GALILEE, CAPERNAUM and TABGHA
Day 8 - 15 April 2011
Capernaum, House of Simon Peter n Synagouge
Capharnaum, or Capernaum, or Kfar Nahum in Hebrew, is located on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. The original Semitic name Kefar Nahum is known from a Byzantine inscription found in the synagogue of Hammat-Gader.
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| Synagouge where Jesus Preached |
From Capernaum Jesus chose many of his apostles from fishermen (Peter, Andrew, James, John) or publicans (Matthew). From the Holy Scriptures we can learn that Jesus taught with authority:Mark 1:21-28; and that Jesus and his companions went into the town of Capharnaum.
We learn that when the Sabbath day came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were thus amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority; unlike the teachers of the religious law.
On that day, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit began shouting at Jesus, "why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One sent from God!" Jesus stopped the man and said. "Be quiet! Come out of the man," he ordered. Hearing that, the evil spirit screamed and threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him. The audience was amazed, and they began to discuss what had happened. "What sort of new teaching is this?" they asked: "It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!"
News about Jesus spread very quickly throughout the region of Galilee. Scripture says that Jesus heals Peter's Mother-in-Law and many others: Mark 29-34. Later that evening after sunset, many sick and demon possessed people were brought to Jesus. The entire town gathered at the doorway to watch Jesus. Jesus then healed many people who were sick and he cast out many demons. Because the demons knew who he was, he would not allow the demons to speak.The remains of Peter's house in Capharnaum can still be seen; including the inner room which was probably used as the very first Christian Church.
Capernaum, on the northwestern shore, became Jesus’ “hometown” throughout His ministry. Three of His disciples hailed from Bethsaida, a few miles distant from Capernaum. These two cities, together with Chorazin 3 km inland from Capernaum, were condemned by Jesus for receiving much but believing little.
CAPERNAUM and HOUSE OF SIMON PETER-Photos
Jesus performed many other miracles in Capharnaum but many of the onlookers did not believe. Because of their attitudes, Jesus cursed the city of Capharnaum with these words: "And you, Capharnaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you." (Matt. 11:23-24).
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| Capernaum City with Simon Peter's House on right where church stands above it. |
Capharnaum was quite small but large enough to have a small synagogue. In Jesus' time Capharnaum was a poor fishing village, which extended along the lake shore for a distance of about 1,600 feet. The Jewish inhabitants could not afford their own synagogue but the Gentile Centurion, who held the Jewish people in high regard built one for them.
The White Synagogue which we see today lies above some portions of the earlier basalt synagogue in existence during Jesus' day. In 69 A.D, the Romans destroyed the earlier basalt synagogue during the First Jewish Revolt.
Mary Magdaline House
MARY MAGDALIN:
After seeing Capharnaum, we drove to Peter's fish for lunch and on the way we saw Mary Magdalin's house, which now remains as ruins.There were two women, in addition to Jesus' mother, who are mentioned repeatedly in the Gospels as being of his entourage. The first of these is the Magdalen, or more precisely, Mary from the village of Migdal, or Magdala, in Galilee. In the accounts of Mark and Matthew, she is not mentioned by name until at the time of the Crucifixion, where she is numbered among Jesus' followers in Judaea.
In the Gospel of Luke, however, she appears relatively early in Jesus' ministry, while he is still preaching in Galilee. Obviously, she accompanied him from Galilee to Judaea, or at least, she moved freely between the two provinces.
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| Mary Magdalin Church |
It was to the Magdalen that Jesus first chose to reveal his Resurrection. And in the Synoptic Gospels, her name consistently heads the list of women who followed Jesus, just as Simon Peter heads the list of male disciples of substantial importance, however, is that Mary Magdalen was the last person at the cross and the first person to see Jesus after his resurrection from the tomb. She ministered to him using her own resources; she anointed him for his ministry and his burial, and was in all likelihood on his right hand at the Last Supper.
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| Ruins of Mary Magdalin's House |
Mt Tabor: Mt of Transfiguration:
Mt Tabor: Mt of Transfiguration:
Mount Tabor is located 9KM east of Nazareth, at the north-east corner of the Yizrael (Jezreel) Valley. It is a round steep hill (613M above sea level, and 460M above the valley), visible from the whole area. It is not an extinct volcano, although it does look like one.
