Firstly, I went to the Mt. Of Beatitudes in Northern Galilee, this is the place where it is believed that Jesus delivered his famous sermon on the mount...Matthew 5
Jesus saw the crowds and went up a hill, where he sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them:
“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
“Happy are those who mourn;
God will comfort them!
“Happy are those who are humble;
they will receive what God has promised!
“Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires;
God will satisfy them fully!
“Happy are those who are merciful to others;
God will be merciful to them!
“Happy are the pure in heart;
they will see God!
“Happy are those who work for peace;
God will call them his children!
“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them! “Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. (Matthew 5:1-11 GNT)
Secondly, I went to Tabgha, this the place where it is believed Jesus multiplied the fish and loaves of bread...
That evening his disciples came to him and said, “It is already very late, and this is a lonely place. Send the people away and let them go to the villages to buy food for themselves.”
“They don't have to leave,” answered Jesus. “You yourselves give them something to eat!”
“All we have here are five loaves and two fish,” they replied.
“Then bring them here to me,” Jesus said. He ordered the people to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave thanks to God. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. Everyone ate and had enough. Then the disciples took up twelve baskets full of what was left over. (Matthew 14:15-20 GNT)
Then I went to the town that Jesus lived and ministered in for some time, Capernaum (Matthew 4:13)...
Jesus and his disciples came to the town of Capernaum, and on the next Sabbath Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach. (Mark 1:21 GNT).
This is the synagogue in Capernaum
Note the black basalt layer...that is the original floor of the synagogue from the time of Jesus, the rest ws rebuilt in the 4th century
Here are also some photos of the actual town of Capernaum
Here is a photo of an olive press found in the town, which was known for its olive industry
Lastly I went to Kursi, which was one of the cities of the Decapolis, now this is the place where you will remember Jesus drove out the demons into the pigs...
When Jesus came to the territory of Gadara on the other side of the lake, he was met by two men who came out of the burial caves there. These men had demons in them and were so fierce that no one dared travel on that road. At once they screamed, “What do you want with us, you Son of God? Have you come to punish us before the right time?”
Not far away there was a large herd of pigs feeding. So the demons begged Jesus, “If you are going to drive us out, send us into that herd of pigs.” (Matthew 8:28-31 GNT)
Faith lesson...
May Jesus find us as as he did Peter and his fellow fishermen. He found them as they walked along the shore of the sea of Galilee and for them that happened as they were going about their everyday business. Jesus found them and called them as they were going about their day to day business and my prayer is that Jesus will find us as in our everyday moments...may we too hear his voice in the midst of our everyday moments calling us to follow him. I pray that we will all experience a renewed sense of call to the person and mission of Jesus Christ.
Location:Tiberias,Israel
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