My Pilgrimage to Israel (2013) - Part Four

Capernaum was home to several apostles - pictured are disciples from our tour group

Before this trip, I could not imagine being in any one of the locations we have visited.  On this day, we had been to four significant biblical sites and it wasn't even time for lunch!  After the Mount of Beatitudes and some very deep and meaningful worship, we entered one of the most significant towns in the New Testament:  Capernaum.  Several of Jesus' apostles came from this ancient fishing village located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.  Simon Peter, James, John, Andrew, and Matthew are believed to be from Capernaum.  The Gospels recount that Jesus taught in the synagogue in this town.  He also healed many people including Peter's mother-in-law and the paralytic [that was lowered through the ceiling to reach Jesus] here.

4th Century synagogue which sits upon one in which Jesus taught
(the darker stone at the bottom is the original's foundation)

Amazingly, excavations have revealed the remains of the original synagogue where Jesus taught.  That synagogue is located directly beneath a second, 4th century synagogue.  We stood directly over the site where the Messiah taught: "I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty".

Within yards of this amazing site, there is also a church built over the home of the Simon Peter: this village was inhabited from the time of Christ until the 4th century.  During the 4th century, it was discovered that one of the homes underwent a great transformation that included meticulous care and inscriptions on the walls, plaster flooring, and ceremonial lighting.  Later, a church was built directly over this same home.  This site is the home of St. Peter.

A Catholic Church straddles Simon Peter's home

The town of Capernaum - The Sea of Galilee is in the background

I, like so many other Christians, can relate to Peter.  He was an exuberant follower of Christ that was simply a knucklehead at times.  One minute Peter asked Jesus to help him to walk on water.  The next, he is scared and lacking faith to the degree that he begins sinking.  Thinking that he needed to protect Jesus, he cut off a soldier's ear (that Jesus then healed) then only hours later denied he even knew Jesus.  After spending three years with Jesus, Peter still couldn't grasp what Jesus meant.  But, when he finally did, he became so very instrumental in growing the church.  Peter gives hope to many that realize that God used, and continues to use, the most unlikely of characters to accomplish his purposes.  It is one of the most reaffirming stories in the Bible.          

Next, we visited a local museum that featured a 1st century fishing boat that had been recently located in the Sea of Galilee.  The boat is believed to be of typical design as those used during the time of Jesus.  We then boarded a boat for a trip across the very body of water where Jesus walked upon water.  Once in the middle of the lake, we cut the engine and enjoyed a devotional on the calm, quiet waters of the Sea of Galilee.  These moments were deeply appreciated as they allowed for silent reflection.  The Quaker tradition of worship incorporates a fair amount of silence.  It is during this time that these disciples listen to the Spirit of God...or just pray silently.  We also share or testify to one another if the Spirit moves us to do so.  For most of the week, I took advantage of every opportunity to worship in this manner.  It was fantastic.

Sea of Galilee by boat - picture by James Stewart

    
For lunch, we ate St. Peter's fish!  The type of fish we ate is the only fish that is native only to these waters.  They are plentiful...and delicious.  It was a nice way to honor this place.  Soon after lunch, we went to the Jordan River baptismal site where I was baptized by Pastor David Hayes.  These are the waters in which John the Baptist baptized Jesus: "And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him."  Several of us took part in water baptism.  I was pleased to have the opportunity to share in the tradition of water baptism with other disciples in the waters where Jesus was baptized.  The river was very cold.  But, I felt nothing but blessed.

Next stop:  Jericho (the oldest city in the world) and Qumran