Mount Tabor is a steep round hill on the north east side of Yizreel valley. It played an important role in biblical history, and tradition links it to the Transfiguration of Jesus. The hill is strategically located on the main north-south ancient road, and was an important fortress during the first and second temple, Greek, roman and Crusaders times.
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| Church on Mt of Transfiguration |
Jeremiah 46:18 “….. surely as Tabor is among the mountains… so shall he come”.According to Matthew 17:1-13 (and Mark 9:2, Luke 9:28), Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John on the "mountain". According to old traditions, Tabor is the holy mountain, and is called "the mount of Transfiguration" .
"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light". And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. and when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, arise, and be not afraid, and when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, tell the vision to no man, until the son of man be risen again from the dead, and his disciples asked him, saying, why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? and Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist".
Tabgha Jesus Fed multitude.
Tabgha is the traditional location for the calling of the disciples. It is believed that here Jesus walked along the shore and called out to Simon Peter and Andrew who were casting their nets into the lake. Walking along, Jesus saw two other brothers, James and John who were preparing their nets with their father Zebedee. Jesus called all of these men to follow him.
Tabgha – an Arabic corruption of the Greek name Heptapegon (Seven Springs) – is the traditional site of the Miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes. (Mathew 14: 13-21) It is situated in a narrow, fertile valley on the northern shore of the lake, watered by several springs.
The earliest building at Tabgha was a small chapel (18 x 9.6 m) from the 4th century CE; only a part of its foundations was uncovered. During the fifth century, a large monastery and a church decorated with exquisite mosaic floors was built on the site. The complex covered an area of 56 x 33 m. and included courtyards and many rooms used as workshops for a variety of crafts as well as for lodging for the monks and the many pilgrims who came to visit.
Tabgha – an Arabic corruption of the Greek name Heptapegon (Seven Springs) – is the traditional site of the Miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes. (Mathew 14: 13-21) It is situated in a narrow, fertile valley on the northern shore of the lake, watered by several springs.
The earliest building at Tabgha was a small chapel (18 x 9.6 m) from the 4th century CE; only a part of its foundations was uncovered. During the fifth century, a large monastery and a church decorated with exquisite mosaic floors was built on the site. The complex covered an area of 56 x 33 m. and included courtyards and many rooms used as workshops for a variety of crafts as well as for lodging for the monks and the many pilgrims who came to visit.
The monastery and church at Tabgha were destroyed in the 7th century, probably during the Arab conquest of the country, and buried beneath a thick layer of silt and stones. In the 1980s, after excavation, the church was restored to its Byzantine form, incorporating portions of the original mosaics.
BOATING ON SEA OF GALILEE:
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| Boating on Sea of Galilee |
This afternoon we all went for 90 minutes ride on the boat named FAITH on sea of Galilee. It was quite a fun and there was lots of singing and dancing. We also tried to catch fish unfortunately there was none was caught. Wondered how Jesus managed to catch so much (o;
According to the gospels, Jesus’ earthly ministry centered around the Sea of Galilee. While important events occurred in Jerusalem, the Lord spent most of the three years of His ministry along the shore of this freshwater lake. Here He gave more than half of His parables and here He performed most of his miracles.
At about 212 meters below sea level, the Sea of Galilee is the lowest freshwater lake in the world.
This lake supports Israel’s life and agriculture today, just as it did in the past. The region around the Sea of Galilee thrived because of the fishing industry, and Jesus’ first disciples were fishermen. Early in the Gospels, Jesus lived in Nazareth, near the Sea of Galilee, and several of the Gospels even have Jesus back at the lake after the Resurrection.one cold winter’s day—January 24th, 1986—history instantly changed with the discovery of a 2,000-year-old artifact that has come to be known to millions around the world as “The Jesus Boat.”
This lake supports Israel’s life and agriculture today, just as it did in the past. The region around the Sea of Galilee thrived because of the fishing industry, and Jesus’ first disciples were fishermen. Early in the Gospels, Jesus lived in Nazareth, near the Sea of Galilee, and several of the Gospels even have Jesus back at the lake after the Resurrection.one cold winter’s day—January 24th, 1986—history instantly changed with the discovery of a 2,000-year-old artifact that has come to be known to millions around the world as “The Jesus Boat.”
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| “The Jesus Boat” |
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