Oh, what a sacred Sunday! After passing the ruins of ancient Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene (I was so choked up, I could barely get through Mark 16:9 and Luke 8:1-3), we then studied the Beatitudes in a grove of trees near the spot where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount.
A beautiful way to begin our Sunday together, as we took turns reading Matthew 5:1-10, and considered the meaning of “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Then we imagined the Lord walking on the water, studying John 6:16-21, while we sailed in a boat called “Faith” on the Sea of Galilee. We sang, we laughed, we danced, we worshiped, and we marveled at the serenity of the water and the unspoiled scenery.
Next I shared the story of the feeding of the 5,000 from Matthew 14:15-23, near the hillside where the loaves and fishes were multiplied. There were teaching spots everywhere we went, ready for us to find seats and open God’s Word. When all of us reached the shores of the Galilee, a “Ta-da!” seemed the natural response.
Our hearts were already full to the brim, but the best was yet to come. We shared three lessons about Jesus as our Deliverer (Mark 1:21-28), our Healer (Matthew 8:14-17), and our Savior (Luke 7:36-50) among the synagogue ruins in Capernaum, where Jesus taught. I mean where he taught. It was almost more than this girl could handle.
And then I had the absolute joy of teaching Matthew 3:13-17 about the baptism of Jesus, before baptizing 21 precious women in the Jordan River, inviting them into the water singing, “O, Sisters, Let’s Go Down to the River and Pray.” Can’t imagine anything more glorious this side of heaven!
Back to the kibbutz we went, eager to see what the next day might hold…
Even just seeing pics of these places is so exciting!
Delighted to know even someone who didn’t travel with us can sense the JOY that is Israel!
Oh, what a day that was…so filled with beautiful sights where our Savior walked and taught! And then to be baptized in the same river as our Lord! I never shall forget those days in Israel!
If I had to pick a favorite day in Israel, this was definitely IT! Wow, wow, wow.
My most favorite spiritual day of the trip. I felt as though the streets could change over 2,000 years, but the body of water would stay the same. Being on the Sea of Galilee was a very precious time – being a Sunday, our Sabbath, worshipping and praising our Savior and Lord, to having my faith reconfirmed with the baptism in the Jordan River. A wonderful memory I will cherish.
Me too, dear Linda. An amazing day in the Lord. Someone took a photo of me looking up with an expression of absolute AWE, my hands pressed against my cheeks, while we were on the Sea of Galilee. MAJOR goosebumps that whole hour on the water!
I had the privilege of going to Israel in 1999 and staying in a kabbitz (sp?) on the Sea of Galilee and getting up early with other believers gathered on a dock to watch the sun rise over the Sea of Galilee was a major highlight. I cried when we had to leave the Sea of Galilee. You could just feel His presence there in a very special way. Hope to see you in Rocky Mount on my birthday, March 2, 2012. We’re doing Loved by God at First Baptist Church Park Street, Charlottesville, VA, this summer.