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Locations - Bethsaida

Theme: Galilee region · Page 1 of 2

Reading comfort

GRM 48

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

John is by the lake, in Bethsaida. James is with him. He calls Peter and Andrew, who are returning to the shore, for they are in a boat. When they get close, Andrew asks why they haven't come and John asks why they haven't accompanied them to see the Master. Peter grumbles, not at all convinced that it's Christ, but John insists, even saying that it's the Messiah and that he knows everything. James intervenes and repeats Jesus' words to him; John then jumps in, and Peter has the kind of turnaround we love: he wants to go and see the Lord. He even reproaches Andrew for not accompanying them, even though he saw Christ at John's baptism. They put everything back in place and leave, but suddenly Peter is worried: if Jesus knows everything, he'll know that Simon almost called him a liar. But John reassures him that the Savior is very good. He even tells him that Jesus already knew about his reactions last night, and yet encouraged him to come, because he is a man of good will.

Peter is pleased, and asks about Jesus. He learns that he is a craftsman from Nazareth and that, when John and James wanted to give him some denarii, as was the custom, he gave them directly to the poor. This further reassures good Simon, who wants to go and see the Messiah.

Keywords

GRM 48.1

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

48.1 A most clear dawn over the Lake of Galilee. The sky and the water sparkle with rosy flashes, not very different from the mild ones shining on the walls of the little orchards of the lake-village, where fruit-trees, with their unkempt, luxuriant foliage, seem to rise from the orchards and peep at the little lanes, bending over them.
The village is beginning to awaken: women start going to the fountain or to the washing place, while fishermen unload the baskets of fish, or haggle over prices, in very loud voices, with merchants who have come from other villages, while others carry the fish to their houses. I call it a village, though not a small one. It is a rather modest place, at least what I see of it, but it is quite large and spreads mostly along the lake.

Keywords

Locations - Bethsaida

GRM 50

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus leaves Capernaum and goes to Bethsaida. Peter welcomes him and invites him to stay in his house. Christ accepts, and Simon de Jonas is delighted. Jesus retires to pray, and later goes outside. He meets a few children, including one who doesn't want to play at war. Jesus supports his point of view, explaining that war is God's punishment. When the kids point out that the kid refuses because he always loses, Jesus smiles and declares that we shouldn't refuse something when it harms us: that's selfishness. You should refuse something when it harms everyone, even if you're sure you'll win. The conversation continues, and Jesus speaks to them for a moment about the Last Judgment and the approaching Redemption, drawing on the book of Nehemiah. The children recognize that he is the Messiah, and he promises to take them with him if they are good and obedient to their parents.

Philip comes to him and Jesus invites him to follow. The apostle accepts, and Jesus tells him about Nathanael. The old man goes to fetch Bartholomew, and everything goes according to the Gospel.

Jesus then goes to Bethsaida to preach. The Savior comes to reiterate the law of the Decalogue, which was simple in the beginning. Nothing else is needed, and the Messiah enjoins us above all to love. He even encourages us to love our enemies.

When the sermon is over, Jesus says he's going to Jerusalem. Peter is torn, but decides to follow the Master. James of Zebedee, Andrew, Philip and Nathanael embark. Jesus accepts them, and the group prays together. Christ then sends them away, explaining that he will continue to pray during this time. The Son of Man needs prayer to continue to be the Redeemer.

