Bethlehem
Bethlehem was not on our original itinerary. We were able to schedule this on our ‘free’ day as an option. Aaron had been in contact with Alycia Wood from our church, who has friends at the Bethlehem Bible College and so most of our group took advantage of the opportunity to go. Bethlehem means ‘house of bread’. My initial brief history lesson for the day was to learn about the Oslo agreement in 1992. This agreement stated that there would be no new Israeli settlements. In 1996 a new Israeli settlement was started on the West Bank. This used to be Palestinian land before the UN dictated otherwise in 1967. The ongoing tension has a physical manifestation in barbed wire, electric fence, sand, more electric fence, and more barbed wire. Also surrounding the border of Bethlehem you could not miss the huge concrete wall that now separates Palestine and Israel. The border is guarded and each vehicle is checked before admittance in either direction (although it was more stringent returning to Israel). Without the proper authorization from the government you may not cross.
In contrast, the first site we visited once in Bethlehem was a peaceful place called Bet-sa-ul. Betsaul means ‘house of night’, and was probably named for the shepherds that lived here. You could see the rolling hills where shepherds would have kept watch at night. This particular area has a much higher percentage of Christians- about 80% of the only 2% in all of Bethlehem. As we overlooked the shepherd’s fields we talked about a particular lowly shepherd. Shepherds were considered unclean because they worked with animals. Because they lived with the sheep they probably also smelled a bit like animals. It was a good reminder of the lowly beginnings of David who would later become King. Also at Jesus’ birth the shepherds (the lowly of the society) were given the first announcement.
Aaron pointed us to 1 Samuel where Israel was asking for a King so they could be like the other nations. As Saul is anointed, he looks the part (chapter 9). He is tall, strong, a warrior. This is the kind of king the people want. However we see God directing Samuel to Bethlehem to find David (chapter 16). When Jesse sees this important prophet he throws a party and invites all of his sons, except David. His own father did not think he would be worth inviting to the party. But then- one of my favorite verses 16:7- The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart. David did not meet the expectations people had for a king, later Jesus would not meet the expectations people had for a messiah.
There was also a cave here that demonstrated how many of the people in Old Testament time would have live. It was explained that most families dwelt in one space with an area on the side of the cave for the animals for safety. If you had enough money you would build another room on top an “upper room”. When a woman gave birth she was considered unclean (40 days for a boy, 80 days for a girl). With Mary’s upcoming delivery, she would not have been able to stay in an upper room with other people so she would have been housed in the deepest part of the cave.
Church of the Nativity
This is the oldest church in the holy land. When Christianity was declared the official religion of Rome, Helena, the mother of the emperor, came to designate the significant places of Jesus’ life. This church was originally built in 326-339 AD, designed as a basilica (a design for a king). It was built on top of the cave where Jesus was possibly born. In 614 AD when the Persians came through, they destroyed every church except this one. There was a mosaic in front of the 3 wise men and the infant. Since the wise men appeared to be Persian, the church was spared. Cedars of Lebanon were added along with mosaics around 1000 AD by the crusaders, and in the 4th century extensions were added that gave the floor a cross shape.
It might be my protestant background, or my personal taste in simplicity, but this church was over the top for me. There were elements of beauty but all cased together it was too much, to the point of being gaudy, Perhaps it was the irony of knowing that Jesus, the King of Kings, was born a lowly humble birth to a poor family, that the surrounding opulence seemed wrong. Even going into the cave, almost the entire wall had been covered in tapestry; a marble slab was placed where perhaps he was laid. A silver star marked the floor with a gold altar type table above it, on the place he may have been born. Pictures were hung on the walls on almost every available space. For me personally I think a barren, quiet cave might have been more meaningful.
Bethlehem Bible College
This is a bible college run by 2 Arab Christians. Sixty years ago there were 15-20% of Christians in the holy land, now there is only 2 %. More than 2/3 of Palestinian Christians live outside their country. 75% of Arab Americans are Christian. The current political and economic instability prevent Christians from staying, so they are trying to combat this issue with education and opportunities. Dr. Awad started his lecture with a modern day parable, that paralleled the story of the good Samaritan: Mr. Gaza lie wounded and badly in need of help as Mr. Church and Mr. Politician passed by and discussed the issue without offering any true assistance. While I have basically grown up with this as a background issue- hearing often in Christian circles that we must support Israel, this was really the first time I have had the saga succinctly explained in a way that helped me understand the ongoing issues. Dr. Awad has lived this story on the front line so to speak. He lost his own father as a result of this war, yet he explained his mother taught him, “Never ask God why, always ask God how”. I learned for the first time that 800,000 Palestinians lost their homes in 1948. I also learned that 4 million Palestinians are still in refugee camps today in the Middle East. Other countries have not allowed them in, so they continue to be homeless. He pointed out that political pressure influences more radical religions. Taking away a person’s land, hopes, and dreams, is fertile ground for breeding terrorism. What a huge and complicated issue. How are we to be peacemakers, to encourage and hope for peace?
