So we drive up the Jordan valley. We learn some interesting historical facts about the region and it's relation to the country of Jordan that is ever on our right hand side. It is interesting to note that we are traveling through the West bank, which the Israeli's took partially as a barganing chip for peace. There is a small island in the Jordan river, that was given to Jordan. This island was a meeting place for families who had people on both sides of the river as it was much cheaper to get to Jordan on the island. This arrangement ended after a group of Jewish school girls were shot at by a Jordanian guard killing nine of them. The king of Jordan when he heard of it immediately got into his plane and flew to Israel and sat with the families. If an election had been called then he would have won it. Unfortunately his son who rules now is not quite the statesman that daddy was. Or so they tell me. So now the island is closed.
Since we left early and Israel is no bigger than the Kruger Park, we reached the Sea of Kineret/Tiberius/Galilee by before 11am. Stopped at a shop that specializes in dates, or so they say! For thos who are interested it is just above Yardinet the baptismal site at the exit of the Jordan river from the sea.
We had to travel swiftly from here to make our boat ride on the sea. We went to the usual boat ride spot just beyond Kfar Nahum or Capernaum, and quickly jumped on the boat.
This particular boat guide ran the SA and Australian flags up the mast and played our respective national anthems. Then we had a Bible reading and a time of reflection on the boat. What was interesting here is that we did not return to the same jetty we left from. We docked at the Jesus boat museum at Nof Ginnosaur. Was great to see that place again as I have many fond memories of being there before. The museum tour was abreviated and the food expensive. A banana for a dollar is too much. I'd rather go hungry.
Almost bought something at the bookshop but was able to resist the temptation.
Next stop. Mount of the Beattitudes or so I thought! Well we did go to the mount. And we could see the church over the fence. But we did not enter it. It was decided instead that we walk down the mount and thus experience something more of how Jesus and his disciples would have experienced the mount. This is a good thing. We stopped at a small
monument under a tree and had a teaching on the semon on the mount. While we had had this sermon before it was interesting to hear again.
From there we climbed down the mount to the road and went to the church of the primacy of Peter which was just down the road from there. It is called this because this was supposedly where Jesus restored Peter in John 21. We went to the beach there and after reading from John 21 we had a short teaching on the passage. Something I had not noticed before was that the fire that Peter used to warm himself at (John 18) was a charcoal fire. The fire Jesus made on the beach was also a charcoal fire. Almost as if Jesus was trying to recreate the scene of the betrayal at the place of the restoration. We then had a few minutes of quiet contemplation at the waters edge.
This is one thing I appreciate about this tour. We actually spend a lot of time in the Bible. When we get to important sites we actually crack it open and read. Sometimes we even have a short teaching. This is how a tour should be!
From this church we again walked down the road to the church of the loaves and the fish. Last time I was there I spend all my time at the pond there photographing the koi fish. Not this time. I ignored them and went straight to the church itself where there is a very famous mosaic at the altar that I had not seen the previous time as I had not been in the church at all. Here my 250mm lens came in handy as I could not get close to take the picture. I got a few good ones I hope :)
Our last stop for the day was the hotel with a quick side excursion to a shop for supplies and an ATM for those who needed it. Then it was supper and the wind down to bed. All in all an excellent day!
And yet there is so much more to see and we haven't even reached Jerusalem!
-- Post From My iPhone
Location:Israel
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