Nov. 24 At the Jordan

Today we met at the dock outside the hotel to board a Jesus boat. We rode out on the Sea of Galilee from Tiberius to the Jesus Boat Museum. It was a warm, hazy morning, and we enjoyed a flurry of seagulls who visited us offshore. Perry Stone & his crew rode in our boat, while three other boats were full of our tour group. All four boats pulled up together to hear a short message from Perry. A lady from the blue bus, Julie, sang the national anthem for us. Later, we all sang and worshiped together. It was a beautiful experience. The Lord was with us! Wow!!

When we arrived at the Jesus Boat Museum, we boarded our bus and headed to Capernaum, the center of Jesus' ministry. This place was preserved and run by the Franciscans. We passed the Church of the Primacy of Peter. An octagonal structure was built over Peter's mother-in-law's house where she was probably healed by Peter. (Tisha gave us some info about the importance of the number 153.) Nearby we saw a Byzantine structure (3rd-4th cent.) built overtop the synagogue that Jesus taught in. Much of the structure is still there. I sat on the original benches at the side (white limestone). There are columns, an inner part, three gates, a basilica format. Wow! An area of black stones is where the people's houses were. They were very small spaces.

A statue of St. Peter marks a spot at the entrance. He has keys, a fish, and a staff. The inscription below says, "Upon this rock you shall build my church." (Capernaum has lots of cats, too!)

We left for Chorazin. This city was wiped out for disbelief. Jesus preached here. The ruins of buildings are all around. We sat around on all the rocks and up on the walls to listen to Perry tape two programs. (I have them recorded). One was on the quickening of time in the end times; the other was about the importance of mothers speaking over their children and praying for them.

Then we left for lunch at a kibbutz on the east side of the Sea of Galilee. Afterwards, we drove down the east side of the sea to the south where the Jordan River flows.  We went to a place at the river where we had many baptisms, probably 300. The river water was very cold, but that did not deter people. Most were rededications, but two were new baptisms! Six different people had us taking pictures of them with their cameras. One woman I took pictures of was dunked 7 or 8 times. Apparently, her daughter has MS and couldn't come, so the lady was dunked 7 times for her daughter. All of this was an amazing experience to watch. As they were finishing, it began to sprinkle and rumble with thunder. It was time to leave, though, and we escaped any wet weather.