The Herodian
Another impressive palace Herod built for himself, and the only one named for him. Once again the palace/fortress was enormous with a massive swimming pool sitting well below the actual living area. The aqua duct system here was another engineering feat as the water was supplied from Solomon Pools four miles away. This particular day was extremely windy and you could feel the sand hitting your skin like little needle pricks. After viewing the main living areas we retreated into the tunnels. We viewed multiple water cisterns and learned that Herod was so paranoid that he would kill the servant that got water after a few days to prevent the possibility of someone poisoning the water. Herod’s tomb was found just three years ago. His tomb had contained many relics and of course his body. During his lifetime he was powerful, rich and took upon himself every indulgence of kingship- ruling over his servants, squelching any possible threats to his leadership. You can see the self-love in the opulent way in which he lived contrasted with the relatively simple lifestyle of the people at that time. Jesus on the other hand chose to serve instead of dominate. He chose love for God and others over self-love. His tomb was and is empty.
Once again we went through the wall to return to Jerusalem. How much we take our traveling, freedom and safety for granted. As the 2 soldiers came on our bus and checked passports, I was not fearful, but I did think of how out of place that would be within my home. A concrete wall that separated towns, that ended some streets, that even separated families in some situations: tangible and visual evidence of lives disrupted, economic instability, the tearing apart of community. Physical walls that perhaps were mental or emotional walls before. Political distinctions, racial distinctions, and even religious distinctions: Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Arab, Israeli, Palestinian, seem to be important labels in that place. We have our own labels and categories in this country. God help us to see a broader label- we are all God’s children.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Hezekiah’s tunnel, Pool of Siloam, Southern stairs to temple, Genesis Land, Archaeological dig, Wailing Wall
Hezekiah’s tunnel
This was another huge day! We began with a review of Hezekiah’s story found in 2 Kings. Hezekiah trusted in God. Despite having a father, Ahab, that sacrificed children to pagan gods, Hezekiah chose instead to believe in God. In 722 BC Assyrian empire is expanding, and takes out northern Israel. Their method was to capture people groups and then move them to a new place so they would be easier to control. The first time the Assyrians come to Jerusalem, Hezekiah pays tribute, but he knows that only buys time, so he begins to fortify walls and solidify the cities’ water supply by building a tunnel. Meanwhile the Assyrians have taken out all of the neighboring cities. When they return to Jerusalem, their leader gives a speech, basically saying- you depend on your God, you might as well surrender and choose life because if you don’t surrender you will die. So with 185,000 men surrounding the city, Hezekiah prays. (2 Kings 19:35) That night an angel killed the 185,000 soldiers.
The tunnel still has water running through it today. As we marched through, the opening varied in height and width, the water height varied as well from ankles to mid-thighs at it’s highest. We started out with flashlights but a little more than midway through we cut off the lights. In complete darkness we sang praises to God. I walked with one hand up to feel for the ceiling in case I needed to duck, and one hand forward to keep connection with the person in front of me. It occurred to me as I was walking, that this position parallels how I am to walk through life: blindly trusting with one hand up toward God and one hand reaching out to others.
Pool of Siloam
The tunnel emptied out into the pool of Siloam. Siloam means ‘to send’ and this place was known as the fountain of salvation. In John 9 you find the pool mentioned when Jesus put mud on a blind man’s eyes and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. Since he was healed on the Sabbath, the Pharisees were upset and questioned both his parents and then the blind man. When questioned where Jesus is, the blind man responds, “Do you want to become a disciple too?” I can only imagine the sneer of those questioning him. He further added, “If this man was not from God he could do nothing.”
