February 4th, Site#1

SEA OF GALILEE
The Sea of Galilee is located 60 miles north of Jerusalem. It lies in the Jordan Valley rift and is part of the great Syrio-African fault line. The hot mineral springs on the shores of the lake indicate that the fault line is still active. The Sea of Galilee is 685 feet below the level of the Mediterranean Sea. It is surrounded by mountains from 1500 to 4000 feet above sea level, which is why storms can come up on the lake so quickly. The lake serves as a funnel drawing them in. The lake is 13 miles long and 8 miles wide. It is sometimes called “the Sea of Chinnereth” (literally “harp shaped” in Hebrews, Numbers 34:11; Deuteronomy 3:17; Joshua 13:27), the “lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1), or “the Sea of Tiberias” (John 6:1; 21:1) in scripture.

Mark 1:16-20 (the call of the first disciples)
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Mark 4:35-41 (Jesus stilling the storms)
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Mark 6:45-52 (Jesus walking on the water)
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray. When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves.