Tuesday morning was our last, full day in Magdala so we woke up early to watch the sun rise over the Sea of Galilee. It was so still and serene. The weather was perfect. I can't believe this was the same place that Peter walked on water. That Jesus calmed the storm. I sat and imagined all of it. I felt so connected to the past, to Christ, to miracles. It was an experience that breathed peace into my soul. I hope to always remember it.
One more visit to the synagogue. There was a Spanish mass going on upstairs that we sat in on for about 30 minutes.
Capernaum was definitely a favorite stop! I felt giddy to be here! John was very careful to not tell us somewhere was the place if it really wasn’t, but scholars believe this was Peter’s house because places of worship were built around it very early in the first century. Jesus most likely lived with Peter when he was in Capernaum, about 1000 people lived there. Apparently, this site gets really busy, but John and Machmoud worked their magic and got us in early, before it officially opened, so we had a magical experience not only at the ruins of the likely house of Peter but also studying the scriptures stories that took place in Capernaum as we sat on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
In Matthew 4:13 we learn that Jesus dwelt in Capernaum. It must have been a place of comfort to him. It was here in Capernaum that he called his apostles, Mark 3. He teaches about the Sabbath, Mark 2-3 and he gives the parables of the sower, the candle under a bushel, and of the mustard seed in Mark 4. He teaches about little children in Mark 9:33-50. There were many miracles that took place here including:
The healing of the centurion’s servant Matthew 8:5-22
The healing of the man with palsy Mark 2:1-12
Cast out a devil from a man Luke 4:31-36
The people sought him in Capernaum and I felt him there as well, John 6:24-71. In these verses we read that the Father gave the true bread, that Christ is the bread. Am I integrating Christ into my life?
Capernaum
(Hebrew, “Village of Nahum”) Located about 2 1/2 miles from where the Jordan enters the Sea of Galilee and 10 miles from Tiberias. Capernaum was both a fishing town and a customs
station with a place of residence for a high Roman officer. The town may have held a population of up to 10,000. After leaving Nazareth Jesus spent 18-20months of his ministry in this town and more miracles were performed here than in any other settlement. Jesus called to serve Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew here.
• Healing of the man with the unclean spirit and Peter’s mother-in-law (Matt. 8:14-17; Mark 1:21-34; Luke 4:31-41)
• Healing of the centurion’s servant (Matt. 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10)
• Healing of the palsied man let down through the roof (Matt. 9:1-8;Mark2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26)
• Raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead (Matt. 9:18-26; Mark 5:22-43; Luke 8:40-56)
• Healing of the woman with an “issue of blood” (Matt. 9:20- 22;Mark 5::25-34; Luke 8:43-48)
• Healing of the demoniac (Matt. 12:22-45; Mark 3:22-30; Luke 11:14-20)
• Healing of the nobleman’s son(John 4:46-54)
• Healing of multitudes(Matt. 8:16-17; 9:36-38)
• Delivery of the “Bread of Life” discourse (John 6:22-71)
• Teaching on the importance of little children (Matt. 18:1-6; Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48)
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Inside the church in the middle was a glass floor where you could see the
remains of supposedly Peter's house.
We were always go go go, so it was really nice to have a bit of time to sit and read and ponder in Capernaum. While I was reading, Shelley snuck over this fence and tried to scare me. She wasn't successful but we laughed a lot at her attempt.
Shelley wrote about the miracle of Jairus's daughter being healed and I liked it so much I just copied and pasted it here. Little did we know that our family would have the opportunity to portray the family of Jairus in the Easter Pageant in one year!!
Matthew 4:13 we learn that Jesus dwelt in Capernaum.
After being baptized Jesus returned to Nazareth, where he was rejected and
so he traveled to Capernaum.
The time Jesus spent in Jerusalem was relatively short compared
to the time he spent here.
Most of the chapters in the New Testament describe what happened when he was
living in Capernaum, to the last week of his life.
He chose his 12 disciples in this area, 5 of them came directly form Capernaum.
MANY miracles and teachings took place here.
One of my favorites is Jesus raising Jairus' daughter from the dead, Mark 5.
We talk about this story at home every Holy Week.
Jairus was a local synagogue leader.
His daughter was dying.
But he knew where to find help.
Jesus stopped to perform another miracle on a woman (with the blood issue) before
reaching his daughter who he heard had passed away in the meantime.
I can only imagine the feelings Jairus had at that moment.
I know how I would have felt!!