Keywords

GRM 50.1-2

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

50.1 Later on (at 9:30) I had to describe this.
John knocks at the door of the house where Jesus is a guest. A woman comes to the door and when she sees who it is, she calls Jesus.
They greet each other with a sign of peace. Then Jesus says: «You have come early, John.»
«I have come to tell You that Peter asks You to pass by Bethsaida. He has spoken to many people about You… We did not go out fishing last night. We prayed as well as we could, and we gave up the profit… because the Sabbath was not yet over. And this morning, we went through the streets speaking about You. There are many people who would like to hear You… Will You come, Master?»
«I will, although I must go to Nazareth before going to Jerusalem.»
«Peter will take You from Bethsaida to Tiberias in his boat. It will be even quicker for You.»
«Let us go, then.»
Jesus takes His mantle and haversack. But John relieves Him of the latter. And they set out, after saying goodbye to the landlady.
50.2 The vision shows them coming out of the village and starting their journey to Bethsaida. But I do not hear what they are saying, in fact the vision is interrupted and it is resumed only when they are entering Bethsaida. I realise that it is that town because I see Peter, Andrew and James, with their wives, awaiting Jesus at the entrance to the village.
«Peace be with you. Here I am.»
«We thank You, Master, also on behalf of those who are waiting for You. It is not the Sabbath today, but will You speak Your words to those waiting to hear You?»
«Yes, Peter, I will. In your house.»
Peter is overjoyed: «Come, then. This is my wife and this is John’s mother and these are their friends. But there are other people waiting for You: relations and friends of ours.»
«Tell them that I will speak to them this evening, before I leave.»
I forgot to mention that they left Capernaum at sunset and arrived at Bethsaida the following morning.

Keywords

GRM 62.4

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

62.4 Where were they from, those who were coming to Me?»
«From Korazim, Bethsaida, Capernaum, and there were some even from Tiberias and Gherghesa, as well as from the hundreds of villages around those towns.»
«Go and tell them that I will be at Korazim, Bethsaida and nearby villages.»
«Why not at Capernaum?»
«Because I came for everybody and everybody must have Me, and then… there is old Isaac waiting for Me. We must not disappoint his hopes.»
«Will You wait for us here, then?»
«No, I am going and you will stay at Capernaum to send the crowds to Me; I will come back later.»
«We will be here alone…» Peter is sad.
«Do not be sad. Obedience should make you happy as well as the conviction that you are a useful disciple. And the same applies to the others.»
Peter, Andrew, James and John cheer up. Jesus blesses them, and they part.
The vision ends in this way.

Detail

Peter informs Jesus that some people have come to see him, and he asks:

Keywords

GRM 96

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Jesus preaches in Bethsaida, accompanied by the inhabitants of Capernaum. He tells them that the powerful will do everything in their power to accuse Christ and turn them away from the Messiah. Then he tells them about the Belle of Chorazeïn, whom he healed, and affirms that he will go out to sinners again, for he is the Savior. He also insists that the women of Bethsa¨ide forgive his adulteries and the sins she has committed in the past. He doesn't want them to be tigresses, but gentle sheep. He talks for a moment about the Belle's deep repentance, then about baptism and the hypocrisy of some.

With the subject closed, Jesus talks about the co-redeemers and the fact that the angels themselves cannot suffer. He emphasizes that it is a glorious destiny to suffer, and that men surpass angels in this. Finally, he insists on purity, particularly of the eyes (the eye is the lamp of the body). Then he talks about marriage, and chastity and virginity in the couple, too. The speech ends there. He goes off to eat at Philip's house, and Matthew listens quietly.

Keywords

GRM 179

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: The parable of the sower. At Chorazeïn with Elijah, the new disciple.

Date of vision: Monday, June 4, 1945

Calendar: Monday, February 21, 28 (8 Adar I 3788) according to maria-valtorta.org or Wednesday, March 1, 28 according to Valtorta.fr

Locations (map):Bethsaida, then Chorazeïn. Jesus then returns to Bethsaida, to Peter's house.

Cycle: Apostolate in Galilee

Summary: Jesus gives a little dictation to explain why the city no longer appears to be on the shores of the lake, but inland. This is explained by the twenty centuries of alluvial deposits brought down by the river and the scree that came down from the Bethsaida hills. Then the vision begins, and Maria sees Jesus and the Twelve land in Bethsaida. They go to her house in Bethsaida, which is not her mother-in-law's in Capernaum. Porphyria is also there.

