Day 10 – Sea of Galilee & Northern Israel
Earlier this week I had a friend ask me if the war in Israel had affected my work. I had to take a pause for a moment. Which work? The answer is very different depending upon which one – my work for the church or my work for the Conservative Jewish organization? Reading through the passages and following Jesus in his ministry in Northern Israel was comforting and helped to bring perspective to my friend’s question.
The passages this week brought three themes to mind. One, they are full of action. Jesus hit the ground running in his ministry, and there are many descriptors of time to emphasize this. Second, we see very specific references to the land and locations. Finally, despite the urgency of his work, Jesus prioritized and took time for prayer and solitude.
Our morning reading is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Capernaum. The first word in verse 12 is “now,” which means at the present time or moment. We know very little about Jesus’ life up to this point. But this is a turning point in time and the next three years of his life will change the course of human history for eternity.
Why would Jesus begin his ministry in the north? Verse 14 says to fulfill the prophet Isaiah, but what does that mean? Isaiah 9 is being quoted here, which is the prophecy that “for to us a child is born.” Jesus is that child. He began in Galilee – the land of the Gentiles (Matthew 4:15), the land of the nations (Isaiah 9:1) Although Jesus’ focus was the Jewish people, he began in a Roman town that was home to both Jews and Gentiles. Perhaps this was intentional to be a foreshadowing of the invitation, to every nation, into the promises.
The people were dwelling in darkness. Jesus is the great light that dawned on the people of Capernaum in Galilee (v. 16) He’s also the light for us, and his light should continue to shine through us. John 3:19 says, “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” Let us not be people who remain in darkness, but be the kind of people that Paul reminded the church in Ephesus that they were. “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)
The nation of Israel is suffering atrocities because of the actions of people who love, and live, in deep darkness. May we be a source of light at this horrific time.
The story of Jesus walking on water, and calming the storm, occurred when his ministry was rapidly gaining momentum. Mark’s writing in his gospel account is typically known for his sense of urgency and fast pace. But Matthew uses the word “immediately” three times in his narrative. I don’t think I’ve noticed that before, and it seems to add dramatic effect to an already action-packed scenario.
Jesus had just fed the 5,000 men, plus women and children, with five loaves of bread and two fish. This miracle would only have intensified the draw for the crowds. So, he immediately got the disciples out of there by boat. (v. 22) He then took the opportunity to go up on the mountain to pray. (v. 23)
I’ve always read this story with a focus on the obvious details – Jesus walking on water, the disciples fear, Peter walking on water (and then sinking when his doubt kicked in), and Jesus calming the storm. These are all important and miraculous.
But instead of the disciple’s humanness standing out to me this time, it was Jesus’s. At the beginning of Matthew chapter 14 we read of the death of John the Baptist. “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him.” (v. 13-14) It seems that Jesus didn’t get a chance to be alone, to pray, to even take a moment to grieve (all critical things for us as humans to do) until after he fed the 5,000 and made sure the disciples were able to get away from the crowds.
Our next passage also contains the language indicating that things are still moving at a fast pace – “immediately”, “at once”. (v. 21, 23, 28) But, if what we just considered was in light of Jesus’ humanity, this passage allows us to reflect on his deity. Jesus entered a synagogue on the Sabbath and “taught them as one who had authority, not as the scribes.” (v. 22, 27)
The tradition for rabbinical training was that students would apprentice under a rabbi and learn his ways, and then would mentor the next generation. Each rabbi would become a teacher and leader having been given the knowledge and authority from the previous great teacher, all the way back to Moses, and finally back to God himself. However, Jesus didn’t have any formal training, yet he taught as if he had been given authority. Jesus’ teaching ability and authority came directly from God without any need for human instruction.
We briefly discussed Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 as being the event before he walked on water. Jesus’ identity was being revealed, and realized, through the miracles he was performing. After Jesus had calmed the storm, “those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” (Matthew 14:33)
At the end of John’s writing on the feeding of the 5,000, he says, “When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, ‘This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!’” (v. 14) However, even though people were beginning to gain a little understanding of who Jesus was, his time had not yet come. “Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” (v. 15) Yes, Jesus withdrew so that the crowds didn’t create events that weren’t supposed to happen yet. But I don’t think this was just an act to escape. We regularly see Jesus modeling and prioritizing prayer and solitude throughout all four gospels, which is what I think Jesus did on the mountain.
The interaction between Jesus and the disciples is both fascinating (with hindsight vision) and convicting to me. He approached the disciples when they were fishing on the Sea of Tiberias, however they didn’t recognize him. He instructed them to cast their net on the right side of the boat, which yielded so many fish they weren’t able to haul the net in.
(v. 6)
Jesus’ time with his disciples ends the same way it began. All four gospels tell of the first disciples being called, however, only Luke (5:1-11) tells of the drama that unfolded when Jesus told Peter to let his net down again, which resulted in such a large number of fish that their nets were breaking. The beauty, and simplicity, of these bookend miracles is what is fascinating to me.