Southern Stairs to temple
Jesus walked and talked here. You could see the white washed tombs that he referred to in comparing the Pharisees. Josephus (early historian who recorded much of early Jewish history) said a million people would come here at Passover/Pentecost. Thousands would have been gathered in this area even as the disciples diligently waited on Jesus. Because of the proximate time of the Passover many of those present would have heard of his miracles, of his death and resurrection. In Acts 2 you read the birthplace of the church as Peter gives a message here, the holy spirit moves among the crowd and thousands are baptized.
Genesis Land
On the lighter side, it brought me much ‘sa-hem’ (joy) to ride a camel. The loading and unloading process combined with our camels continuous roar kept me giggling for a good 15- 20 minutes. It was of course the highlight of my pictures for all three daughters. Taylor Grace said- “You got to ride a camel? NO Fair.” If you have never heard a camel, which I never had, it is quite a loud guttural sound, there were 2 babies that were with our pack, and so the camels were quite vocal throughout our ride. Not a pretty animal, nor particularly fragrant, and to be honest not as comfortable as horseback, nonetheless looking at the size of their feet, you felt confident they would be surefooted, and it was our only option for transportation to the tent other than walking, and where’s the fun in that? As long as you lean back during the mounting and dismounting phase it’s all good.
We arrived at Abraham’s tent where they had prepared a delicious lunch for us. I had become accustomed to the ever-present hummus, grape tomatoes, and salad appetizers. I think I ate healthier while in Israel than I ever have. Abraham (by way of an actor from Australia) gave an abbreviated version of his story and explained that all of the food and herbs had been grown locally. One herb mentioned in particular was hyssop. He explained that hyssop enhanced the natural flavor of the food and was used in almost everything. I wonder how many of us enhance everything we are in…
Archaeological Dig
In 1999, 400 truckloads of dirt were dumped when the Muslims made a new entrance a courtyard near the dome of the rock. In 2005 a project was started that allowed this dirt to be sifted through: Utilizing a combination of volunteers (like us) and experts, they sift through this dirt recovering various items. Coins, weights used in the first temple period, rings, pottery shards, rings, mosaic stones, and many other historic artifacts have been recovered during this process. We were also given a brief lecture explaining the size and building of the first temple destroyed in 586 BC, the second temple destroyed in 70 AD and the current Dome of the rock built around 700 AD.
Western Wall
1 Kings 8:41-43, Solomon prays over the temple. I wasn’t sure what to expect at the western wall or if I would feel the significance. But after hearing Solomon’s prayer that God would hear our prayers, it reminded me again of the vastness of this story and the even bigger greatness of our God. I know God cannot be contained in one place but how amazing that He gives us touchstones: Places to draw near to Him, places that remind us to connect to Him. As I prayed over my husband, children and myself that we would grow in our love for God and know Him more, I became aware that millions of others have come to this very place to pray and connect to God.
This was another huge day! We began with a review of Hezekiah’s story found in 2 Kings. Hezekiah trusted in God. Despite having a father, Ahab, that sacrificed children to pagan gods, Hezekiah chose instead to believe in God. In 722 BC Assyrian empire is expanding, and takes out northern Israel. Their method was to capture people groups and then move them to a new place so they would be easier to control. The first time the Assyrians come to Jerusalem, Hezekiah pays tribute, but he knows that only buys time, so he begins to fortify walls and solidify the cities’ water supply by building a tunnel. Meanwhile the Assyrians have taken out all of the neighboring cities. When they return to Jerusalem, their leader gives a speech, basically saying- you depend on your God, you might as well surrender and choose life because if you don’t surrender you will die. So with 185,000 men surrounding the city, Hezekiah prays. (2 Kings 19:35) That night an angel killed the 185,000 soldiers.
The tunnel still has water running through it today. As we marched through, the opening varied in height and width, the water height varied as well from ankles to mid-thighs at it’s highest. We started out with flashlights but a little more than midway through we cut off the lights. In complete darkness we sang praises to God. I walked with one hand up to feel for the ceiling in case I needed to duck, and one hand forward to keep connection with the person in front of me. It occurred to me as I was walking, that this position parallels how I am to walk through life: blindly trusting with one hand up toward God and one hand reaching out to others.
Pool of Siloam
The tunnel emptied out into the pool of Siloam. Siloam means ‘to send’ and this place was known as the fountain of salvation. In John 9 you find the pool mentioned when Jesus put mud on a blind man’s eyes and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. Since he was healed on the Sabbath, the Pharisees were upset and questioned both his parents and then the blind man. When questioned where Jesus is, the blind man responds, “Do you want to become a disciple too?” I can only imagine the sneer of those questioning him. He further added, “If this man was not from God he could do nothing.”
