As we close out 2012, I want to include one more picture from the trip that I took to Israel in September. Both of the times I have visited Israel, one of the highlights was to take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. From that vantage point, you can see so many of the locations that we read about in the Bible.
One of the buildings that you can see is the Franciscan church commonly called the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter. Traditionally, the church sits on the location of the breakfast in which Jesus ate with his apostles after his resurrection.
After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. - John 21:1-14
As I took the picture, I thought about this story. I wondered how disappointed the apostles felt in that they had fished all night but had nothing to show for it. Then, as I continued to look through the viewfinder, I realized that, like the apostles, I couldn't recognize any of the people on the shore. Obviously, I was much farther from shore than they were, but it was so interesting to realize that I was seeing a sight very similar to them.