Sunday on the Sea

The sun has set behind the Sea of Galilee, and across the water the lights of Tiberias sweep from the shore to the cliffs of Arbel, sparkling orange and white against the blackness.  We spent our Sunday on and around the sea, visiting the Museum of the Galilee Boat in Ginosaur, sailing with Daniel on the Worship Boat,  climbing cliffs, strolling through Capernaum, eating leftovers for dinner, and swimming just before sunset.

Ginosaur is across the lake from Ein Gev, and there we visited the museum where a 2000-year-old fishing boat was discovered in 1986  buried beneath the mud.  As the story goes, two brothers from the kibbutz discovered the boat during a severe drought resulting in lower waters.  It took just eleven days to wrap the vessel in a cocoon of fiberglass foam and then float it to the surface.

Analysis suggests this was from the time and is of the type that would have been used by fishermen during the days of Jesus’ disciples.  When Jesus told the disciples to “bring some of the fish that you have just caught” and Peter hauled the net ashore, there were 153 fish in it — lots of fish for a boat like this one, and their nets didn’t break!  (John 21: 11).

Anna made reservations for us on the “worship boat” with Daniel, who sang for their group in 2007.  We boarded the boat about noon, along with a group from Portugal and another from Germany, and sailed slowly out into the calm sea as “How Great is Our God” played over the loudspeakers.

Daniel, above, led us in more worship songs as we sailed along for about an hour.  It was a lovely way to spend our Sunday.

Next we drove to the cliffs of Arbel, which are insanely high above the sea.  Oh, and today was hot.  In fact, it was probably almost as hot as the day we walked up the Mount of Olives, so we were especially grateful for the car!

Finally, we drove to Capernaum where so much of the New Testament happened.  Ruins there are of a synagogue and Peter’s house, although the dwelling marked was probably not really Peter’s.  But, as we sat in the shade near the synagogue, Dave read John 6 from the beginning to verse 59 — “Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.”  We were sitting in a spot where it is  certain the events really happened — other places it’s not so clear (the garden tomb, Golgotha, etc).   It was there also that Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

This is the synagogue in Capernaum.

The night is still very, very warm, so our swim felt refreshing.  Tomorrow is our last full day in Israel, and plans are to visit the place where Jesus taught the sermon on the mount, find some “St. Peter’s Fish” for dinner, eat a Hebrew Magnum (!), and enjoy our resort in the afternoon.

Goodnight, friends!