Hello, once again, from our virtual tour of Israel. Today we will continue our tour around the Sea of Galilee. As we have travelled together we have found that Jewish history and Christian history have intertwined and intersected on many levels. Though some of our stories lean more heavily on one or the other, it is so important not to forget that we can learn from one another. The Jewish carpenter from the Galilee is who we focus on today. Jesus (Yehoshua, in Hebrew) wanted to turn the hearts of the people of the Galilee towards the God of Israel. One could argue that his methods were unconventional but that’s what made him different and that is why people followed him.
We have learned of the miracles that were performed in this region of the Galilee, both from Jewish and Christian writings. Today we will continue to follow some of the miracles that Jesus performed during his three years in the Galilee. As we travel along the water’s edge, we stop at a place called Tabgha. The name is a corruption of the Greek word Heptapegon, meaning “the place of the seven springs”. The name seems to be derived from a story written in 383 CE by Lady Egeria, called A Byzantine Pilgrim. It reads in part, “Not far away from there [Capernaum] are some stone steps where the Lord stood. And in the same place by the sea is a grassy field with plenty of hay and many palm trees. By them are seven springs, each flowing strongly. And this is the field where the Lord fed the people with the five loaves and the two fishes. In fact the stone on which the Lord placed the bread has now been made into an altar.”
One of the seven springs at Heptapegon (Tabgha). Photo credit: Ferrell Jenkins.
So let’s read in the New Testament what Lady Egaria is referring to: The Feeding of the 5,000
“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while,’ for many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place, but many saw them leaving and recognized them. People ran there by land from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. So as He stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then, He began to teach them many things. When it was already late, His disciples approached Him and said, ‘This place is a wilderness, and it is already late! Send them away, so they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat. ‘You give them something to eat,’ He responded. They said to Him, ‘Should we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?’ And He asked them, ‘How many loaves do you have? Go look.’ When they found out they said, ‘Five, and two fish.’ Then He instructed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in ranks of hundreds and fifties. Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to His disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up 12 baskets full of pieces of bread and fish. Now those who ate the loaves were 5,000 men.” Mark 6:30-44
Illustration of the miracle of feeding of the 5000. Photo Credit: LDS.org
It was perhaps inevitable that this well-watered area with its shade trees on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, where Byzantine pilgrims ate their picnics, should have been identified as the location of gospel episodes involving the consumption of food. Before we imagine going into the church, let’s learn a little more history. Until the time of Lady Egaria’s travels (383 CE), there was just a large rock commemorating the spot where Jesus broke the bread, then a small church was erected over the rock. In 480 CE a Byzantine church with an unusual transept was erected. The building and its mosaics reveal Egyptian influence and were of great artistic value. That church was destroyed during the Persian invasion of 614 and Christian activity ceased around the lake for centuries. And then in 1932 the ancient church ruins, hidden for 1300 years, were discovered. The mosaics were found, surprisingly, to a large extent, intact. In 1980/82 the ancient Byzantine basilica was reconstructed on its original foundations. The missing sections of the mosaic floor were reconstructed in a way that allows us to clearly distinguish between the original and renovated areas. The lotus flower we see is from Egypt, but the others are local. Just in front of the altar is the mosaic of the loaves and the fishes, commemorating the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000.
Just a short hop over the fence of Tabgha (actually we can walk on the sidewalk along the road, if we’d like), we find ourselves on the grounds of another church called Peter’s Primacy. We can actually see some of the springs running through the beautiful landscape between the two churches. This church, however, signifies an event that profoundly impacted one of Jesus’ most favoured disciples. His name was Peter. The event took place after the death of Jesus, during the time of the “resurrection,” and before his ascension to Heaven. The timing is such that Jesus was crucified near or on the time of Passover (the timing is disputed but the story remains the same). And three days later his tomb was found empty and he began showing up in several places around the Land of Israel having conversations with people. This is one of the places that Jesus showed up. And the tiny chapel in front of us has huge significance. The showpiece inside is just a table, called the Mensa Christi, meaning “The Table of Christ.” It is the centrepiece of our story. Let’s read about it in John 21:1-14
Church of the Primacy of Saint Peter. Photo Credit: Israel Tourism Consultants
“After this, Jesus revealed Himself again to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed Himself in this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of His disciples were together. ‘I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,’ they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore. However, the disciples did not know it was Jesus. ‘Men,’ Jesus called to them, ‘you don’t have any fish, do you?’ ‘No,’ they answered. ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat,’ He told them, ‘and you’ll find some.’ So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. Therefore the disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer garment around him (for he was stripped) and plunged into the sea. But since they were not far from land (about 100 yards away), the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. ‘Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,’ Jesus told them. So Simon Peter got up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish — 153 of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. ‘Come and have breakfast,’ Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask Him, ‘Who are You?’ because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third times, Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.
John 21:1-19 Illustration of the miracle. Photo Credit: Daily Meditations with Fr. Alfonse
Ergo, the Table of Christ means a great deal in this spot where the resurrected Jesus made his disciples breakfast and broke bread with them.
But there is another event that Peter’s Primacy commemorates as well. It is the restoration of Peter after the events that took place in Jerusalem on the last night of Jesus’ life, when Peter denied knowing him. If we continue to read in John 19 we will hear the rest of the story.
“When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord.’ he said to Him, ‘You know that I love You.’ ‘Feed My lambs,’ He told him. A second time He asked him, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said to Him, ‘You know that I love You.’ ‘Shepherd My sheep,’ He told him. He asked him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ He said, ‘Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.’ ‘Feed My sheep,’ Jesus said. ‘I assure you: When you were young, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.’ He said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. After saying this, He told him, ‘Follow Me!’” John 21:15-19
Peter had denied knowing Jesus to Caiphus the High Priest in Jerusalem the night he was arrested. Not once, not twice, but three times. You can read the story in Luke 22:54-62. Now, weeks later, Peter, still trying to live with the shame of his betrayal, has an incredible experience. Jesus appears to him and restores his dignity. The three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him, signifies the three times Peter denied Jesus in Jerusalem. After this restoration, Peter spent the rest of his life telling the stories of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Peter would eventually die; he was crucified upside down with his hands stretched out. He was one of many faithful followers of the man who performed miracles and claimed to be the son of God.
The title of this article is “Do miracles really happen?” It is titled such because I believe that miracles took place then and still take place now. Look around and take notice. I think you will find that there are miracles before us every day; maybe not the resurrection of the dead, but miracles of life, the saving of lives and the changing of lives. The God of Israel is full of miracles…keep watch and you will see.
Until next time, shalom from Israel.
Top photo credit: Fine Art America
Bottom Photo Credit: christchurchgreenwich.org
