I flew home from Israel one month ago today. Wow. February has just flown past.
I’m able to return to the area around the Sea of Galilee by reading a book I bought over there, written by a Christian archeologist named Bargel Pixner, who lived and taught in Galilee for decades. (I could not make up a name such as “Bargel Pixner!”) The book leads the reader through the stories in Mark, in particular (because the writer of Mark knew the geography of Galilee intimately; more so than Matthew or Luke), commenting on how the geography influenced what Jesus said and did.
So, for instance, there is the house where Peter’s mother-in-law lived in the village of Capernaum, which was Jesus’ home base; from which he would go out for a few days at a time, and to which he returned. Jesus was resident so often in the house that one story is introduced with the report that Jesus is “at home.” (Mark 2:1)
Pixner identifies a ridge above Capernaum which could have been the “deserted place” where Jesus would retreat for prayer (in Mark 1:35, for instance, among several references). He points out that the people at the time thought that demons inhabited one portion of the shore of the Sea of Galilee, “the country of the Gerasense” across from the area of Capernaum — which deepens the meaning of the stories of Jesus rebuking the forces of evil that cause the storm at sea, and that possess the first man he encounters on the other side of the Sea. (Mark 4:35-5:20) The word, “rebuke” is the translation of a very strong, even violent Greek word. It tells us not to be naive about the power of evil, and what is required to fight evil.
Did you know that the writer of the gospel of Matthew started with Mark? Into this section of Mark, the later writer inserted what we call the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Knowing the geography beside the Sea, it’s easy to envision that teaching spot: a hill looking over the water. (Perhaps not a “mountain,” as the writer of Matthew calls it in 8:1!) If Jesus was teaching during the springtime, then there would have been many “lilies of the field” (6:28) blooming all around his listeners. (Every preacher looks for a good object lesson that everyone will be familiar with!)
Well, the examples that Pixner raises go on and on. In fact, he calls the land “the Fifth Gospel,” because knowledge of the terrain so much amplifies the meaning of the stories. I am blessed to have been there, with the seminary professor/archaeologist who was our leader! Already, more than one St. Stephen worshiper has commented on how my experiences have enriched my presentation of the stories.
