Where JESUS Taught BY THE SEA.


AFTER being treated so cruelly at Nazareth, Jesus left that place, and dwelt in a city called Capernaum. This city was about twenty miles from Nazareth in a northeasterly direction. It stood on the west shore of a beautiful lake, probably not more than three or four miles from its northern end, but just where, no one can now tell. This lake is about thirteen miles long, and six or seven miles broad. 

It had several names. Sometimes it is called the Sea of Galilee, because the province of Galilee bordered upon it; at other times it is called the Lake of Gennesaret, from a little plain by that name, lying on its western shore. This plain was once beautiful and fertile almost beyond description. A traveler says that the trees and fruits of almost all climates grew here, even those that are commonly found only in the hottest countries. This was possible because the land all around the lake and behind the plain rises from five hundred to two thousand feet, and so breaks off all the cold winds. Into this beautiful basin the sun pours a flood of warm sunlight that makes everything look fresh and green so long as there is plenty of rain.

‘Through the lake from north to south runs the Jordan river, flowing down from its cool springs in the mountains of Hermon and Lebanon. Capernaum must have been on the border of the plain of Gennesaret, or near it; and the lofty head of Mt. Hermon, perpetually covered with snow, as well as the beautiful cities that lined the shores of the lake, must have been in full view.'

But Jesus did not choose this place for a home chiefly on account of its loveliness, but because he would here meet many people from different parts of the world, and thus have many opportunities of teaching the gospel of his kingdom; for the great caravan route from Damascus and the East led by this lake; and on its western shore, five or six miles south of Capernaum, King Herod had built a new city which he called Tiberias, in honor of the Roman emperor. In this city Herod held his court, and from it the lake is often called the Sea of Tiberias. 

Along the shores of this beautiful sheet of water Jesus walked and talked, instructing the people, healing the sick, and preparing the way for the preaching of his gospel throughout the world.

"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, and saw two ships standing by the lake; but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 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 in the ship, and taught the people.

"Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 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 nets. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their nets brake. 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. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord! For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken. . . . And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men."