A Boat from the Days of Jesus

"The Jesus Boat Museum"

After our boat ride, we got our "land legs" by touring the "Jesus Boat" museum just a short walk from the dock, located on Kibbutz Ginosar. It was a fascinating display of an early, first century boat.

Recently, in 1986, this ancient boat was pulled from the muddy shores along the northwestern coast of the Sea of Galilee. It was an unusual and exciting discovery that gives us an idea of the sort of boat used during the time of Jesus.

The boat's frame appeared during a great drought when the waters of the Sea of Galilee receded enough to uncover a portion of the boat. This incredible find was discovered by brothers Moshe and Yuval Lufan, second-generation fishermen from Kibbutz Ginosar. They reported that the day they found the boat, they saw a double rainbow in the sky. Hmmmm.

The archaeological dig that ensued was a joint effort by members of the Kibbutz Ginosar, the Israeli Antiquities Authority, and many volunteers. They had to carefully pull the boat from the mud without damaging it — and yet quickly enough to extract it before the water level began to rise again. This was a very delicate process, lasting 12 days and nights. Immediately, the boat had to be submerged in a special chemical bath for 14 years before it could be displayed in the museum where it is today.

This boat has been dated to the 1st century AD based on pottery and nails found in and alongside the boat, radiocarbon dating, and hull construction techniques. There is evidence that the boat was repeatedly repaired; indicating it was used for several decades, and perhaps- nearly a century! The boat is made of 12 different types of wood and measures 25.5 ft. long, 7.5 ft. wide, and 4.1 ft high. It would have had a crew of five (four rowers and a helmsman) and could carry about 15 additional persons. That's quite a few people on such a small boat! Millenniums ago, when the fishermen considered it beyond repair, all useful wooden parts were removed and the remaining hull sunk to the bottom of the lake.

This boat is the type of boat that was used on the Sea of Galilee for both fishing and transportation across the lake. It is likely that this kind of boat was used by Jesus and his disciples, many of whom were fishermen. Boats played a large role in Jesus' life and ministry — they are mentioned 50 times in the Gospels! Regardless of its history, the "Jesus boat" is a fascinating artifact that brings to life many of the Gospel accounts.

I also appreciated the lovely air conditioning and regulated humidity control in the museum. It was nearly perfect for the human soul! We also enjoyed a wonderful gift shop on the Kibbutz featuring many lovely items ranging from Dead Sea skin products, to Seder plates, wooden Temple replicas, jewelry made from Roman Glass (collected at various archaeological sites), Shofars, and many, many other interesting things.

The Kibbutz had a restaurant (where we had already enjoyed our lunch before our boat ride) and was also offering samples of chocolates made locally (which I heard were absolutely delicious) and wine from local vineyards (which no one from our group commented on!)