Southern Stairs to temple
Jesus walked and talked here. You could see the white washed tombs that he referred to in comparing the Pharisees. Josephus (early historian who recorded much of early Jewish history) said a million people would come here at Passover/Pentecost. Thousands would have been gathered in this area even as the disciples diligently waited on Jesus. Because of the proximate time of the Passover many of those present would have heard of his miracles, of his death and resurrection. In Acts 2 you read the birthplace of the church as Peter gives a message here, the holy spirit moves among the crowd and thousands are baptized.
Genesis Land
On the lighter side, it brought me much ‘sa-hem’ (joy) to ride a camel. The loading and unloading process combined with our camels continuous roar kept me giggling for a good 15- 20 minutes. It was of course the highlight of my pictures for all three daughters. Taylor Grace said- “You got to ride a camel? NO Fair.” If you have never heard a camel, which I never had, it is quite a loud guttural sound, there were 2 babies that were with our pack, and so the camels were quite vocal throughout our ride. Not a pretty animal, nor particularly fragrant, and to be honest not as comfortable as horseback, nonetheless looking at the size of their feet, you felt confident they would be surefooted, and it was our only option for transportation to the tent other than walking, and where’s the fun in that? As long as you lean back during the mounting and dismounting phase it’s all good.
We arrived at Abraham’s tent where they had prepared a delicious lunch for us. I had become accustomed to the ever-present hummus, grape tomatoes, and salad appetizers. I think I ate healthier while in Israel than I ever have. Abraham (by way of an actor from Australia) gave an abbreviated version of his story and explained that all of the food and herbs had been grown locally. One herb mentioned in particular was hyssop. He explained that hyssop enhanced the natural flavor of the food and was used in almost everything. I wonder how many of us enhance everything we are in…
Archaeological Dig
In 1999, 400 truckloads of dirt were dumped when the Muslims made a new entrance a courtyard near the dome of the rock. In 2005 a project was started that allowed this dirt to be sifted through: Utilizing a combination of volunteers (like us) and experts, they sift through this dirt recovering various items. Coins, weights used in the first temple period, rings, pottery shards, rings, mosaic stones, and many other historic artifacts have been recovered during this process. We were also given a brief lecture explaining the size and building of the first temple destroyed in 586 BC, the second temple destroyed in 70 AD and the current Dome of the rock built around 700 AD.
Western Wall
1 Kings 8:41-43, Solomon prays over the temple. I wasn’t sure what to expect at the western wall or if I would feel the significance. But after hearing Solomon’s prayer that God would hear our prayers, it reminded me again of the vastness of this story and the even bigger greatness of our God. I know God cannot be contained in one place but how amazing that He gives us touchstones: Places to draw near to Him, places that remind us to connect to Him. As I prayed over my husband, children and myself that we would grow in our love for God and know Him more, I became aware that millions of others have come to this very place to pray and connect to God.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Masada, En Gedi, Qumran, Dead Sea
Masada
Masada started with a beautiful ride up in a sky bucket. It was hard to envision how this fortress was made in the middle of the desert at the top of a mountain, but once again Herod was an ingenious builder (while also a paranoid jerk). You could see the bathhouses again, even decorated with fresco, which means he would have brought in talented artisans from all over to finish his buildings. The aqueducts and water cisterns allowed for rainwater to be collected and stored. The natural terrain gave protection since the steep climb made it impossible to storm in any numbers.
Not being one to know military history, this was the first time I had heard the story of Masada. After the second temple was destroyed, many Jews fled to Masada. These were mostly zealots whose primary allegiance was to Israel. They did not want to be under Roman rule and considered death better than slavery. Rome was determined to squash the resistance completely and surrounded the mountain with eight camps. Ironically the symbol of this roman legion was the pig. It took four years for the Romans to build a ramp, which allowed them to bring up a battering ram and start breaking through the gate. During this time the Romans would have had to walk approximately 20 miles to get to fresh water. They were unable to figure out the water source for those within the fortress walls. On the last night of the standoff, when the zealots knew they could no longer hold off the invasion, they cast lots. They agreed to kill everyone inside the walls and the last remaining would commit suicide. When the Romans entered the next day, everyone inside was dead (only a woman and child survived by possibly hiding in the water cisterns).
