" V. WHY the SEA of GALILEE?

University of Nebraska of Omaha, Professor Rami Arav in the work entitled: "Bethsaida and the Ministry of Jesus around the Sea of Galilee" relates that the New Testament provides the information that "Jesus left Nazareth and move to a region of the Northern Sea of Galilee." After John the Baptist was executed "for denouncing Herod Antipas for marrying his brother's ex-wife. Jesus, being baptized by John, feared he would be the next to pay for challenging the authorities and fled east to the Sea of Galilee to be closer to the borders and to cross into the territory of Philip Herod in a time of adversity." It was on the northern side of the Sea of Galilee that "Jesus made his home among the Jewish fishermen...and soon learned their lifestyle, the hardship of their livelihood and their anxieties." Jesus made in home in Capernaum, which was "no more than a small hamlet of fishermen situated at the northwestern shore of the lake. It contained one cluster of simple courtyard houses constructed of the local black basalt stones." Jesus is said to have wandered between Capernaum and Chorazin and Bethsaida. It is pointed out by scholars that "the three places...are known as 'the evangelical triangle'..." In this area Jesus performed 'mighty works' "here he healed the sick and preached to his audience about the Kingdom of Heaven. He told his poor and humble fishermen that success and wealth in this world do not mean the same thing in the next life. He explained that there is a reward in righteous living and that if it does not come in this world, it will surely come in the Kingdom of Heaven."

SUMMARY and CONCLUSION

The Sea of Galilee was the refuge of Jesus as he fled from Herod after John the Baptist was executed. The Sea of Galilee was a fertile ground upon which fell the Gospel of Jesus evidenced in his teachings, parables and miracles. Jesus walked upon the Sea of Galilee's waters, Jesus calmed the Sea of Galilee during a storm, Jesus drew the crowds, both Jews and Gentiles to the shores of the Sea of Galilee to hear the timeless story of God's love, God's forgiveness, and to relate to mankind that they should love one another. Without the Sea of Galilee, used as an allegory in many of the parables of Jesus, these stories might have been much more difficult for the disciples to understand however, the references to the Sea of Galilee and specifically to the fishermen's trade lends comprehension to many of the sayings of Jesus, that otherwise would have been more difficult for the people of that time to discern and comprehend.

Bibliography

Arav, Rami (2000) Bethsaida and the Ministry of Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee. The Bible and Interpretation 2000.

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St. John Chapter 6:19

St. John Chapter 6:20

St. John Chapter 6:21

St. Matthew Chapter 8: 20

St. Matthew Chapter 8:24

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What's So Special About the Sea of Galilee? (nd) Christian Answers Net. Online available at http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/ednk-seaofgalilee.html

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Jesus and the Fishing Boat from the Sea of Galilee