Not I But Christ: Exploring The Galilee

Today we went all around the Galilee. We started by going south and came up around the eastern side of the lake. We went towards the Golan Heights. If there is one thing that shocks you typically when you first come to Israel is how mountainous and lush the Galilee really is.

In this picture you can see into Jordan. If you look close you can see the fence border.

Here you see a bunker that Israel once used for protection against Jordan

Here you are looking at the United Nations post on the Syrian border of Israel (I thought it was funny that the guide called it the United Nothing :) )

As you go up into this area you gain a perspective of how Israel truly is surrounded by its Arab neighbors. To the east you have Jordan, to the northeast you have Syria and to the north west Lebannon. It allows you to understand why Israel is never interested in negotiating the Golan Heights. If they were to give it away they would definitely be putting their own security at risk. We went to one high point in the Golan where we could see the mountians of Gilead, Moab, and see the general direction of where they eventually run into Edom. It really brings the Old Testament to life in such a neat way. It brought back memories of studying through Amos and reading about the judgement that Amos pronounced on the north western neighbors of Israel. We were looking right in that direction.

We received a great lesson on some of the recent wars that Israel has taken part in. Our bus guide Amnon went through the amazing story of the Yom Kippur war of 1973 when Israel was attacked on the Day of Atonement. Driving by the very places this took place, hearing someone who actually fought in the war was incredibly interesting.

From there we headed to Caesarea Philippi. This place is located up almost at the Syrian border.

This place is also known as Banias. It is incredibly lush. If you go on some trails you really get a sense of how beautiful this place really is. This is the place where Jesus asked Peter the famous question, "Who do men say that I am?"

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi he was asking his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God". Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell will not overpower it." (Matthew 16.13-18)

In an area where there was pagan idolotry Jesus chooses to ask this question. In the midst of all these pagan temples, Jesus wants His disciples to know that the gates of Hell will not overpower it. In many ways the gates of Hell were represented all around Him, yet He wanted them to know the power of His Kingdom over darkness.

Here are some pictures of the pagan temples:

As you keep reading from Matthew 16 you don't see Jesus leaving for another place until it states that He went back to Capernaum. What is very interesting is that one of the events that takes place in between this stop and His departure for Capernaum is the Transfiguration. Tradition places the Transiguration on Mount Tabor which is a good ways off. If you just focus on the text it would appear that Jesus was near Caesarea Philippi when He transfigured. If that is the case it might have very well been somewhere in the area of Caesarea Phillipi or somewhere on the Mount Hermon range.

We then headed to Capernaum. There were more miracles done here than any other place. Yet we see in Matthew 11.23-24 that Jesus condemned Capernaum due to her unbelief. We went into the synagogue. While it is a 3rd or 4th century synagogue, it is built on the foundation of the synagogue of Jesus. Amazing to be standing in the same area Jesus healed and taught. Here are some pictures of Capernaum:

Here is the synagogue. Jesus cast out a demon here in Mark 1:21-26

Here is the one and only Scott Parr standing in the synagogue.

Here are some archaeological finds of homes in Capernaum

Many archaeologist believe this is the house of Peter's mother in law. We read in Mark 1 that Jesus healed her.

To finish the day we took a ride on the Sea of Galilee. It is such a neat experience just to be on the lake. Today it was very calm and peaceful. We went over and looked at the general direction of what many feel is the Mount of Beatitudes and also at the area that could possibly be Bethsaida.