Can you imagine what it would have been like to accompany Jesus for a few weeks while He was here 2000 years ago? That’s what today’s adventure in the Holy Land was like. We stayed close to the Sea of Galillee the whole day and visited places that we’ve read about so many times in the New Testament. It rained off and on and was a bit chilly but we couldn’t help but see the fingerprints of God everywhere.
There were so many “holy moments” with God. I kept running into people in our group who had been captured and captivated by the Spirit of God. Some were overwhelmed with joy. Some were broken with tears. Some were loudly quiet. It has been a day when our eyes have been open and we’ve been extremely sensitive to the fingerprints of God. Below are a few highlights.
The Mount of the Beattitudes – We began our journey at the location where Jesus preached His Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7). It was easy to picture thousands of people gathering around to listen to the Teacher. We were all challenged to become more attentive listeners to God’s Spirit as He teaches us from His Word. Here’s a question for you…”When you read the Scripture, is it simply an academic exercise or like reading a love letter from God?”
Tabgha – This place was my personal favorite. It is the location of two major episodes in the New Testament – the miraculous feeding of the 5000 (John 6) and the breakfast meeting with Jesus and His disciples after his resurrection (John 21). Everyone loved walking down by the waterside and meditating on what Jesus would say to them if they were having breakfast with Jesus. What an intimate moment it must have been for the disciples to have breakfast prepared for them after having just seen the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. This was a picture of friendship, intimacy, and camaraderie. Here’s another question we were asking ourselves, “Is our relationship with Jesus Christ characterized by intimacy or a conforming religiosity?”
Capernaum – This became Jesus’ base of ministry after leaving Nazareth. We walked on the foundation stones of the synagogue that Jesus often spoke in. We walked through the excavated ruins of Capernaum and stood beside the home of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. You’ll remember that Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law when He visited that home. You’ll also remember that the paralytic was lowered down through the roof of this same home. The place was a picture of the miraculous power of God. You might also want the ask the question we were faced with, “Do you really believe that God can miraculously intervene in your life’s circumstances?”
Kursi – This is also referred to as the region of the Gerasenes. It was here that Jesus cast out a demon called “Legion” into a large herd of pigs. (Luke 8:26ff) Pastor Bill Hild told us that he had been part of this archeological dig a few years ago and gave us a quick lesson on how archaeologists interpret what they find in a pile of dirt. He also informed us that this kind of work is painstaking and takes a lot of tedious effort – like moving spoonfuls of dirt at a time. Question – “Are you willing to patiently pay the kind of price required to become the spouse you need to become, the student you need to become, the friend you need to become, or the follower of Christ you claim to be?
Bet Sham – This large city has been excavated and is so impressive. This also happens to be the location where King Saul and his son Jonathan’s body were hung after being killed during a battle with the Philistines. It was an ominous sight and wake up call concerning the reality of the life and death of our spiritual heroes of the faith. Sometimes it’s easy to think the stories in the Scripture are simply stories and not real events. Here’s a question for you – “Is your Christian life a façade or real?”
As you can see, God is working us over on this trip. It’s overwhelming but so refreshing. It’s so good to see lives being changed. We’re also having a lot of fun and eating very well. And quite frankly, it’s quite an experience to be able to sit out on a hotel balcony and watch the sunrise over the Sea of Galilee each morning. It’s an image I’ll never forget.
PRAYER UPDATE - Your prayers continue to be answered. Everyone is healthy and we have finally acclimated to the time change. The young man who is asking God to radically change him while here is changing before our very eyes. God is so good. Keep on praying. Tomorrow we head for Nazareth, Cana, Caesarea, and Jerusalem. Wish you could be with us.
Our group of 39 people (some from Sarasota, FL, some from Columbia, SC, and some from Tennessee) have arrived in Amman, Jordan to sunny skies and about 55 degrees. What a warm and cheery welcome to a bunch of weary travelers. For those of us who departed from Sarasota, it's been a 24 hour adventure before we landed in Amman. And how about this...not a single lost bag. That's a huge victory. It always helps knowing you have arrived with your clothes, snacks, meds, etc.
We arrived at our hotel and had a great dinner and are all delighted that the next thing on the agenda is sleeping in a bed instead of a tight airline seat with the seat in front of you in your lap.
I couldn't be more excited about this trip. For a Christian, this trip is one of a kind. As my dear friend, Bill Hild (a fellow tour host and pastor) says, "A trip to the Holy Land is like a year of Seminary training." Not only will we walk where Moses, Elijah, Jesus, and Peter walked but all of our senses will engage with the Scripture while here. It's amazing how both the Old Testament and New Testament come alive when you travel here.
Before I wrap this up and go to bed I thought I'd highlight two observations since arriving:
1. The people here in Jordan have been so friendly and hospitable. In fact, the tour personnel and hotel employees make it a point to pay attention to detail. I've had at least 4 people welcome me with a "it's good to see you again pastor Mike." It's been a year since I last met these people. What a great example of how to treat people. I thought about how diligent and proactive I should be when meeting and greeting and genuinely caring about people.
2. While driving from the airport to the hotel, we heard the "call to prayer" that is sounded out from the many mosques within the city. I thought about the millions of people who hear that sound and take time to pray in this city. I wondered what kind of sound will be necessary to get Christians to pray for our world, our nation, our neighbors, and our families. I wondered why a nation like ours (USA) seeks to distance itself from any appearance of a need for God. I wonder what it will take to get us to humble ourselves and turn back to the God our forefathers unapologetically gave credit to for the foundation and establishment of our nation.
So much for wondering. Time to hit the sack. Will try to report in each evening with highlights of the trip. See you then.
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