Two things struck me at this site. One- these Jews would have been familiar with many of the stories of God working on Israel’s behalf. Over and over in the Old Testament when the leaders prayed to God, God delivered them. Yet, these men were more aligned with country than God. They relied on their own power, their own reasoning, instead of praying for God’s power. I wonder if anyone did pray? It is not mentioned as the story is retold. I wonder if it would have made a difference. Would God have shown mercy to the people at Masada if they had turned to him? Secondly- I wondered at first why the Romans did not attempt to disrupt the water flow. I wondered why they did not commandeer the cisterns for their own use and thereby force the inhabitants out. I did not realize that the only reason I could see the water storage and channels was because I was on the top of the mountain looking down. From the bottom of the mountain there was no evidence of the amazing grooves cut that allowed water to be collected and stored. Once again reminding me how limited we are in our perceptions looking up from our short existence. But there is One who is able to look down and see all.
En Gedi
I love the story of David, so I really enjoyed visiting En Gedi. Again in what feels like the midst of a desert, here are these 3 flowing waterfalls. On this particular day, they were having a heat wave in Israel. Temperatures were close to 100 degrees, which is unseasonably warm for springtime. On the rocks you could feel the heat, yet under the shade of trees or by the pools you would feel the cool mist. In the shade we spoke of David’s time here. He hid here while on the run from Saul. You could see caves dotting the landscape. One of those could have been the one where he cut off the corner of Saul’s tunic. You could understand how after hiding in these desert conditions; you would have so much appreciation for the water. I picture David in his solitude, wondering how long he would have to hide, pouring out his anguish to God in what we now read as the Psalms. Yet enjoying the shade, the sounds of running water, you could also see how he would have praised God for leading him beside still waters. How much did this time of ‘wandering’ or solitude prepare him for being King? As everything was stripped away, he had to come down to the basic fact that it was only God that mattered, only God that he could depend on, only God that was God.
From several places walking by the waterfalls, you could look and see the Dead Sea. It looked like any sea, a beautiful blue, meeting the sky on the horizon. It would have been a reasonable walk in those days to get to the water. Yet, it was a ‘mirage’ in the since that it could not be used. It looks so beautiful and appears refreshing yet the salt content is too high to quench thirst or sustain life. As I though of God describing himself as ‘living water’, it made me wonder how many people are trying to live off an inadequate source. Perhaps it looks good, but it doesn’t really satisfy.
Qumran
In 1947 copies of the scroll of Isaiah were found. These scrolls date back to 100BC. The Essenes were a strict religious sect that had moved out of Jerusalem in order to live a purer life. The significance of this find was a confirmation of the accuracy of scripture and the evidence that the prophecies made concerning Christ in Isaiah (especially chapters 52 and 53) occurred before Christ came. Archaeology confirms that there was not a ‘revisionist’ history happening here. When you read Isaiah 53 about his suffering, about Christ being pierced for our transgressions, you see the description of what will happen to Christ and it was written hundreds of years before his birth.
I am so thankful that our faith, which is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see, is also given these encouragements. We are to love God with our mind, body and soul. We can investigate and think through what it is we believe because God is truth. Thinking and being a Christian are not juxtaposed; in fact we are to study to show ourselves approved (2 Timothy). We should have a grasp of what we believe and why- not that we will ever have all the answers, but because God does. My faith does not depend on scrolls found in 1947 but it is further supported by them, (and by other archeological finds) and for that I am glad.
Dead Sea
After a hot, busy day we were transported via bus to the Dead Sea. Running short on time, the ladies decided to kick the men off the bus, close the curtains and use the bus as our changing room. You can imagine our surprise when in the middle of changing, our bus started moving. Those of us in the back did not hear the announcement, but apparently our bus was in the way, so our guide had opened the front door enough to announce- “Josi (short for Joseph) has to move the bus, he won’t look.” As the bus started rolling it was too late to do anything but finish the process that had already started. There was much giggling and comments about joining Josi’s harem, as we ducked behind bus seats and finished changing.
The Dead Sea was unlike any other water I had ever been in. As I went out deeper into the water, I felt like a bobber. I could literally stand straight up without my feet touching the bottom. You could float and spiral with no effort. Many cosmetic companies sell the minerals found in the Dead Sea as beauty treatments. So we wiped the mud on our arms, chest, back and face to enjoy the mineral benefits. I found my face burning in a short amount of time so I had to rinse fairly quickly, but the skin on my arms did feel smooth after. So although not good for drinking or washing, the Dead Sea is great for floating.
