In this post, ‘Very Best Christian Tour of the Galilee,’ we will explore the Galilee Region. When Christians hear the word Galilee their emotions run high. So this post is for them! What are the best spots worth visiting when touring Galilee while the Christian sites are on our minds? Naturally, most of the sites are located around the Sea of Galilee, so our focus will be on this area.

Very Best Christian Tour of the Galilee

The life of Jesus in the New Testament is primarily outlined in the four canonical gospels, which include his genealogy and nativity, public ministry, passion, prophecy, resurrection, and ascension. In the gospels, the ministry of Jesus starts with his Baptism by John the Baptist. Jesus came to the Jordan River, where he was baptized by John the Baptist (Believed to be in Qasr Al-Yahud), after which he fasted for forty days and nights in the Judaean Desert. This early period also includes the first miracle of Jesus in the Marriage at Cana.

 Yardenit Bapstimal Site

The main locations for the ministry of Jesus were Galilee and Judea, with some activities also taking place nearby, such as Perea and Samaria. Jesus’ activities in Galilee include several miracles and teachings. Jesus’ early Galilean ministry began when after his Baptism, he returned to Galilee from his time in the Judean desert.

In this early period, he preached around Galilee and recruited his first disciples, who began to travel with him. The Major Galilean ministry, which begins in Matthew chapter 8, includes the commissioning of the Twelve Apostles and covers most of the ministry of Jesus in Galilee. The Final Galilean ministry begins after the death of John the Baptist as Jesus prepares to go to Jerusalem.

Very Best Christian Tour of the Galilee: Jesus’ Early Galilean Ministry

The Early Galilean ministry begins when, according to Matthew, Jesus returns from the Judean desert to Galilee. After rebuffing the temptation of Satan. In this early period, Jesus preaches around Galilee and in Matthew 4:18-20, his first disciples encounter him, begin to travel with him, and eventually form the core of the early Church.

18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Matthew 4:18-20

The Gospel of John includes Marriage at Cana as the first miracle of Jesus in this early period of ministry, with his return to Galilee. A few villages in Galilee (e.g., Cana) have been suggested as the location of Cana. The return of Jesus to Galilee follows the arrest of John the Baptist. The early teachings of Jesus result in his rejection at his hometown (Nazareth) when in Luke 4:16–30, Jesus says in a Synagogue: “No prophet is acceptable in his own country,” and the people reject him.

Very Best Christian Tour of the Galilee: Jesus’ Two Famous Miracles In Capernaum

Furthermore, in this early period, Jesus’ reputation spread throughout Galilee. For example, in Mark 1:21–28 and Luke 4:31–37; Jesus goes to Capernaum, where people are “astonished at his teaching; for his word was with authority”; in the Exorcism at the Synagogue in Capernaum episode; which is followed by healing the mother of Peter’s wife.

Very Best Christian Tour of the Galilee: The Man with an Unclean Spirit

31 He went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the sabbath. 32 They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Let us alone! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of him without having done him any harm. 36 They were all amazed and kept saying to one another, “What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!” 37 And a report about him began to reach every place in the region.

(Mark 4:31-37)

Very Best Christian Tour of the Galilee: The Sermon on the Mount

This period includes the Sermon on the Mount, one of the central discourses of Jesus in Matthew, and the Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke. The Sermon on the Mount, which covers chapters 5, 6, and 7 of the Gospel of Matthew, is the first of the Five Discourses of Matthew and is the most extended piece of teaching from Jesus in the New Testament. It encapsulates many of the moral teachings of Jesus and includes the Beatitudes and the widely recited Lord’s Prayer.

Domus Galilaeae 

So the Beatitudes are expressed as eight blessings in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, and four similar blessings appear in the Sermon on the Plain in Luke, followed by four woes that mirror the blessings. Furthermore, the Beatitudes present the highest ideals of the teachings of Jesus on mercy, spirituality, and compassion. Traditionally the Sermon on the Mount of Beatitudes.

Very Best Christian Tour of the Galilee: Jesus’ Major Galilean Ministry

The beginnings of this period include The Centurion’s Servant (Matthew 8:5–13) and Calming the storm (Matthew 8:23–27), both dealing with the theme of faith and fear. When the Centurion shows faith in Jesus by requesting a “healing at a distance,” Jesus commends him for his exceptional faith. On the other hand, when his disciples show fear of a storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus instructs them to have more faith. After he orders the storm to stop

In this period, Jesus is still gathering the twelve apostles. The Calling of Matthew takes place in Matthew 9:9. The conflicts and criticism between Jesus and the Pharisees continue, e.g., they criticize Jesus for associating with “publicans and sinners,” whereby Jesus responds: “It is not healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

This period is rich in parables and teachings and includes the Parabolic discourse; which provides many of the parables for the Kingdom of Heaven, beginning in Matthew 13:1. These include the parables of The Sower; The Tares; The Mustard Seed, and The Leaven, addressed to the public at large; as well as The Hidden Treasure, The Pearl, and Drawing in the Net.

Very Best Christian Tour of the Galilee: Jesus’ Final Galilean Ministry

The Final Galilean ministry begins after the death of John the Baptist; and includes the Feeding the 5000 and Walking on water episodes, both in Matthew 14. After hearing of the Baptist’s death, Jesus withdraws by boat privately to a solitary place near Bethsaida, where he addresses the crowds who had followed him on foot from the towns and fed them all with “five loaves and two fish” supplied by a boy. The Site related to the Miracle of the Feeding of the Multitude is Tabgha.

Tabgha – The Site of the Miracle of the Multitude

Tabgha is situated on the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel. It is traditionally accepted as the place of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes and the fourth resurrection appearance of Jesus after his Crucifixion.

Church of the Primacy of St. Peter

The Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, just south of the Church of the Multiplication, was built on rocks at the shore of the Sea of Galilee, traditionally considered to be the place where Jesus appeared the fourth time after his resurrection (John 21:1–24), during which, according to Catholic teaching, Jesus again conferred primacy on Simon Peter.

Following this, the gospels present the Walking on water episode in Matthew 14:22-23, Mark 6:45–52, and John 6:16–21 as an essential step in developing the relationship between Jesus and his disciples; at this stage of his ministry. The episode emphasizes the importance of faith by stating that; when he attempted to walk on water, Peter began to sink when he lost faith and became afraid. At the end of the episode, the disciples increase their faith in Jesus, and, in Matthew 14:33, they say: “Of a truth thou art the Son of God.”