Day 2 in Galilee

Day 2 in Galilee:




We awoke to yet another beautiful sunrise over the Sea of Galilee. I knew it would be a good day, spiritually speaking. But I had no idea how perfect it would be temperature wise. I actually got some sun on this 70 degree February day. Our travels took us from our hotel in Tiberius to the Mount of Beatitudes, Eremos, the Church of the Primacy, Chorazim and Tabgha.

The Mount of Beatitudes is the traditional location where it's believed that Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount. Some believe that these famous verses from Matthew 5-7 are not one continuous sermon, but Jesus' teachings brought together in one place by the author of the Gospel. Either way, it seems evident to me that Jesus taught some or all of these teachings right there on that hillside that overlooked the Sea of Galilee.

Teaching on the mountain would be of significance for these Jewish people. In their Torah (the first 5 books of our Old Testament) Moses went up to the mountain to receive the Law. Jesus goes up on the mountain to fulfill this law and explain it more clearly as it's meant to be for people. I wonder what it felt like listening to this new teacher as he told the people that he wasn't actually abolishing the Law of Moses, but bringing out its true meaning? Were they devout Jews who wondered why their God made life hard for them through all the rules and regulations (some from God and others from man)? Did they see Jesus as a rebel? Or did they see him as one who was simply bringing the Law to life for them, making it relevant for their lives? The Zealots were looking for a good strong leader. What did they think when he taught the Golden Rule and "turn the other cheek"? I wonder how many on that mountain "got it" then...and how many of us really "get it" today? I guess only God knows.

Eremos means lonely. In the Gospels Jesus often times goes to a place of solitude. I never thought about this place being a cave, but after seeing the landscape, it only makes sense. Eremos is the traditional spot where Jesus might have been. Located above the Mount of Beatitudes and the place where Jesus is believed to have fed the 5,000, it would be a logical location. As Michelle and I had our pictures taken there, I wondered if Jesus sat and looked over the Sea...lonely. I wonder how it felt knowing that he was the only one of his kind? I wonder if he was ever lonely, even in a crowd?

The Church of the Primacy remembers the place where Peter is restored after denying Jesus three times. This is found at the end of the Gospel of John. This is the place where all the disciples see Jesus for the last time in John's Gospel. It is a place where they'd been fishing and Jesus told them to throw their nets out on the other side. The last time that he told them this was when he called them to be fishers of men. And this is believed to be in a cove just a little ways down the bank of the Sea of Galilee. It's amazing how close these places really are.

Chorazim means wheat all around. It was in the midst of a very fertile area. This is one of the places that Jesus curses when he says "Woe to Chorizim". I wonder why they didn't accept? I guess that's a question for all who never believe.

Finally, we ended up at Tabgha. You might not be familiar with this place from your bible. That's because it's not named there. Tabgha is the traditional location where Jesus fed the 5,000. It sits right beside the Mount of Beatitudes. Again, this shows the close proximity of all of Jesus' ministry in Galilee. It was here that our Bishop served us Holy Communion. What a blessed place to Commune with God.

In the love of Christ,
greg