I Really Love Israel

We are in a boat on the Lake of Gennasaret. Sea of Galilee to you. We're looking at our hotel, the Hotel Leonardo in the Lake town of Tiberias. Yes, Sea of Galilee is also called Lake Tiberias.

Unlike the Dead Sea, Galilee has much life around it. Including human life and all that goes with it.

Calm Sea this night. 

Michael reminded us of when the Sea of Galilee was tossed by a tempest so great that the men in one small boat feared for their lives. That was the time Jesus walked to them on the water. A frightening, incredible sight. Just imagine. And they were afraid, but he called to them to be unafraid.

When Peter knew who it was, he asked Jesus to bid him to walk to him, to Jesus. Jesus said to come ahead. So Peter got out of the boat. I'll say that again. Peter got out of the boat. That's the part of the story I think about often.

Peter began to walk to Jesus and then, the way of many of us, he began to doubt. He saw the storm was all about him, and he began to doubt.

That's what I have often said of us. Of people. Our first inclination is to believe, to have faith. And then we turn our minds to it and begin to question and doubt. That's the natural man. Peter was walking on the water and then began to realize what he was doing and turned his natural man mind to it and likely decided that what he was doing was impossible to do.

He began to sink. Jesus caught him and pulled him up and, no doubt, helped Peter back to the boat.

Yes, I know, this sounds like a sermon. And I could go on and tell what I learn from this. But I won't. You can make of it what you will

Sea of Galilee before sunrise.

North end of the Sea of Galilee from atop Mt Arbel. Capurnaum is near the upper right hand corner. We'll be going there.

Another view from Mt Arbel. The small town in the left of the picture is Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene.

 Yes, we're up there, too, on Mt Arbel. Just so you don't forget.