Peter is very happy, but very grumpy, because they're asking for the Master, and the apostle would like to have him all to himself. He finally confesses that he feels he has retained nothing of Jesus' teachings. When he hears him, he understands everything, but afterwards he remembers nothing, and thinks with terror of the moment when Christ will leave them. The other apostles back him up. Jesus then testifies that every word once planted a seed. A little later, he even evokes the future Pentecost and the eternal Spirit. In the meantime, he asks the apostolic group to take advantage of their private moment to question him, so that he can explain his Word to them. He then takes his leave, bowing to Porphyria to go and speak to those waiting for him.

Jesus then returns briefly to the three men who approached him, in EMV 178, saying that the one whose heart was truly prepared was the one who lost his father. Heroism explains strong spiritual preparation: the most prepared, whatever their caste or culture, come to the Savior with absolute readiness and faith; the least prepared observe Christ as something out of the ordinary; still others denigrate him with various accusations. The chosen people should welcome the Messiah, since they have been prepared by the prophets and see the Redeemer's miracles. But unfortunately, they fight against Him, and in the end it's the pagans who welcome Him. Because the Israelites are saturated with their own wisdom, and don't know how to welcome Christ's wisdom, by accepting what is necessary. The others have no anchor, but rather burdens of error and sin, which they willingly abandon. To explain the different fruits of the same labor, Jesus gives the Gospel parable of the sower.

Jesus then walks away with Peter. He then talks to Elijah of Capernaum, the man who did not bury his father. The latter tells of his mother weeping for her husband, and Jesus decides to go to Chorazeïn, where his new disciple's family is staying. On the way, they see Isaac the Adult, who preached Jesus to Elijah, and the Lord thanks him for his apostolate. He then urges Elijah's brothers to make peace with their younger brother, and their mother helps the Lord to do so. Then they all leave, and the young man follows his Savior.

Chapter contents: 179.1: Jesus comments on the situation in Bethsaida at the time. 179.2: Arrival at Peter's house: he regrets not having Jesus to himself. 179.3: He complains that he listens happily to what Jesus says, but retains nothing. 179.4: Riding in a boat, Jesus comments to the crowd on the varied welcome given to those who wanted to follow him. 179.5: The parable of the sower: the grain that fell on good soil. 179.6: The grain that fell on other kinds of soil. 179.7: Jesus walks towards the bereaved family of the new disciple, in Chorazeïn. 179.8: Jesus thanks Isaac of Chorazeïn, who informs Elijah that his mother has understood his departure. 179.9: Jesus prays at the tomb of Elijah's father. He justifies Elijah's conduct in returning with him to Bethsaida.

Old edition: Tome 3, chapter 39

Keywords

GRM 179.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Jesus says to me showing me the course of the Jordan, or rather, the mouth of the Jordan where it flows into Lake Tiberias, that is where the town of Bethsaida lies on the right bank of the river, with respect to those facing north: «The town nowadays no longer appears to be on the shore of the lake, but a little inland. And that puzzles scholars. The explanation is to be found in the earth that filled this part of the lake, as it was deposited there throughout twenty centuries by the river, by alluvia and landslides from the hills of Bethsaida. The town was then just at the mouth of the river and in fact the smaller boats, particularly in seasons rich in water, used to sail upstream, almost as far as Korazim; the river, however, was always used as a harbour and shelter for the boats of Bethsaida when the lake was very rough. I am not saying this for you, to whom it is of no interest, but for difficult doctors. And now go on.»

Keywords

GRM 179.2 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The boats of the apostles, after crossing the short stretch of the lake between Capernaum and Bethsaida, land in the latter town. Other boats have followed them and many people come off them to join the people of Bethsaida who have come to greet the Master. Jesus enters Peter’s house where his wife is staying once again. I suppose she has preferred to be alone rather than live with her mother who continuously grumbles about her husband.
Outside the crowds claim Jesus at the top of their voices, which disturbs Peter very much, so much so that he goes up to the roof terrace and harangues the citizens telling them that they ought to have respect and manners. He would like to enjoy the company of his Master for a little while, in peace, now that he has Him in his house, whereas he has neither the time nor the pleasure to offer Him some water and honey among the many things he asked his wife to offer. And he grumbles…

