Day 7 Capernaum Mon 11/18/2019

BANIAS (CAESAREA PHILIPPI) / GOLAN HEIGHTS / MT. BEATITUDES / TABHA / CAPERNAUM / BOAT RIDE ON THE SEA OF GALILEE

Begin the day by traveling to Banias (Caesarea Philippi) and see the source of the Jordan River where Jesus asked the disciples who they say He was (Mt.16:15; Mk.8:29; Lk.9:20). We will be reminded of Peter's beautiful confession of faith (Mt.16:16; Mk.8:29b; Lk.9:20b). Climb the Golan Heights to see the Syrian fortifications to understand Israel's strategic necessity for retaining the Golan Heights, and view the magnificent Hula Valley. Continue to the Mt. of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached the "Sermon on the Mount" (Mt.5:1-7:29; Lk.6:17-49) and enjoy a magnificent view of the Sea of Galilee. Descend to Tabha, site of the miracle of the Loaves and Fishes (Lk.9:12-17). Next to Capernaum, where Jesus ministered, with its synagogue (Mt.8:14-17) and the house of Simon Peter (Mk.1:29; Lk.4:38). End the day with a boat-ride across the Sea of Galilee, where we will have a worship service in the middle of the Sea. Arrive back at our Kibbutz on the shores of the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight.

We begin the day with the reading of GOD's word from Matthew 5:1-5
The Beatitudes read by Mary Lynn Konyu.
Amir gave us another way to say 'Blessed' = 'Saved will be'.

Rejoice in the LORD always, again I say rejoice.
Rejoice same as Havanagilah
in reference to the day of the LORD and the coming of the kingdom of heaven.

Another interesting point of Amir's bus lecture was the middle verse in the Torah which is the main purpose of the Torah is Lev. 19:18 which says, ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.'

Where 'love' is your conscious; to be our guiding light; something to be taught.

This is all in preparation for our first stop at the sight of the Sermon on the Mount

Behind me is the Catholic Church built on the location where the Sermon on the Mount was said to be given.
In front of me is the Sea of Galilee and a hill where many people would've heard these strong, direct and challenging words from Jesus.

An olive tree on the grounds of the church.
A main stay in Israel's agriculture.

Next stop...Caesarea Philippi (Banias, Paneas):

This location would be the start of Peter's ministry after the ascension.

Amir lecture on Caesarea Philippi
Before Peter would begin his ministry in this place he needed to learn an important lesson.
See Matthew 16:13-20
Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem but went to Caesarea Philippi in the opposite direction, a three day journey. The point? Jesus had something to say to the disciples (especially Peter) that was critical to his calling. In Matthew 16:15 Jesus asks a question to the disciples, "And who do you say I am?" Peter answers in verse 16, "You are the Christ, the son of the living GOD." Now this place was a very pagan non-ordained ungodly place. It was here in the middle of unbelief and resistance that Jesus told Peter, "On this rock I will build my church, and the power of death will not be able to defeat it." Peter passed the test with his response, however he would be challenged and learn so much more about himself in the next few days as they traveled on their last trip together to Jerusalem.

In Caesarea the god of the land was named Pan. The same pan we get the words, "pandamonia and panic".
That is what this god stirred in the people's hearts.

Here is the rock of darkness.
Simon or, in Hebrew, "She-moan" means "The one who hears."
Who will be able to hear GOD in the place of darkness?
Roman city
Pagan practices
Pagan god, Pan

Next Visit - the most northern Israel border with Syria and the Golan Heights

At one time there were volcanos which poured out lava turned to basalt rock or black rock.

We're on the road to Damascus where Paul was converted. On the ridge above you can see an old Syrian fortress.

We stopped here at the most northern part of Israel on the Syrian border.
In front of me is the towers which control the movement in Syria located behind me. 

As I turn around you can see Syria. The white buildings in the middle of this frame are the UN buildings  built as a result of  previous peace agreements. The border is a barbed-wire fence which separates the countries.

On our way to lunch and the boat ride on the Sea of Galilee I took some shots of the landscape.

Looks like the prairies at home.
Sea of Galilee in the distance.

After lunch where we enjoyed St. Peter's fish we got on the fishing boat.

Boat Launch

The crew hoisted the American flag next to the Iraeili flag as we sang the star spangled banner. 

Half our group l. to r. Carol Koziol, Nancy Gatfield, Cheryl Monzingo, Debbie Biggar, Janelle Reiner, Gary Hanson, Joyce Tranberg.

The rest of our group l. to r. Dan Rasmussen, Derek Frazer, Kathleen Frazer, Mary Lynn Konyu, Kent Brown, Jane Brown.

More group members l. to r. Sarah Elvestrom, Marilyn Elvestrom

Last but not least, Rick Wisdom, our preacher today.
Not pictured: Jan Berg & Pastor Reiner

Our captain of the Christian boat, Daniel Carmel sang "Guda Adoni"

360 degree view of the Sea of Galilee from the middle of the boat.

Length: 00:00:28 sec.

Next stop: Capernaum

The entrance to the city of Caphernaum.

The area behind these blocks is the original sysnagogue of the Capernaum community.
The synagogue was known as the communal gathering place where the community would come together to meet.
All synogogues, no matter where they were built, face Jerusalem.
This one faces south toward Jerusalem.

This site is claimed to be the home of Simon Peter's mother-in-law where Jesus stayed while in Capernaum.
His room may have been one of the sections in the middle of the inner ring.

Not to hinder the site, the Catholic Church built a church building over the top of the site of the home Jesus lived.

Final Stop: Feeding of the 5,000

Our last stop was at a church where the proposed site of the feeding of the 5,000 ocurred.

Here is our group getting ready to hear another educational lecture.