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

Springs of Life

Finally touring with the group today was a blessing for me.  I'm so grateful to be here in the places where Jesus ministered in Galilee.  The countryside is beautiful and we have absolutely amazing weather to go along with it.  Today we visited a few different sites north of the sea of Galilee including Tel Hazor (pronounced Hat-zor), Tel Dan, the ruins of Ceserea-Philipi, the possible site of the Transfiguration and the Golan Heights region.

Just a quick rundown on some of history behind these places:

Tel Hazor was the cheif Canaanite city in norther Palestine when Joshua was and the Israelites came into the land.  It is described in Joshua 11 as being burned by fire when the Israelites destroyed it.  We were actually able to see the residue of a fire from that time period in the rocks.  It could have very possibly been the burning of Hazor described in Joshua.  Later it became one of Solomon's fortified cities that guarded the northern entrance to Israel.

Ceserea-Philipi was a place that Jesus spent a significant amount of time and was the place where Peter's confession of faith was made.  The town is also at the foot of a mountain described to be the possible location of the transfiguration of Jesus.  The view on top of the mountain was breathtaking.

The most moving location for me was Tel Dan.  We visited En Dan which was the spring at Tel Dan.  It is always flowing even during droughts.  Our professor explained that he has come up to that spring after 3 year droughts and still the spring would be flowing consistently.  Jeremiah uses this as an example in Jeremiah 2:13:  

For My people have committed two evils:  They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

The imagery here is very agricultural.  For those who would dig cisterns for themselves would know exactly how much water they had at all times and could control and predict what would come next.  However, the spring is a risk.  It is much less predictable and there is a level of trust that must be taken when dealing with the spring.  Like God we are called to stop doing our own way and to take the risk of living of the real Living Water that is God.  Living in that place I am unable to measure my life and make it predictable.  Instead it has become a life built on faith and living by these Springs of Life.

I've been having some trouble uploading pictures to my blog.  If you have facebook you can look at them there.  Otherwise I will try and figure out that situation.  In the meantime thank you for your continued prayers.

Shalom,

-AM

SHALOM!

Greetings from the Holy Land!  I am sitting in our hotel lounge overlooking the Sea of Galilee!  I cannot believe I am actually here right now!  I had a great taxi ride to meet up with the group as well.  It was a two hour ride and my cab driver was a messianic jew!  His perspective on the person of Jesus and His fulfillment of the law so so fresh and real to hear.  It has now set a great tone for me for the rest of the trip.  I will post some pictures soon that you all can enjoy.

Shalom,

-AM