Bethsaida

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In this picture we look toward the north and directly away from the Sea of Galilee. One of our muleteers stands in a perfect wilderness of flowers. The view obtained on the 9th of May, 1894, at ten o’clock a. m. It is on the edge of the plain of Gennesaret; the flowers are in full bloom; the birds are singing on the edge of the lake; the sun is bright and glorious; the morning is cool and delightful; no sweeter day could be imagined than the one on which we stood in the presence of this traditional ruin, where possibly stood one of the cities where our Lord performed so many of His works. The same kind of weeds and thistles are found at Bethsaida (Tâbighah) as are found at Capernaum or Tell Hum. Both places are nearly on a level. The woe of extinction pronounced upon Capernaum, Chorazin and Bethsaida has been fulfilled, as the “stones of emptiness” that mark the sites of those ancient cities bear witness. They live only as their names are enshrined in the Gospels with the name of Him, who taught in their streets, healed their sick, and did many mighty works. Bethsaida is known as the city of Philip and Andrew and Peter. Nearby the five thousand were fed. Still, is there “much grass” here. Near this, Jesus healed a blind man. This little semi-circular plain, shut in by hills, river, and lake, with great, restful, snow-crowned Hermon towering in the background, was a place the Lord cared for and often visited. This place is now only a name; but her calm, untrodden ways are sacred because they were once trodden by the feet of Him who “went about doing good.”