The Storm on the Sea of Galilee

For more than 40 years, I have worked as a boat captain on the Sea of Galilee.

I have seen this lake in almost every kind of weather. I have seen quiet mornings when the water looked like glass, beautiful sunsets, heavy rain, and storms on the Sea of Galilee that arrived much faster than you expected.

When the Sea of Galilee is calm, it can be hard to imagine how quickly it can change.

You may be looking at peaceful water one moment, and a short time later, the waves are rising and the boat is moving in a completely different way.

I learned over the years that when you are on the lake, you have to pay attention. You watch the sky, the water, and the way the weather is changing. You don’t wait until the storm is already above you to decide what to do.

The geography of the Sea of Galilee is part of what makes it so interesting. The lake sits deep in the Jordan Valley and is surrounded by mountains and hills. Weather moving through the valleys and around the mountains can affect the lake quickly.

But knowing the lake does not mean you can control it.

When a storm comes, you feel the difference immediately. The smooth water disappears. The waves begin to rise, the boat moves more, and suddenly you are paying attention to every change around you.

For the fishermen who lived here two thousand years ago, this was part of everyday life. They depended on the lake for their living, but they also knew that the lake could be dangerous.

This is one reason the biblical story of Jesus and His disciples caught in a storm has always felt very real to me.

In the Gospel of Mark, we read:

“A furious storm came up, and the waves broke over the boat…”

The disciples were afraid. They were experienced fishermen, and they knew these waters.

Then Jesus stood and spoke to the wind and the waves:

“Quiet! Be still!”

And the storm stopped.

“Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him.” (Mark 4:35–41)

I have been on these waters for many years, and I can tell you that when you are sitting in a boat and the lake begins to change, you understand something about this story in a different way.

You understand the fear.

You understand why the disciples were frightened.

Inspired by the stories of Jesus and the Sea of Galilee, our handmade pieces are available in our shop.

Want to see where these stories took place? Explore our interactive map of the Sea of Galilee and discover the ancient towns, biblical sites, and places connected to the stories of Jesus.

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