Keywords

GRM 179.7-8.9 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

He then turns towards Peter and says: «Go up the river as far as you can and stop on the other side.» (...)
The rubbing of the boat on the pebbly river-bed causes the conversation to be interrupted to allow them to go ashore. The low hills of Bethsaida, which almost reach down to the lake, have come to an end here, instead a plain rich in crops extends from the shore, on the other side of Bethsaida, northwards.
«Are we going to Merom?» asks Peter.
«No, let us take this path among the fields.»
The lovely and well kept fields show ears of corn still tender but well formed, all of the same height; and, while lightly undulating in the cool northern breeze, they look like another small lake, the sails of which are the trees growing here and there full of whistling birds.
«These fields are not like the ones of the parable» remarks Jesus’ cousin James.
«Not really! The birds have not devastated them, there are no stone, no bramble. The corn is beautiful! In a month’s time it will be golden… and in two it will be ready for the sickle and the granary» says Judas of Kerioth.
«Master… I remind You of what You said in my house. You spoke so well. But I am beginning to have ideas in my head that are as confused as those ruffled clouds up there…» says Peter.
«This evening I will explain it to you. 179.8 Now we are in sight of Korazim.» And Jesus stares at the new disciple saying: «Much is given to those who give. And possessions do not deprive the gift of its merits. Take Me to the sepulchre of your family and to your mother’s house.»
The young man kneels down kissing Jesus’ hand and weeping.
«Get up. Let us go. My spirit has perceived your weeping. I want to fortify you in your heroism through My love.»
«Isaac the Elder had told me how good You were. Isaac, You know? You cured his daughter. He was my apostle. But I see that Your Kindness is much greater than I was told.»
«We shall call also on the Elder to thank him for giving Me a disciple.»
They reach Korazim and Isaac’s house is the first one they find.
(...) They stop first near the sepulchre and pray. After, through still semi-bare vineyards, they go to Elias’ house.
(...) They go on the road which takes them back to the river, and from there to Bethsaida.

Detail

Jesus has just finished preaching in Bethsaida. He is on the lake, with the young disciple who didn't go to his father's funeral, and speaks to Simon of Jonah.

Annotation

"Go up as high as you can and moor the boat on the other side. The first known Roman bridge on this stretch of the Jordan is in fact located 11/12 km further north(Jacob's Daughters Bridge). This bridge was destroyed in 1918.

The low hills of Bethsaida, which dip their noses into the lake, are no longer visible here, but a plain with rich harvests stretches along this bank opposite Bethsaida to the north. Correct: The plain northwest of Bethsaida is some 500m wide and 1 or 2 km long, then rises steadily to the west.

"Are we going to Merom ? We're taking this path through the fields." Merom is some 17km away, to the northwest, a 4-hour walk... Chorazeïn is barely 4km away, heading due west in a straight line from Bethsaida. Whenever possible, Jesus naturally takes the shortest route.

The fields, beautiful and well-tended, show their ears of corn, still tender but already formed. Consistent: 15 days later, Maria Valtorta remarked that they were "well formed"(EMV 190.1).

Beautiful wheat! Within a month, it will already be blond... and within two months, it will be ready to be mowed and stored. Correct: Harvest takes place at the end of April, beginning of May (according to Jean-François Lavère's chronology, we're at the end of February and the beginning of March). In 2 months' time, it's the episode of the stolen ears of corn on the Sabbath(EMV 217.3).

We've now arrived at Chorazeïn. That's right: coming from the north of Bethsaida, it's only at the last moment, after rounding the hill, that we can see Chorazeïn, located on the southern slope.

- Master... I remind you of what you said at my house. You spoke so well! But I'm starting to get clouds in my head as confused as they are up there. Jesus advised the apostles to ask him about his Word, so that he could explain it to them, in EMV 179.3.

When they arrive in Chorazeïn, Isaac's house is the first they see. This is Isaac the Adult, an old man from Chorazeïn whose daughter Jesus has healed.

They retrace their steps to the river, and from there to Bethsaida. Consistent: in the next chapter we discover that they spend the evening in Bethsaida. It only takes them 2h30 / 3h00 to make this round trip in the afternoon.