Tabgha

Tabgha was a prosperous fishing village located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee just two miles west of Capernaum.

The name Tabgha is a corruption of the Greek word Heptapagon, which means "seven springs." The water from individual springs there varies in temperature and salinity. (The most saline water from the springs is now being diverted in a channel around the lake.)

The movement of the water from the springs at Tabgha was used to turn millstones to grind grain. Craftsmen at Capernaum fashioned these stones from the local basaltic rock, several of which remain near the synagogue there today.

Many of the events in Jesus’ ministry along the north shore of the Sea of Galilee occurred in the area of Tabgha and Capernaum. Living within a half-hour’s walk of Tabgha, Jesus would have known it well.

It was along the shore of the lake near Tabgha that Jesus formally called Peter and Andrew to follow Him. Some weeks earlier, they had met Jesus where John was baptizing. There, Jesus had changed Cephas’ name to Peter, and his brother Andrew had met privately with Jesus. It was on this beach, however, that He invited these brothers to become His disciples, promising that He would make them "fishers of men." Without hesitation, they left their nets and followed Him. (Matthew 4.18-19)

On this same occasion, Jesus observed another pair of brothers, James and John. They were busy mending nets in their father Zebedee’s fishing boat. John, who had also met privately with Jesus, responded immediately to His invitation to become His disciple. (Matthew 4.20-22)

Tabgha was a natural place for Jesus to meet with His disciples after His resurrection. (John 21).This was the place He had called some of the original disciples. Now, some three years later, they were back on this old familiar beach, not by chance but by appointment. Again there was a call. This time it was for Peter personally to follow Him as a shepherd of His sheep.

Jesus had chosen this familiar shore near Tabgha for a purpose. Here, amidst these familiar surroundings, His men could relax, reflect, and receive direction for their work of building His Church worldwide.