Skip to main content

Israel Reflections - #5, Galilee Other Spots

Last time I shared just one segment of our time in Galilee and that was the marvelous ruins of Capernaum.  I want to share a bit more of our time in Galilee and the other spots we made it to.

We traveled from where we were staying in Bethlehem north to Galilee - a trip about 100 miles - but it took us three hours before we arrived at our initial destination, a Kibbutz.

If you're not familiar with a Kibbutz, it literally mean "Communal settlement".  Israel has a large number of Kibbutzim.  Many are agriculture, but they are not all dedicated to agriculture.   There is a really good introduction to the average Kibbutz at the web site:

 https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/kibbutz.html

We were very near Mount Tabor, which is the traditional spot of the Mount of Transfiguration, when Jesus took three of his disciples,
Peter, James, John to the top of the mountain.  All the Synoptic gospels record it.  Matthew 17:1-8 records it like this.
1  And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
2  And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
3  And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.
4  And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5  He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
6  When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.
7  But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”
8  And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
Near here was another mountain top - a place where Jesus is reputed to have taught the people in the Sermon on the Mount.

It's a beautiful place that overlooks the Sea of Galilee and the grounds have been turned into a sacred worship place by the Catholic church.

The areas near here were where Jesus did extensive ministry that included healings, teaching, and even feeding thousands.  Although there are sites given over to those events, it's clear that they could have been done from other places too; but at least we know they were done in this area of Galilee.

One of the joys of the trip up here was discovering a Cherkessian Folk restaurant near the Kibbutz.  The Cherkessians are an Ethnic group, largely culturally Muslim, who come from the Southern Soviet states in the Caspian areas.  We usually hear only of the bigger areas that have some terrorism connected to them like Chechnya.
Falafel

This restaurant was rich in the cuisine of the area...good food.  We met the Son who was running the restaurant and he went into the back and brought his father out from the kitchen to meet us.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hands Full of Parcels

"A Man whose hands are full of parcels can't receive a gift."   - C. S. Lewis Romans 4:13-16 (ESV) 13  For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14  For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15  For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. 16  That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all... The last four days have been best described by the word "fatigue".  It's not an uncommon word in our vocabulary.  Listless, tired, sore.  1300 miles of car travel, being sick, not sleeping well, and eating poorly all add up to the word - fatigue.   Someone onc...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Tabernacle

The readings today are Exodus 36, 37, 38 I wanted to post some pictures of what these various parts of the Tabernacle looked like. It's not the easiest read in the world, but if you persevere through it, you can get a picture of all the different pieces that made up the tabernacle. It is a replica of the various parts of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness: First thing in the chapter listed is the outside of the tabernacle which consisted of curtains tied together and put on cross bars through loops. Next at the beginning of 37 is the table and lampstand: Also, the altar of incense: And, the altar for the burnt offering which was in the courtyard: Finally, the courtyard which made it all come together: Hope that helps with what it might have all looked like. Most importantly, this was their "place" of worship they were building. I hope you have a great day of worship. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
1 comment
Read more

The difference between defending and explaining

The news of recent has focused the suffering of Christians in the middle east who have been martyred for their faith in Christ at the hands of Islamic Terrorists. Through the centuries many Christians have lost their lives as a result of their faith. For us, who live in America, there is little chance that we would have this happen here - but it's entirely possibly that terrorism will strike out at Christians sometime.  But, for many Christians in the western world - especially here in the U.S. - being a Christians who believes God's word there is a form of persecution that is defined by words like "ostracized", "passed over", "ridiculed", and more. What do we do in the face of opposition to faith? When the Apostle Peter writes to the early believers who are undergoing great pressure, even persecution for their faith in Jesus, he gives them this charge. 1 Peter 3:8-18 8  Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly lov...
1 comment
Read more