Sea of Galilee

The freshwater lake in northern Israel that formed the geographic center of Jesus’s Galilean ministry. Its shores witnessed the calling of the first disciples, multiple nature miracles (calming storms, walking on water, miraculous catches of fish), and the resurrected Christ’s seaside breakfast with Peter—making it Christianity’s most sacred body of water.

The Sea of Galilee is actually a large freshwater lake approximately 13 miles long and 8 miles wide, fed by the Jordan River. Its harp-like shape gave it the Hebrew name Kinneret (from “kinnor,” harp). Lying 700 feet below sea level in the Jordan Rift Valley, the lake is prone to sudden violent storms when cool air from surrounding mountains collides with warm air over the water—a phenomenon that terrified even experienced fishermen disciples.

Jesus called his first disciples—Peter, Andrew, James, and John—from their fishing boats on Galilee’s shores: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). He taught crowds from a boat while they listened from the shore (Luke 5:1-3). After miraculous healings and teaching at Capernaum (on the northwest shore), Jesus would withdraw to the hills overlooking the lake for prayer.

The lake witnessed remarkable displays of Jesus’ authority over creation. When a furious storm threatened to swamp the disciples’ boat, Jesus “rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). Another night, he walked across the water to his disciples’ boat, and when Peter attempted to walk to him, began to sink until Jesus caught him (Matthew 14:22-33). On two occasions, Jesus multiplied loaves and fish to feed massive crowds gathered on Galilee’s shores (Matthew 14:13-21, 15:32-39).

After the resurrection, the risen Jesus appeared to seven disciples who had returned to fishing on Galilee. After a fruitless night, Jesus instructed them to cast their net on the boat’s right side, resulting in 153 large fish (John 21:1-14). On the shore, Jesus served them breakfast and restored Peter through the threefold question “Do you love me?”—matching Peter’s three denials, reassigning him to “feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). The Sea of Galilee thus bookends Peter’s discipleship: from the initial call to leave his nets, through moments of doubt and failure, to restoration and commission.