This morning we took our group on the usual boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. We left Tiberias and sailed to near the Cove of the Sower and then turn west to Nof Ginosaur on the western coast of the Sea. Ginosaur is the English Gennesaret.
Boat approaches the region of Genesaret. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and anchored there. As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus. They ran through that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever he was rumored to be. And wherever he would go– into villages, towns, or countryside– they would place the sick in the marketplaces, and would ask him if they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it re healed. (Mark 6:53-56 NET)
I noticed to significant things about the Sea of Galilee today.
- It appeared to be higher than the three or four previous times I saw it.
- Fishing boats were missing when I looked from my room to the Sea this morning. We have come to expect many fishing boats plying the quiet waters, but this has changed since the fishing ban was put into effect.
Indeed, the Sea level is higher. We reported December 11, 2009, that the level was 703,12 feet below Mediterranean sea level. In October , 2010, the level had risen to 701.71 feet below sea level.
Sea of Galilee gauge, April 29, 2011 shows -212.42. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
After we returned to the hotel at Tiberias, I walked down to the pier to see the current measurement. The Sea was 212.42 meters below sea level (= 696.916 feet). The rise of the water is significant. The all time low is about 704 feet below sea level. The maximum former level is about 686 feet below sea level. Look carefully and you will see jets of water streaming through the Sea gauge.
Yesterday we stopped at Megiddo to look at the model of the city, but due to the rain we decided not to visit the tel. This afternoon we returned. The view of the Jezreel Valley was good.
And, there was more…
The missing luggage for our two wayward tour members was at the hotel when we returned.
We have several tour members from Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Various ones were getting more reports of severe damage in their area back home, but none reported personal injury. For this we are thankful. The prayers of all spiritual persons is appreciated.
We must have been within a day of your journeys in Galilee. We were there Thursday -Sunday. The rain at Tel Dan slowed us down a bit on Saturday morning, but the gushing Jordan was worth the wait. My impression of it was “living water”! Thanks for identifying the Sea of Galilee Gauge. I saw it, but did not know what it was. We have been staying at Tantur Ecumenical Theological Institute in Jerusalem since late January. It was our first time to Galilee. How beautiful! We were with Sean Freyne (Trinity College in Dublin) whose focus is on the Galilean Jesus. He mentioned Jesus as The Healer. He suggested Jesus may have intentionally chosen the geographical location with its healthful waters and air as a backdrop for His ministry. I’m enjoying your travel logs!
Beautiful, impressive photos, as always, thanks Ferrell. I thought Gennesaret was on the eastern coast of the Sea of Galilee!