I am not so patient or kind when in frantic situations:)
I imagine words of- excuse me, I came to you first!
Or, we are more important right now!
Jesus arrived and grabbed her hand and lifted her up.
A humble reminder to trust in God.
He can step in and work a miracle when we think all has been lost.
There was a large group of people singing in a foreign language in this ancient synagogue and it was so beautiful!
Emily Belle Freeman posted a story about the
homeless Jesus statue that I was excited to see.
I almost forgot about it, how sad if I did!
It was towards the entrance and I must have missed it on our way in.
I looked up what it was supposed to represent.
Mostly it goes along with Matthew 25:34-45.
Jesus tells his followers that they are caring for him when they tend
to the needs of those who are sick, poor, naked, hungry, thirsty, imprisoned and strangers.
But the artist said it is there to challenge you.
Emily knows him by His wounds, and how He comes to
bind up the brokenhearted, and recognizes that He is in the wounds of her own life.
I found it interesting that out of all the places in the Holy Land this statue could have
been placed, it is here.
Where Jesus came when he found himself wounded, rejected.
He was obeying His father.
Even though he was Jesus, he had feelings.
Humble people sought after him here to learn and for their "wounds" to be healed.
He takes us with Him where we could never go alone.
We went to the Church of Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes. It was not on the itinerary because it is not likely the actual place, but it is still nice to remember and at the pace we were going we had lots of time for bonus stops. There were some great scriptures to study here in Matthew 14:12-20 where 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes fed 5000 men plus women and children, yet when they had all eaten there were 12 baskets full left. When we give all that we can, with Christ we are filled and there is always more than what we started with. Christ will multiply our talents and capabilities, if we give what we can. Yet so soon after in Matthew 15:32-39 the Apostles question how they can feed 4000 men plus women and children with seven loaves and a few fishes. How could the Apostles forget the previous miracle so quickly? Do we forget that quickly? Remember the miracles we have already seen in our lives. Write down one sentence of miracles or answered prayers so we don’t forget.
Watched some workers doing tedious mosaic tile work on the floors.
At St. Peter’s Primacy we considered passages from John 21. Elder Holland elaborated on this. Sometimes Jesus asked us to leave when our nets are full. Peter was still willing. It was insightful to see Peter’s home. It felt like Peter left a great life to follow Christ. He wasn’t a poor, destitute fisherman that I may have thought him to be. After you have had an encounter with Christ you cannot go back to your old ways. Last recorded words of Christ in John are “Follow Me.”
Side story.
When we first got here John found us a perfect shaded
spot around an alter for us to sit around.
He even said, wow its like they arranged this spot just for us!
The second we all settled, a (very) angry monk came charging out of nowhere!
He demanded who our leader was.
Every single one of us froze with a blank stare not sure what to do!
John raised his hand ( I was dying inside for him) and the monk told him to follow him.
IF there was popcorn we all would have been stuffing our faces at this point!
He took him to a sign on the pole that said something about not
sitting here unless it is reserved for a group.
(Which to Johns defense, it was very misleading. We all read it as, reserved for groups only.
Which we were!)
He then turned to all of us and told us very sternly that we needed to leave.
You don't have to tell us twice!!
Whoa doggy, it was a tense few seconds!
Mental note, don't make the monks mad, lol!
Said alter we got in trouble at:)
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We took time for a quick bonus stop at Arbel National Reserve/Valley of the Doves.
What we have recorded is less than 1% of the days Jesus lived. This reserve is the river walk between Galilee and Nazareth and also the trailhead to walk up to the Arbel lookout. John encouraged us to consider the 99% of Jesus' life that we don’t have recorded and how he may have traveled between Galilee and Nazareth along this trail as it is clearly the most natural walkway and to think about the outside temperature.
There is also a trailhead leading up to the Arbel lookout, that we were on top of the first day in Israel, where I am standing.
Lunch today was an all time low. Major ick. Why did they take us here?! This fish was not mine but what I ordered was not much better. It did not feel clean and did not taste good.
Next, we traveled to Caesarea Philippi right on the border of Syria, which is crazy to think about since there is a full-blown war there and signs about land mines. On the drive there we could see the snow capped Mount Hermon, the likely location of the transfiguration found in Matthew 17. In Matthew 16:13-20 we read about an interaction Jesus had with his Apostles in Caesarea Philippi where he revealed to his disciples that he was the Messiah. Who say ye that I am? How do you answer that question? Upon this rock means upon revelation we build the church.
