As I headed down to the bus I spotted Petex, the Nigerian
fellow I helped a few nights ago by fixing his TV. He was overjoyed when I suggested we take a
photo together. His group was impressed
with my rudimentary French skills as I managed to use words other than “pamplemousse”
and “lait”. The crowd went nuts when
Petex switched hats and I asked if I could wear his in the photo. Dad would later tell me that some in my tour
group remarked “That looks like something John would do.” They had gotten to know me in a very short
time.
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| Petex and me |
A short drive later we arrived in the town of Bethsaida
which was located on the “other side” of the Jordan River on the North shore of
the Sea of Galilee. Bethsaida is best
known as one of the three towns that Jesus condemned when its people refused to
repent. It is also believed to be the
birthplace of St. Peter. What remains of
the village now isn’t much to behold.
The site is largely unexcavated and none of it is restored. But I guess that’s what can happen when Jesus
himself makes your condemnation a priority.
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| The ruins of Bethsaida |
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| Primitive cellar - suspected to belong to the town's vintner |
Bethsaida’s single draw, to my mind at least, is what is
claimed to be the original remains of one of the town’s streets. The original section is no more than thirty feet
in length and was likely covered with clay and smaller stones to make it
smooth. Yet it is still said that
because it is certain that Jesus walked the streets of Bethsaida, then he most
certainly walked on these stones. Many
in our group removed their footware and walked barefoot, ecstatic at the
opportunity to literally walk in Jesus’ footsteps. I was shocked when dad chose to keep his
shoes on. He’s not the type to be easily
impressed.
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| Bethsaida's original stone path |
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