One of the places that I was really looking forward of coming to pending my maiden trip to Israel was the Galilee – sometimes referred to as Tiberias – which was mentioned so many times in the Bible that it actually came to my imagination more than any other place mentioned in the Holy Book.
We stayed at a hotel which was located very much near to the lake that I could even see it (the lake) from the bed of my hotel room. It was not difficult to see why Jesus picked this lake to do most of his ministerial works and did many of his miracles to be immortalized in the scriptures.
The Galilee is very beautiful – there is no doubt about it. Surrounded by beautiful mountains (or rather hills – tall ones) which are probably too green for a place located in the ever-dry Middle East – the lake captivated me with its breath-taking scenery the moment I set my eyes on it.
Looking at the mountains, which reminded me a lot of the Table Mountains in South Africa, I really wished I was there as a traveler – or rather a backpacker – instead of being in a group of tourists whose itinerary (and movements) were restricted by a rather tight schedule. I mean, I couldn’t stop imagining myself hiking up the hills and taking in from one of the high cliffs the views that had for so many times come to my imagination ever since I was baptized into Christianity.
I would say the lake is very huge, which is probably why it is called a sea instead of a lake. Of course being there since the Biblical time, it’s amazing how the beauty has been shared by so many generations, probably since the beginning of time, and I was so glad that I had the privilege of seeing it with my very own eyes. I know, the visual beauty of the lake is nothing compared to the significance that it carries especially for somebody who was born (and grew up) as a Christian like me.
The highlight of my up-close encounter with The Galilee is probably the once-in-a-lifetime experience of cruising RIGHT on it. Blessed with a perfect weather, I couldn’t help but letting out a big wow every now and then – shamelessly from my jakun mouth – simply because it really was wow-worthy. Of course in a way the cruise was part of a business – a very good one – and somebody was making good money out of it but still it was worth every penny that I had splurged over it.
“Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people” Matthew 4 : 19
The Galilee is probably most famous for the Biblical incident when Jesus calmed a raging storm and walked right on the water – much to the amazement of his disciples. With a little bit of prayer, I expected some miracle would make me walk ON the water, just how Jesus did some 2000 years ago but no – I’m no Jesus so my feet went right INTO the water instead. May be I didn’t have enough faith. Uhuks!
“How little faith you have! Why did you doubt?” Matthew 14 : 31
It was there that He spent most of his adult time preaching and doing his ministerial works. It was there – at a lakeside village called Capernaum whose ruins are still very much there – where He made a paralyzed man walk and ordered a demon to leave a man’s body.
It was there at what is now known as the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter where He showed himself to Peter a few days after his resurrection from death, and gave Peter a chance to redeem himself after that famous betraying incident. He did so many miracles in and around Tiberias that I had to assure myself over and over again that I really was there – where He once was.
“Simon son of John, do you love me?” John 21 : 15 – 19
Seeing really is believing. The Galilee has stood the test of time – through many and many generations – and it is still there to remind people of what Jesus did right there in the past.
If somehow I happened to be back there again, I’d make sure I spend more time taking in more of its beauty. In my own time, in my own pace. Amen !!
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