On our longer drives John led some interesting discussions; the one about fence laws was one of my favorites. The gist of it is as follows: The hole of sin is real. Core laws keep us from entering the temple. Also, if the prophet says something it is a core law. The fence around the hole, rules that protect us from sin or keep us from breaking the core laws. Good ideas that become requirements on others is not a real requirement. They could be called fence laws. Don’t create a burden for someone else or yourself by judging others with your own fence laws.
Examples of fence laws and problems they created in the New Testament. John 5 Man Sabbath. Acts 15 Peter calls the extra laws yoke laws. Maybe Christ is saying his yoke is light as in his burden is lite means that living my gospel is simple. Love God. Love your neighbor. Fence laws need to be driven by the Holy Ghost and by prophets. 93% of Americans think they are above average drivers. We tend to think we are doing better than we are so follow the prophet because he can see around corners. I hope to teach my children the “why”, not just the fence laws. Great things to consider!
Sneak peak of the Jordan River!
Mount Hermon and Caesarea Philippi
(Greek name was Paneas, named after Pan, the Greek god of forests, meadows, herds, and is associated with mountain slopes and caves. Pan was half goat and half man and sometimes struck terror in people— hence our English panic. Paneas became Banias). Rebuilt by Philip the tetrarch and named in honor of August Caesar. 8 miles east of Qiryat Shemona, and at the base of Mount Hermon, northeast of the Sea of Galilee, Caesarea Philippi was named after Augustus Caesar and Philip the tetrarch. The city represented the northern limit of Jesus’ journeys on his second tour to the north. Banias waterfall, about 1 mile SW of Banias. This is one of the sources of the Jordan River as it emerges from the foothills of Mount Hermon.
• This is the site of Peter’s confession of Jesus’ Messiahship, Jesus’ promise of the keys of the kingdom, his prediction of his death, and his statement on the cost of discipleship. (Matt. 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-38; Luke 9:18-26)
Archeologists uncovered this shrine above the cave.
Niches still visible in the side of the cliff held statutes of the Greek God, Pan. A mythical half man, half goat who played the panpipe.
Apparently pagan worship happened here so Shelley and I decided to mock that. And surely got 10 black marks on our eternal record.
The Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7, wasn’t what I was expecting. Of course, there is a church built there. Why wouldn’t I expect that? It just didn't feel much like a "mount". It was just an outlook on the water. Site of Italian convent and hospice that was a project of Mussolini in 1937.
• Comprehensive list of verses to read in Capernaum.
Matthew 4:13, 8:5-22, 9:1, 17:24-18:35) Mark 2-4, 9:33-50, Luke 4:31-36, 7:1-10, John 4:46-54, 6:24-71
Jesus raises the bar. We talked about Matthew 5:21, anger “without a cause” is removed in the JST. We can choose not to be angry. The new revised standard version includes great insight.
We finished off our outings for the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. In Matthew 14 we read that the Apostles did what Jesus said and things got worse. They were struggling and Jesus saw them. Has Jesus ever called me to get out of the boat? Jesus always comes. I am so grateful for my testimony of this! The boat ride was a lot of fun too as the staff taught us to dance the Hava Nagila.
It was our last night at Magdala and I was so sad! We needed more of that amazing gelato so we walked back over and perused the grocery store first. Bought some Israeli candy for the kids. Carrie and Josh Kirk came with us and then the Jergensen family showed up and we had the best time laughing and talking. The Jergensens live in Bountiful and are in Elder Anderson's ward. They told us some crazy stories! Like apparently an Elder's quorum teacher was trying to teach one of Elder Anderson's talks WHILE ELDER ANDERSON was in the lesson! Talk about nerve wracking! Well I guess after some time, Elder Anderson raised his hand and said something to the effect of, "That is not at all what I meant when I said that." Yikes! Then, Jennifer Jergensen said she was teaching Gospel Doctrine when a lady in the ward raised her hand and said (misunderstanding what Jennifer had meant) said that after General Conference she loves sitting down with her daughter and deciding which talks applied to them and which ones they would follow. She said she watched as Sis. Anderson looked at her husband, he nodded and she raised her hand. She said that every talk is for us and it is not our place to pick and choose which principles apply to us. Yikes again! It must be wild being in an apostle's ward! The Jergensens are hilarious and so is Josh Kirk. He actually reminded us a lot of Christopher. We had a great time with them!
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