Galilee is where Christ chooses to meet His disciples for His final miracle before the ascension, and on at least three occasions after His resurrection He directs them to go there (Matthew 26:32; 28:7, 10; Mark 14:28; 16:7). It is the site of the first great catch of fish in Luke 5, where He called Peter, John, James, and Andrew, so the setting invites comparison between the two miracles and brings the disciples full circle. Galilee is also the disciples' home, and their fishing boats are docked there. The Sea of Galilee, also called Lake Tiberias or the Lake of Gennesaret, allows an intimate gathering away from the crowds, as it did at the first miracle. It gives a feeling of solace and comfort after the crucifixion. When the disciples are troubled and uncertain about the future, they return to the familiar work of fishing on its waters, away from prying eyes and ears. There Christ teaches them that any activity undertaken without Him is fruitless.

The Sea of Galilee is the setting for the first of two miracles in which Jesus calms a storm. After a long day of teaching and testing, Jesus has His disciples take Him by small boat across the sea to the quieter region of Perea, away from the crowds. Worn out, He falls asleep on a pillow, and a sudden storm sends waves beating into the boat and filling it. The disciples panic and cry out to Him, yet He remains at peace because of His complete trust in the Father's care and His knowledge of His God-given power over wind and sea. Jesus rebukes the disciples for little faith, since the Father, who long ago shut in the sea with doors and said, "This far you may come but no farther" (Job 38:8, 11), would not let His faithful Son drown. When Jesus commands the sea, "Peace, be still!", the Greek phrase means "be muzzled," as though the storm were a maniac to be bound. This treats the storm as a rebellious force, since disorder in nature traces back to Satan, whose works Jesus came to destroy. The miracle contrasts nature's disorder with the Creator's power, order, and peace (Psalm 89:9). It also leaves the disciples in reverent awe. The waves of the world still rage against Christ's followers, but they will not be overwhelmed because Christ is in them.

The Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberius, lies in the northern part of Israel, north of Judah. The Jordan River runs into it and then flows out of it down the east side of the land to the Dead Sea. Its Hebrew name, Kinneret, means harp, because the lake is shaped like one. Jesus went over to the northeast side of the harp, the area known today as the Golan Heights, which Israel holds and which Syria and Lebanon would like to have. He had been on the other side of the sea and tried to get away from the crowds, but a great multitude followed Him all the way around the shore because they had seen His signs of healing on the diseased. There, on the mountain near the lake, He sat with His disciples just before the third Passover of His ministry, and the feeding of the 5,000 took place. Philip, the local man from Bethsaida at the foot of the mountain, knew the town, its bakers, warehouses, and docks, which is why Jesus asked him where bread could be bought. Even with that knowledge, Philip could not see a physical way to supply so many.