Evangelical Triangle

What a day we had!  Here are the highlights and thoughts for you.

Bethsaida

At Bethsaida we learned that it is not actually the site of the New Testament city of Bethsaida but an earlier Gershite city that reached its zenith during the Hellenistic period about 100 years before Bethsaida in Jesus’ time.  It was actually almost non-existent by the time of the Jesus.  At this site we took some time to observe the person of John the Baptist.  It was interesting to learn that he really had some of his Messianic ideas very wrong.  He felt that the Messiah would come to crush the Romans and rise to be the judge as the prophets say.  Instead Jesus comes only fulfilling the first part of the prophesies about the blind seeing and the gospel being preached to the poor.  John even had his doubts when he asked Jesus whether he was the one to come or whether they should look for someone else.  John became a doubter towards his death, however Jesus is still quoted as affirming and praising John’s preaching of the message of repentance to everyone.  It comforts me that even the “greatest among men” could have shortcomings that Jesus is able to look over!

Mt. of Beatitudes and Korazim

Jesus defends His status as a law abiding Jew.  He keeps the law in its fullest meaning and does not break the laws as it is often assumed he does.  Jesus is a very devout and faithful Jew.  The main discussion here was Jesus calling His people to righteousness and what that looks like in terms of the Hebrew.  The word actually means to be in the business of mercy and caring for other peoples wants and needs instead of focused on ourselves.  This was connected nicely at Korazim where we considered that Jesus wasn’t looking for an Israeli Zealot cheering section after the freedom of Israel but rather people who were willing to be like Jesus.  People who were willing to live and act in this very different idea of righteousness.

Capernaum

Probably the most powerful moment of the day came while in the church that sits over the home of Peter in Capernaum.  We all started singing “I love you Lord.”  It is such a simple and old song but it just resonated at that time of day.  Having been traveling through the Evangelical Triangle (Capernaum, Korazim, and Bethsaida) this day had an impact on me as I realized the we walked in the footsteps of Jesus and were understanding more about who He really was and began to grasp the gravity of His teaching to a Jewish audience.  As we sang that simple song in this 8 sided catholic sanctuary we could sense the Spirit of God descend on that place as if Jesus had just entered Capernaum after 2,000 years away.  I am still moved from that experience as I began to simply get a better picture of what it means to be like Jesus.

We finished the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.  We had the motor turned off and it was so quiet that evening on the lake.  As we just sat there and listened to God and imagined Jesus out with His disciples on the lake fishing with them and teaching them his ways.  Soon He would be headed toward Jerusalem to bear the cross and suffer for far more than just the Jews.  And tomorrow we also will begin making our way towards Jerusalem to contemplate Jesus culmination of His life on earth.

Shalom,

-AM