Page 20 - Holyland Magazine - 2018 Edition
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The ancient boat at Ginosar
an inspirational story of discovery
Known as the Jesus Boat, this exciting find sheds light on the boats used at the time of Jesus
Omer Eshel that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” belonging to Simon and finally, it was also
(Mark 4:39-41) here when He said to Simon – “Cast the net
A cool gentle breeze blows on the Sea to the other side” (John 21).
of Galilee. Peter, Andrew, James and This event commemorates one of the
their friends are bound for their homes tests that Jesus put His disciples through In 1986, an amazing archaeological
in Capernaum on a small fishing boat. - a test that made them stronger in their discovery was made on the shores of the
Suddenly, the wind picks up and the faith, opening both their eyes and, more Sea of Galilee – an ancient fishing boat was
waves get stronger and stronger. The little importantly, their hearts. found in Ginosar, a boat that is dated to the
boat fights its way across the mighty waves. time of Jesus. This discovery is exceptionally
It seems that the boat is sure to sink! Fishing was and still is one of the main rare, as wood decomposes quickly in fresh
industries on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. water, but this boat was found almost
Peter calls out to Jesus, “Teacher, do you not In the first century, it was here, among the completely intact!
care that we are perishing? Then He arose fishing community around the northern Sea
and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, of Galilee that Jesus found His first disciples. The process of extracting the boat from the
“Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and It was here, where Jesus said, “I will make mud was not easy. The wood had become
there was a great calm. But He said to them, you fishers of men” (Mark 1:17), and it was spongey and could not be moved from its
“Why are you so fearful? How is it that you here where He preached from that little boat
have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly,
and said to one another, “Who can this be,
On the shores of the Sea of Galilee at Ginosar.
Photo: Yossi Sabah
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