus appeared to his disciples again and instructed them, after they were unable to catch fish, to throw their net "on the right side of the boat" and they caught a large number of fish.  It is a wonderful story of God reuniting with his followers and encouraging them.  This is also where Jesus asked Peter three times "do you love me?".  After Peter answered each time that he indeed did love Jesus, the Lord instructed Peter to then "feed my sheep".  A wonderful and loving exchange.

After a walk along the road to the Church of the Multiplication (honoring where Jesus fed the multitudes), our bus left for the Mount of the Beatitudes.  Again, there is no absolute proof that this is the area where Jesus delivered the powerful (and extraordinarily challenging) Sermon on the Mount.  But, there is good evidence why these locations have been honored as such for 1600 years.  Even so, as our tour guide Tsippi stated, we didn't come to honor the site but to honor the event...to honor the Creator.

The Mount of Beatitudes is probably the most beautiful of all the sites we visited.  We stood next to the basilica, overlooking the Sea of Galilee and the Mount of Beatitudes, while Shelly Hayes read the Sermon on the Mount; Pastor Arturo Maine from Costa Rica by way of New York, read the same scripture in Spanish (Matthew 5-7)...blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven...blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted...blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth...blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled...  I stared over the Sea of Galilee and intermittently prayed silently while these disciples read these cherished scripture.  We entered the basilica, sang a hymn (well, some sang...I usually hum because my memory of lyrics is terrible) and prayed.  I absolutely love this place.

Sea of Galilee from Mount of Beatitudes - the view from where I stood while we read the Sermon on the Mount

Next stop: Capernaum, Crossing the Sea of Galilee, and Jordan River