Dancing on the Sea of Galilee

The weather was not perfect for a boat ride. We were scheduled to go out on the Sea of Galilee in a smaller vessel, similar to the fishing boat Peter would have owned, but a brewing storm prevented it. Later that day, with the waves still choppy, and with spotty rain, we did go out on a boat, but it was larger, and more commercial.

The boat owner was named Joey. He was a Jewish man, and a natural entertainer. He played familiar Christian songs that many of us sang along with, then he encouraged us to all stand up.

What?

The boat was not totally stable, and rocking because of the rough sea, so our group was content remaining seated, but through his insistence, we let go of the rail, and proceeded to learn the steps to “Hava Nagila.” “Hava Nagila,” a popular Israeli folk song, is often played at weddings, and means, “Let us rejoice.”

So, there we were, on the Sea of Galilee, kicking our legs up with a group of Sri Lankan Christians, rejoicing in the Lord, and forgetting about the rocky waves below. We found the love of Christ, and joy of the Lord is the same language in any country.

Years ago, there was another unstable day on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples clutched the side of the boat, and a group dance at this point was doubtful. Meanwhile, their leader and rabbi, Jesus, was sound asleep with not a care in the world. Perhaps frustrated at their leader’s lack of concern, they cried out, “Lord save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus then replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” “Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.  The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:23-27)

So many times in our lives we have a choice. We can fear, or we can rejoice. When the waves of life get rough, do we stay seated, and grip the rail, or do we dance in the face of the trial?

Often times, Jesus used the Sea of Galilee as the home base for his miracle network, but it was also a place where he stretched the faith of his disciples.

It was at the Sea of Galilee, in Capernaum, where Simon (Peter) lived and had a fishing business. One evening, the fishing was bleak, and Simon’s nets were empty. Jesus instructed him to put the nets into deep water for a catch. And according to Luke 5, “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.”

Simon, and his partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were astonished, and the word says they were “afraid.” But Jesus told them to not be afraid, and prophesied over them, telling them they would now be fishers of men. Rather than give into fear, and run, they chose to follow him, joyfully.

It was on the Sea of Galilee that Jesus walked on the water, and encouraged Peter to do the same, while the other disciples chose to remain terrified in the boat. That day, Peter chose faith over fear.

It was at Peter’s house, on the banks of the Sea of Galilee, that Jesus healed Peter’s mother in law. Rather than be afraid after her dramatic recovery, she immediately got up, and waited on Jesus. I imagine she had a spring in her step as well.

The Sea of Galilee was the setting for Jesus’ miracle of feeding the 5000. They were ordinary people, hungry for a word from this great teacher, but also famished physically after a long journey. So Jesus transformed five bread loaves, and two fish into a smorgasbord, and the crowd was fulfilled on two counts.

It was also on a hill above the Sea of Galilee that Jesus healed a demon possessed man, and sent the demons into a herd of pigs that rushed over a steep bank into the lake, and were drowned (Luke 8:27-39). After a miracle of being freed from a legion of demons, the healed man could have chosen fear over rejoicing, but he chose gratitude, and ran and told the town how much Jesus had done for him.

It’s a daily choice for all of us Christians. When trials come, do we succumb to our fears, or do we trust the one who calmed the sea, who fed the 5000, or who still heals today?

Before I traveled to Israel, I was asked this question repeatedly, “Aren’t you afraid?” I answered, “No.” I believe God invited me to Israel, and he will protect me there.” I chose to rejoice over the trip, rather than give into fear. He was faithful, because today, I sit at my kitchen table, reflecting on the week.

When you are riding on a boat in the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus and the disciples sailed, you can’t help but think about the storm the disciples experienced, especially when it’s raining. But I believe God blesses us when we trust him in the storm, and when we get up and dance, rather than succumb to our fears.

After our special Hava Nagila festivities ended, all of us sat down, and gazed into the sky. It was there that God painted a beautiful rainbow for us, as if to say, “Thanks for releasing your fears, and dancing with me.”

And we rejoiced. (LBW)