We are now on our last excursion through the land of Israel. This time the northern part of the country is our objective. On the way from Nazareth to Galilee we passed through the little town of Cana where Christ performed His first miracles.
We saw the well from which the water was drawn ; the only well in town. There were several women getting water in the same manner as it has been done for two thousand years or more. The women filled the earthen vessels with the water and carried them on their heads as they did in the time of the Master.
If you look at John 2:6 you will notice that they had the same water pots as they have today. The Jews used to wash their hands by pouring the water from one vessel to another. See Mark 7:3 & 4. Cana is a very small town, so we felt quite sure that we were close to the spot where Christ manifested His glory for the first time. See John 2:11.
Close by is the town of Nain, which immediately brings to mind the raising of the widows’ son from death. See Luke, 7:11 to 15.
On our way to Tiberius we circled Mount Tabor the reputed Mount of Transfiguration. A few miles further and the beautiful Sea of Galilee rose in the distance. We had visited this spot about four years previously but the sight was just as thrilling as it was the first time.
The lake has several names, in the book of Joshua 12:3, it is called the Sea of Chinneroth, in Luke 5:1 it is called Gennesaret, and in John 6:1 it is referred to as Tiberias. The Sea is fourteen miles long and eight miles wide, it is one hundred and fifty feet deep, and lies six hundred and fifty feet below the Mediterranean Sea.
On the east side of the Sea the hills rise to a height of 2000 feet.
There is a wide spread of air temperature due to the great difference of sea level.
Our guide told us that if we were in a small boat and a storm came up we would have great difficulty making the shore. This helps us to understand Matt. 8:23 24-25, also Matt. 14:24.
As one stands on the shore of the Sea, you can see so much of the life of the Master. The spot where the swine ran down the steep place and perished in the sea. Matt. 8:32 It is difficult to imagine 2000 swine thrashing about in the water and also to visualize the gathering up of the dead animals and disposing of them. The spot where this happened is now in ruins but a small white building stands as a marker. Read Lev. 11:7, and the reason for their fate is understandable.
The Mount of the Beatitudes borders the Sea of Galilee. The view from the top was magnificent. The slope of the mount is very gradual and it is not difficult to see how 5000 men, women and children could be seated and fed. Matt. 14:13-23.
On top of the Mount we saw a very strange sight. Mussolini had built a marble shrine and on a pedestal was an illuminated picture of himself. We could not help but wonder why a man as vile as he was would want to build a shrine to himself on such a sacred spot. While the reference does not apply to him, we could not resist thinking of Daniels’ prophecy of the latter days chapter 11 :45. “And he shall plant the tabernacle of his palace between the seas in the glorious mountain, yet he shall come to his end and none shall help him.”
The ruins of Capernaum were plainly visible. So much happened at the once prosperous city with which the Master was associated, for a few days. John 2:12. He healed Peters’ mother-in-law. Matt. 814. It was here that Jesus first began to preach repentance for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, or better rendered the Kingdom of Heaven is coming. Matt. 4:13-17.
Oh! that space permitted to mention in detail all that happened in Capernaum and the lessons so easily overlooked which are recorded about the Master. But now we come to the sadness, the retribution, because of unbelief, of indifference, you look upon the ruins and think of what Jesus said, His disappointment is recorded in Matt. 11:23.
We next visited Tiberias, a rather pleasant, good sized town on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is named after the Roman Emperor Tiberias, mentioned in John 6:23
We reluctantly left this area and journeyed on to the city of Safad. Safad is built on a very high hill and I think the only reference to it is in Matt. 5 :14, where Jesus mentions a city that is built on a hill cannot be hid.
Jesus spent much of His ministry in this district, and made many references to it in His talks to the disciples, and the multitudes who heard Him.
We stayed at the Pisgah Hotel, a modern building just recently completed. At night it became very cold and to make matters worse the building was electrically heated, so in the evening when we need the warmth the power went off for the night.
The view from the hotel was wonderful, Mt. Hermon with its ice and snow peaks was plainly visible.
As we gazed at the mountain we thought of David and how he used the dew of Hermon in connection with the unity of the brethren. Both Hermon and unity are pleasant and refreshing and I might add “life giving.” Psalm 133, also Hymn 4 in our book. I can see Mt. Hermon when I sing that hymn, I wish that I could see unity as plainly.
Just north of Safad is Hazor, an ancient city that has just recently been uncovered. We were not able to visit the ancient site but we have already mentioned the opportunity of seeing some of the relics and also conversing with Dr. Yadin the man who discovered the ruins.
We left Safad and drove to Acre, a wonderful place in its day but now an Arab village and very badly neglected. It is mentioned once in Judges 1:31 under the name Accho. It was visited by Napoleon and King Richard Coeur Du Lion.
They built in turn strong fortifications all of which are now covered in most part by the sea.
The jail still stands as a reminder of the awful happenings within its walls. A grim reminder is now being portrayed in the picture “Ben Hur.” It is the actual building that has been in use for centuries.
We had lunch at an out-door restaurant operated by Arabs. From the terrace we could see the ruins of the once famous city stretching out into the sea for hundreds of yards. The city square still stands in fair condition, but it is evident that the architects and builders did not for-see the invention of the automobile. The streets are extremely narrow and dark, they were designed for donkeys, horses and in some places chariot travel.
God willing we shall conclude our series next month with a visit to the tomb of Gamaliel.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One