The Land of Gennesaret - Matthew 14:34

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus fed the multitude which included five thousand men plus women and children. Afterward, “Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it is you, bid me come unto you on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid;

and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshiped him, saying, Of a truth you are the Son of God”, and in chapter fourteen and verse thirty-four of his book, Matthew shares how “the came into the land of Gennesaret” Jesus where we read:

And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

The verse reads, “And when they were gone over, ...”. Matthew began with the words, “and when they” which means “and at the time and moment Jesus and His disciples” “were gone over” or “crossed, passed and sailed to the other side of the sea”. Matthew began with the time Jesus and His disciples crossed the sea of Galilee upon which they were sailing.

The verse continues, “... they came into the land of Gennesaret.” Matthew continued with the word, “they came” which means “Jesus and the disciples appeared, arose and showed themselves” “into the land” which means “in the territory, country, region and area” “of Gennesaret” or “a very lovely and fertile region on the Sea of Galilee whose name means a harp”. Matthew shared how Jesus and the disciples landed upon “the land of Gennesaret” which was a “fertile region on the Sea of Galilee”.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus and His disciples continued their journey to “the other side” even as Jesus initially instructed them. God desires to have a loving and trusting relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when He enters the “vessel of their life” of travel, He will take them wherever He decides they should go even unto the “fertile regions”.

Next time we see Matthew shares how, “the men of that place … brought unto him all that were diseased”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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