Where We Be
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| You don't always know ahead of time what travel experiences are going to be meaningful to you, but for us, dipping our feet in the Sea of Galilee was a special moment |
| Capernaum & Sea of Galilee, Israel |
When you visit the ancient fishing village of
Capernaum, you really feel like you're walking
in the footsteps of Jesus because he spent so
much of his time here during his ministry. It is
even reported as his home in Matthew 4:13.
Located on the shores of Galilee, this is where
Jesus chose many of his Apostles. Here is the
home of the Apostle Peter as well as Andrew,
James, John, and Matthew. Here you can see
the excavated ruins of St. Peter’s home. Built
above these ruins is a modern church honoring
him. Adjacent are the ruins of the village itself,
as well as the ruins of two ancient synagogues:
the late 4th century synagogue called the White
Synagogue, and, directly beneath it, the black
basalt foundations of the “Synagogue of Jesus”
which he would have visited in his day.
At a nearby restaurant on the shores of Galilee,
we ate "St. Peter's fish" caught from the lake.
Then we got to do something we've always
wanted to do: dip our feet in the Sea of Galilee.
The waters were warm and inviting, and, for
reasons that are hard to explain, it felt like a
spiritual cleansing of sorts -- and I don't even
consider myself all that religious anymore. But
after an entire youth spent learning of Jesus
and his teachings, it's hard not to feel moved at
some deep level by being in a place like this
with such profound associations with his life.
Capernaum, you really feel like you're walking
in the footsteps of Jesus because he spent so
much of his time here during his ministry. It is
even reported as his home in Matthew 4:13.
Located on the shores of Galilee, this is where
Jesus chose many of his Apostles. Here is the
home of the Apostle Peter as well as Andrew,
James, John, and Matthew. Here you can see
the excavated ruins of St. Peter’s home. Built
above these ruins is a modern church honoring
him. Adjacent are the ruins of the village itself,
as well as the ruins of two ancient synagogues:
the late 4th century synagogue called the White
Synagogue, and, directly beneath it, the black
basalt foundations of the “Synagogue of Jesus”
which he would have visited in his day.
At a nearby restaurant on the shores of Galilee,
we ate "St. Peter's fish" caught from the lake.
Then we got to do something we've always
wanted to do: dip our feet in the Sea of Galilee.
The waters were warm and inviting, and, for
reasons that are hard to explain, it felt like a
spiritual cleansing of sorts -- and I don't even
consider myself all that religious anymore. But
after an entire youth spent learning of Jesus
and his teachings, it's hard not to feel moved at
some deep level by being in a place like this
with such profound associations with his life.
| The black basalt foundations of the Synagogue of Jesus remain intact beneath the 4th century White Synagogue |
| Steps lead up to the modern church that stands over St. Peter's home |
| After our visit to Capernaum, we ate "St. Peter's fish" (a type of tilapia) caught in the freshwaters of the Sea of Galilee |
| Looking out the patio at St. Peter's Restaurant |
| We walked down to the beach after our meal to see the Sea of Galilee up close and personal |
| We took off our shoes and waded into the water |
| Of all the places we visited in Israel, it was easiest for us to feel Jesus' presence here in this natural setting |
| Boats both ancient and modern line the marina at Tiberias |
| We also briefly explored Tiberias, a pretty lakeside community on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee |
| As we headed south from the Sea of Galilee, we caught glimpses of the Jordan River and some lovely stretches of countryside |
| Two palm trees decorate the lintel of the White Synagogue's entry gate |
| This synagogue with its white stones is among the oldest synagogues in the world |
| You can peer down into the ruins of St. Peter's home through the glass floor in the center of the church |
| Here you can see the church on the right, the ruins of Capernaum in the foreground, and the Sea of Galilee beyond |
| Courtyard in front of the ancient fishing village of Capernaum |
| Statue of St. Peter -- the caption reads, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church" |
| Underneath the church are the ruins of what may well have been Peter's home, where Jesus is said to have lived. Archaeologists have identified significant changes to this one specific home and concluded that it was being venerated as the home of St. Peter as early as the mid-1st century. |
| Here you see the ruins of the actual village of Capernaum in the foreground, and the modern church built over the ruins of St. Peter's home in the background |
| Wood carvings celebrate St. Peter's life |
