youth pastor pilgrimage: Day 5: Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Baptism in the Jordan

November 11^th, 2011

We began the day by boarding a boat and sailed on the Sea of Galilee. It was such a smooth ride and beautiful scenery. We pushed off from Tiberius and sailed north to the area where Jesus would have done ¾ of his earthly ministry. It was incredible to see the shoreline from the vantage point that Jesus and his followers would have seen. To be in the area that the disciples fished, that Jesus walked on water and so much more! Words cannot fully describe the feeling. Once back on shore, we saw the Jesus Boat. It is called this because it a boat that was discovered in the sea and dates back to the time of Jesus. No one knows if Jesus used this boat or who it belonged to, but it is one similar to what Jesus would have used.

We left there and went up a short distance to the Mt. of Beatitudes. This is a traditional site where Jesus might have given the Sermon on the Mount. I can see why too. It was beautiful up there. The mountain side looked over the Sea of Galilee and had a great view. It would have been the perfect place to go up and rest, have a picnic or preach (Matt. 5,6,7)! It was away from the cities, yet close enough to walk and enjoy the day.

We then traveled to St. Peter’s Primary. This again, is a traditional site where Jesus reinstated Peter (John 21). This of course would have been after the resurrection as Peter and the others were fishing again and Jesus had made them breakfast over an open fire. Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. Of course this echoes Peter’s denial of Jesus three times outside of Caiaphas’ house. That is however not the only significant part of the questions. In Hebrew tradition, to repent, means you try to go back to the original site of where you sinned or turned from God and repent and go the other way or change your ways. So, here, by the sea, we find Jesus asking Peter 3 times next to an open fire, similar to the one he stood by in the courtyard of Caiaphas. So Jesus wasn’t simply asking Peter if he loved him, but he was reinstating and inviting Peter to fully repent. Awesome!

We then traveled to the city where Jesus spent a great deal of his time, Capernaum. We saw the basic and foundational ruins of the house of Peter’s Mother in Law (Mark 1:29-30). It was just a short, short walk to the synagogue. The current visible synagogue is located on the foundation of the one that stood during Jesus’ day. This ancient synagogue still had a Moses seat. This is where the most important person or honored guest would have sat during worship. It is the most important seat because it was located closest to Jerusalem and the temple. It was incredible then to think of Jesus not only sitting in the seat, but then standing and declaring he was the awaited Messiah.

After lunch we went down to the Jordan River just south of the sea. The water was a little chilly and we could easily see small fish and even a beaver or some type of mammal. I was honored and excited to have Pastor Rick baptize me in the Jordan River. The very same river John the Baptist called people to repentance and baptism in. And of course the one that Jesus was baptized in. Beyond Incredible! It was crowded at the river that day. Just as I imagine it was when Jesus was baptized. Many people coming to see and hear John the Baptist, and then see him baptize Jesus and him start his ministry. What a day!!