The Galilean Ministry

Me in the amphitheatre at Caesarea Maritima.

Yesterday we left Jerusalem and headed towards Galilee where Jesus spent much of his time, both growing up and ministering.

This is the view that Paul would have had when he was imprisoned in Caesarea Maritima.

We visited Caesarea Maritima, built up by Hared as an escape, his palace looked out onto the Mediterranean. This was also used by Pontius Pilate and was where Paul was imprisoned at one point while waiting to be sent to Rome. The ruins of what were the prison cells are still there and Paul would have had a magnificent view as he wrote.

The Roman Catholic Church of the Annunciation.

We visited Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown and went to the Basilica of the Annunciation and the Church of St. Gabriel where, depending on your affiliation with the Eastern or Western Church, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary.

The Orthodox Church of the Angel Gabriel - claims that Gabriel appeared to Mary at the well.

We stayed at Pilgerhaus, a German Catholic retreat house on the Sea of Galilee. With the heat and the high humidity it was nice to be able to return each night to Pilgerhaus and swim in the Sea of Galilee.

Me, swimming in the Sea of Galilee.

The Church of the Beatitudes.


The view of the Sea of Galilee from the Mount of Beatitudes.

We went up Mount Beatitudes where Jesus preached his Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes and then went to the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy where Jesus asked Peter three times, ‘Peter, do you love me?’ ‘Feed my sheep.’ It was there, in the Sea of Galilee (which is fed by the River Jordan) that we had the opportunity to renew our baptismal promises. I have to admit that it is a powerful experience to be standing in the Sea of Galilee (or the River Jordan) and to be asked those many questions we hear so often at a baptismal service – ‘Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ? Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself? Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? – I will, with God’s help! It has a different feel to it and you’re swept away in the moment!

Lunch at the Sea of Galilee - fresh fish, known as St. Peter's fish.

Renewing our baptismal vows in the Sea of Galilee.

The Church of St. Peter's Primacy

Finally, we wrapped up another day with a visit to Capernaum, visited the site of Peter’s house and the excavations of the synagogue and town. We took a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and spend a half hour floating on the Sea, the wind blowing and whistling, the waves crashing and the sun shining. As we sat in the silence of the moment, you could imagine the feelings of the disciples as they sat in the boat fearing the storm or seeing the Lord walk across the waters. This was two days of visits that gave us a feel for the land, helping us to understand distances and bringing many of the accounts of Jesus’ ministry to life for me.

Archeological excavations of Peter's House in Capernaum.

The remains of the Synagogue in Capernaum.

A boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.