John 21:14 says, “This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.” This raised a convicting question for me – how many times has Jesus revealed himself to me, yet I’ve not recognized him?
As the narrative continues, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. The original Greek is interesting for the word “love” in verses 15, 16, and 17. The word uses in 15 and 16 is agape. Agape love is pure, willful, sacrificial, and intentionally desires another’s best interests. It requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return.
Phileo is the word used in verse 17, which is a friendship love with two people bonded over similar interest. There’s affection, fondness, and a general liking of the other person. I think what we see here is Jesus extending grace to Peter before he was fully matured in his faith. Both Jesus’ question and Peter’s response, “Lord, you know everything you know that I love you,” is the word phileo. Grace allowed that to be enough.
As much action, and urgency, as we’ve seen through our readings, the Sermon on the Mount gives an opportunity to slow down and let Jesus’ words be a balm to our souls. We can do that, because he modeled that behavior here.
Verse 1 says, “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain” and then gave a lengthy discourse. I don’t think the word seeing here only refers the what Jesus saw through his vision and eye sight, especially in context of the earnestness we’ve seen in his ministry. Yes, Jesus has been on the move. But he sees. He knows. He takes the time to teach what Matthew recorded over three chapters.
As we consider current events, take some time to pray the beatitudes over the nation of Israel. As they are mourning and being persecuted, ask God for his comfort and mercy to be upon them.
The conversation that is in our final passage took place in Caesarea Philippi, which was the center for pagan temples and worship in the region. Yes, Jesus and the disciples went there. They didn’t avoid or ignore the people in Caesarea Philippi.
The Jordan River, which flows from the Sea of Galilee, has three water sources. One of those is Banias Springs at the base of Mount Hermon. The location was known as the Gates of Hades (the gods of the underworld). The pagan centered wicked worship and temples were built around this spot. Jesus declared to the disciples that not even this pagan movement could prevent the spread of the Gospel. Evil opposition may seem powerful for a moment, but cannot prevail and will not stop what God is doing.
This location was known as the Gates of Hades (the gods of the underworld).
Peter’s response to Jesus’ question about is identity was that he is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (v. 16) Peter was someone who we read throughout the gospels as having times of weakness, even occasionally being hot-headed. But he and the other disciples is who Jesus called to do ministry with him and to build his church. Similarly, he has called each of us, even in our weaknesses, to continue to carry out the great commission.
So, how has the war in Israel affected my job(s)?
For the church, it’s unsettling and devastatingly disappointing to consider that we won’t likely be heading to Israel in three weeks. We have been planning a pilgrimage to the Holy Land for a couple years. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the land where Jesus walked in the flesh. If the trip is canceled, I and the others who are registered will be deeply saddened. But our lives won’t be otherwise adversely affected. Jesus is still Lord and seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3)
For the Jews, this isn’t an inconvenience or missed opportunity. It’s a massacre and full-on terrorist assault. This isn’t a political statement, but a humanitarian statement.
I’ve been saddened by my Facebook feed and other regular updates about family and/or friends who have been directly impacted and traumatized. Not only does it show the horrific and tragic stories of people who have been killed, or worse. But it has shown stories of how my Jewish friends and colleagues have been marginalized and dismissed, in some ways echoing the events that led up to the Holocaust.
People of faith, who aren’t extremists, can trace our common ground back to being made in the Image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). This is a time for solidarity, support, love and validation for our Jewish neighbors around the world, made in the Imago Dei. As we trace Jesus’ ministry throughout these passages and locations, it circles back to what was said at the beginning – May we be a source of light at this horrific time. Jesus came as the great light, and he’s called us to follow in his footsteps.
Reflection Questions
What importance do the descriptors of time add to the gospel
narratives?
We read several ways that people identified who Jesus was. How
would you answer Jesus' question, "But, who do you say that I am?"
Have there been times in your life when Jesus revealed himself to
you, but you didn't recognize him?
What is your typical response when Jesus calls you into the
"Caesarea Philippi's" (the worldly or wicked places)?
How can you be a source of light at this horrific time?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son, Jesus. Thank you for loving me so much that you would send him as the child Isaiah prophesied would be born to us in this broken and fallen world. You said that the government would be upon his shoulders, and he would be called Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Lord, have mercy on your people and the people in the land of Israel. Please bring peace to the land and wrap your comforting Spirit around those who are suffering and grieving. Help me to be a source of light, support and love in the spheres in which you’ve placed me. Amen
Day 10 Locations/Sites:
(1) Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee
(2) Capernaum
(3) Tabgha/Church of Multiplication & Church of the Primacy of Saint Peter
(4) Caesarea Philippi
(5) Mount of Beatitudes
(6) Tel Dan Nature Reserve
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