Day 2.1 On the Sea of Galilee
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Day 2 Full Itinerary: On and Around the Sea of Galilee – Boat on the Sea – Beit She’an - Tabgha – Capernaum - Mount of Beatitudes - Magdala - 2nd night in Tiberias
6:00 wake-up call at our Tiberias hotel came early, but as we gathered for breakfast at 6:30 we were all buzzing with expectation and energy for the day ahead. Nazareth yesterday was a taste of introduction to Jesus' world through re-enactment ... but on this day we would truly be walking in His footsteps.
We loaded the bus at 7:30 and headed around to the southeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee to where we would meet our boat. "Sea" is somewhat of a misnomer ... it is about 13 miles long and 8 miles wide, which makes it a medium-large-ish lake anywhere else in the world. But the Bible calls it a Sea (usually), so we'll stay with it! It does hold the distinction - which I didn't realize until this trip! - of being the second-lowest lake on Earth (after the Dead Sea) and the lowest freshwater lake in the world at about 700 ft below sea level.
Along the way around we crossed over the Jordan River as it exits the Sea of Galilee flowing southward and on to the Dead Sea. It was small as expected ... tomorrow we'll get a closer look!
We unloaded the bus at the shore with a beautiful view back across the Sea to Tiberias (where we stayed last night). The water was so peaceful and calm, the air fresh with beautiful clear skies, a light breeze and mid 70s temperatures. What a perfect day to go out on the Sea of Galilee! Quite different from the last WoodsEdge trip, we were told, when it was windy and in the 40s!
Jeff asked each of us to pick up a pebble from somewhere on the shoreline and put it in our pocket to take with us for now.
We boarded the boat and sailed out to the middle of the lake ... again, just a perfect day on the water, and there were virtually no other boats to be seen. Jeff began a time of teaching, reminding us that although the water was so calm and beautiful this morning, very rough storms and squalls can indeed spring up here because of the particular geography of the surrounding hills and the prevailing winds, making the sea at times extremely difficult even for experienced fisherman. As it was on one particular night starting from the shores we were gazing at ...
Matthew 14:22-33
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
With the picture of Peter sinking into the Sea of Galilee and then crying out for Lord Jesus to save him, Jeff challenged each of us to prayerfully, personally think of the greatest fear we have in our own lives. Then, taking the pebble we picked up on the shore from our pockets, pray to completely give that fear to Jesus ... and toss the pebble into the Sea of Galilee. A powerful moment ...
Then followed a wonderful, amazing time of praise and worship led by Phil and Tyler.... To do so out on the Sea of Galilee itself, looking back across the lake to the northwest shoreline of Capernaum, the Mount of Beatitudes, Magdala, and all the places in a small area where Jesus spent ~70% of his ministry time, all along the shoreline or on these very waters ... Wow!!! Oh, how we love you, Lord Jesus!
Eventually it was time to head back to shore ... a remarkable start to a jam-packed, powerful day!