Written by Josh Attaway
Today was our first full day here in Israel and we started off with a bang! Our tour guide for the trip is named Rafi and he has been incredible. It felt like we packed a week’s worth of activities into one day so I will do my best to give you a rundown of everything we did today and share a few pictures with you.
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| Looking at Tiberias from the Sea of Galilee |
We are staying in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee and we have some beautiful views overlooking the lake from our hotel. After breakfast this morning, we took a short walk to the dock where a boat was waiting for us to take us out on the Sea of Galilee. You can read many stories of the ministry and miracles that Jesus did all around the Sea of Galilee. It was a very moving experience for all of us.
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| Some from our group on the boat on the Sea of Galilee |
After we got off the boat we went into a museum where a 2,000 year old boat that was found just 30 years ago is being kept. It was amazing to think that this little fishing boat would have been used around the time of Jesus. It’s possible that it might have even been used by Jesus!
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| A 2,000 year old fishing boat |
From there we loaded up on the bus and went up the mountain overlooking the lake to the Mount of Beatitudes. This is the traditional site where it is believed Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. There is a beautiful church there where we had a chance to pause and reflect on the beatitudes and the significance they have for us still today.
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| Church of the Beatitudes |
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| Reflecting on the Sermon on the Mount at the Church of the Beatitudes |
Next, we loaded back up on the bus and went down to Tabgha which is the place where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish to feed the multitudes. This is also where the Chapel of the Primacy is located where Jesus appeared to the disciples on the beach after the resurrection and they had breakfast together.
After a short drive on the bus we arrived in Capernaum. This is where Jesus preached and taught on several occasions and is also the home of St. Peter’s mother-in-law whom Jesus healed in Matthew 8, Luke 4, and Mark 1. We saw the church that was built on that spot as well as the remains of a nearby synagogue that had been built during the time of Jesus.
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| Remains of the synagogue in Capernaum |
We left Capernaum and went back to Tiberias to have lunch. Most of us ate a local delicacy called “St. Peter’s fish.” They served it whole with the head, tail, and everything! We had a beautiful view looking over the Sea of Galilee, great food, and even better company to enjoy it all with.
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| St. Peter’s fish |
Rafi got us loaded back on the bus and took us to a little national park called the Valley of the Winds and Doves. In this valley is an ancient trail that would have been used to travel between the Sea of Galilee and Nazareth. It is almost certain that Jesus would have walked that very trail that we walked on today. That was definitely an incredible experience!
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| Valley of the Winds and Doves |
The last stop of the day might have been my favorite spot. We went to the end of the Sea of Galilee where it flows out into the Jordan River. We were able to stop there where they have a designated place for groups like us to come and remember the baptism of Jesus there at the Jordan River as well as our own baptisms. Many of us changed into our swimsuits and baptism robes and went down to the river.
We had some time there as a group to reflect on the gospel accounts of the baptism of Jesus and what it means for our own baptisms. We remember that in the act of baptism we are claimed as God’s children and we experience God’s grace in a powerful way. We all had a chance to get in the river if we wanted to and be in the very river where Jesus was baptized.
As we were down there together we were approached by a young woman who was not part of our group. We started trying to talk to her and quickly realized she was from Russia! We had some communication difficulties, but had a truly Pentecost moment when we discovered she was asking us to baptize her! Rev. Wendy Lambert led a very special moment with this young woman and we were able to celebrate her baptism there at the Jordan River! This is a memory I think we will all always cherish for the rest of our lives.
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| Baptism of our new Russian sister |
We got back to the hotel this evening and had some free time to go to the pool, walk around town, and just enjoy each other’s company over another great dinner. We are 8 hours ahead of Oklahoma so it’s about 10:00 at night here and we are all winding down for the night ready for another early start. Tomorrow, we are leaving Tiberias and will make our way to Jerusalem. I hope you enjoy some of our pictures from the day below!
