The Jesus Trail

Photo by David Landis from www.jesustrail.com.

He left Nazareth and settled in Capernaum, which lies alongside the sea in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali. (Matthew 4:13, CEB)

So Jesus had a home as an adult (Mark 2:1), and that home was in Capernaum.   He grew up, and presumably his parents more or less stayed, in Nazareth (though after Joseph's death, Mary could have followed him.)  Which means that the distance between Nazareth and Capernaum was likely crossed multiple times by Jesus' feet.

The Jesus Trail is a 40 mile pilgrimage trail that takes the pilgrim from Nazareth, where Jesus grew up, to Capernaum, on the shores of the sea of Galilee.    Along the way you pass a number of important 1st century sites: the Roman city of Sepphoris (Zippori), the town of Cana (Kafr Kanna), the opportunity to walk on 1st century Roman Roads, Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene (Migdal), Ginosaur, where an extant first century boat still exists.  And in a fairly easy day of walking within Capernaum, the ability to see the Bay of Parables, the Mount of the Beatitudes, the site of Simon Peter's house, Tabgha, where the loaves and fishes were multiplied.    And, I hope, take a boat trip on the Sea of Galilee.

According to the Synoptic Gospels, this area of Galilee, and a little further west, into the Decapolis, is where the majority of Jesus' ministry was done.  Even John, who has him spending more time in Jerusalem than the other three, only has him going there for festivals, then returning north to his home base.

For my spirituality, Jesus life, Jesus very human life, is central.   And to walk in the places that he walked, sail on the Sea he sailed (and walked) on, be in the places he taught, is a great opportunity.

When I was beginning to plan this Sabbatical, I was thrilled to find the Jesus trail.   And I was glad to adjust my plans to include it close to the beginning of the Sabbatical, to set the tone for the entire trip.   After 2 days in Akko (Acre), and Caeseria Maritima, I'll head for three nights in Nazareth, hopefully giving me enough time to see this place where Jesus grew up as well as nearby Mt. Tabor, and I will set off on a four day, 40 mile journey, with all my things in a single backpack, staying in hostels and other pilgrim accommodation (both Israeli and Palestinian) along the route.   While traveling I plan to listen to the Gospels, especially focused on the Galilean ministry of Jesus.

For more on the Jesus Trail, look here.