Photo by Jacqueline Lusby - June 2009
Photo by Jacqueline Lusby - June 2009
Above : The view of Tiberias from the Sea Of Galilee Boat
Photo by Jacqueline Lusby - June 2009
JESUS BOAT
The "Jesus" boat located at Nof Ginosaur was built sometime around the time of Christ. The boat is made of 12 different types of wood and measures 25.5 ft. (8.2 m) long, 7.5 ft. (2.3 m) wide, and 4.1 ft (1.25 m) high. It would have had a crew of five (four rowers and a helmsman) and could carry about 15 additional persons. This seems like a lot for such a humble boat, but men were smaller 2,000 years ago — about 5'5" and 140 pounds.
Boats of this type also played a part in the Jewish uprising against the Romans in 66 AD. Roman legions, led by Vespasian and Titus, crushed resistance in the Galilee. Titus took Tiberias and Migdal (near the site of the discovery of this boat), and then defeated the rebels in a large naval battle on the sea of Galilee which ended in such a loss of life of the Jews that Josephus described the Sea of Galilee as red with blood.
Matthew 8:23-27
23:
And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
24:
And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25:
And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
26:
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
27:
But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
Luke 5:1-7
1:
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2:
And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3:
And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4:
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5:
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6:
And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7:
And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
John 6:16-21
16:
And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
17:
And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
18:
And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
19:
So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
20:
But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
21:
Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
John 21:1-10
1:
After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
2:
There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3:
Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4:
But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5:
Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6:
And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7:
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8:
And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9:
As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10:
Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
Matthew 8: 23-24, Mathew 13:47 - 48, Matthew 14:13, Mark 4:37