Tuesday, February 28, 2012: Day 3

Tuesday, Feb. 28 - After a short lecture from our friends at Nes Ammim, we set off on a drive to the Mount of Beatitudes. The Mount of the Beatitudes refers to the hill in northern Israel where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. The traditional location for the Mount of Beatitudes is on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, between Capernaum and Gennesaret. A Byzantine church was erected near the current site in the 4th century, and it was used until the 7th century. Remains of a cistern and a monastery are still visible. The current Roman Catholic Franciscan chapel was built in 1938. From there we traveled to the shores of the Sea of Galilee and loaded a boat to sail across.  The day was a bit windy and the forecasters were calling for rain.  Although it never rained, the scriptures came to life and one could imagine being on the Sea during a storm; the chaos of the storm and the calming presence of Jesus.    Stopping for lunch on the shores of the Galilee, we had a lunch of St. Peter's Fish.   St. Peter's Fish is simply Tilapia. The name "St. Peter's Fish" comes from the story in the Gospel of Matthew about the apostle Peter catching a fish that carried a coin in its mouth. After lunch, we traveled to Capernaum.  Capernaum was a fishing village in the time of the Hasmoneans. Located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.  The town was reported to have been the home of the apostles Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John. According to Luke, Jesus taught in the synagogue in Capernaum on Sabbath. Jesus then healed a man who had the spirit of an unclean devil and healed a fever in Simon Peter's mother-in-law. It is also the place where a Roman Centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant. Capernaum is also mentioned in the Gospel of Mark as the location of the famous healing of the paralytic lowered through the roof to reach Jesus. Another short bus ride took us to Bethsaida. Bethsaida ("house of fishing") is a place mentioned in the New Testament. Bethsaida is also the hometown of Philip, Nathaniel, Andrew, and Peter.   Many times people ask why I continue to Israel (this being my 10th trip to the Holyland) and I respond the same every time; first, I love the land/State of Israel and secondly, it's like your favorite movie, every time you watch it you see something new.  At Bethsaida this happened, we  were able to go to a site that I  have never been (actually that Dr. Harter had never been to either, WOW).  The site was the gate to the 9th century BC city of  Geshur mentioned in the Hebrew scriptures.  Another busy day has left us all very tired (we also may be suffering from jet  lag).  Wishing you all the best from Israel...Shalom.