Masada started with a beautiful ride up in a sky bucket. It was hard to envision how this fortress was made in the middle of the desert at the top of a mountain, but once again Herod was an ingenious builder (while also a paranoid jerk). You could see the bathhouses again, even decorated with fresco, which means he would have brought in talented artisans from all over to finish his buildings. The aqueducts and water cisterns allowed for rainwater to be collected and stored. The natural terrain gave protection since the steep climb made it impossible to storm in any numbers.
Not being one to know military history, this was the first time I had heard the story of Masada. After the second temple was destroyed, many Jews fled to Masada. These were mostly zealots whose primary allegiance was to Israel. They did not want to be under Roman rule and considered death better than slavery. Rome was determined to squash the resistance completely and surrounded the mountain with eight camps. Ironically the symbol of this roman legion was the pig. It took four years for the Romans to build a ramp, which allowed them to bring up a battering ram and start breaking through the gate. During this time the Romans would have had to walk approximately 20 miles to get to fresh water. They were unable to figure out the water source for those within the fortress walls. On the last night of the standoff, when the zealots knew they could no longer hold off the invasion, they cast lots. They agreed to kill everyone inside the walls and the last remaining would commit suicide. When the Romans entered the next day, everyone inside was dead (only a woman and child survived by possibly hiding in the water cisterns).
Two things struck me at this site. One- these Jews would have been familiar with many of the stories of God working on Israel’s behalf. Over and over in the Old Testament when the leaders prayed to God, God delivered them. Yet, these men were more aligned with country than God. They relied on their own power, their own reasoning, instead of praying for God’s power. I wonder if anyone did pray? It is not mentioned as the story is retold. I wonder if it would have made a difference. Would God have shown mercy to the people at Masada if they had turned to him? Secondly- I wondered at first why the Romans did not attempt to disrupt the water flow. I wondered why they did not commandeer the cisterns for their own use and thereby force the inhabitants out. I did not realize that the only reason I could see the water storage and channels was because I was on the top of the mountain looking down. From the bottom of the mountain there was no evidence of the amazing grooves cut that allowed water to be collected and stored. Once again reminding me how limited we are in our perceptions looking up from our short existence. But there is One who is able to look down and see all.
En Gedi
I love the story of David, so I really enjoyed visiting En Gedi. Again in what feels like the midst of a desert, here are these 3 flowing waterfalls. On this particular day, they were having a heat wave in Israel. Temperatures were close to 100 degrees, which is unseasonably warm for springtime. On the rocks you could feel the heat, yet under the shade of trees or by the pools you would feel the cool mist. In the shade we spoke of David’s time here. He hid here while on the run from Saul. You could see caves dotting the landscape. One of those could have been the one where he cut off the corner of Saul’s tunic. You could understand how after hiding in these desert conditions; you would have so much appreciation for the water. I picture David in his solitude, wondering how long he would have to hide, pouring out his anguish to God in what we now read as the Psalms. Yet enjoying the shade, the sounds of running water, you could also see how he would have praised God for leading him beside still waters. How much did this time of ‘wandering’ or solitude prepare him for being King? As everything was stripped away, he had to come down to the basic fact that it was only God that mattered, only God that he could depend on, only God that was God.
From several places walking by the waterfalls, you could look and see the Dead Sea. It looked like any sea, a beautiful blue, meeting the sky on the horizon. It would have been a reasonable walk in those days to get to the water. Yet, it was a ‘mirage’ in the since that it could not be used. It looks so beautiful and appears refreshing yet the salt content is too high to quench thirst or sustain life. As I though of God describing himself as ‘living water’, it made me wonder how many people are trying to live off an inadequate source. Perhaps it looks good, but it doesn’t really satisfy.
Qumran
In 1947 copies of the scroll of Isaiah were found. These scrolls date back to 100BC. The Essenes were a strict religious sect that had moved out of Jerusalem in order to live a purer life. The significance of this find was a confirmation of the accuracy of scripture and the evidence that the prophecies made concerning Christ in Isaiah (especially chapters 52 and 53) occurred before Christ came. Archaeology confirms that there was not a ‘revisionist’ history happening here. When you read Isaiah 53 about his suffering, about Christ being pierced for our transgressions, you see the description of what will happen to Christ and it was written hundreds of years before his birth.
I am so thankful that our faith, which is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see, is also given these encouragements. We are to love God with our mind, body and soul. We can investigate and think through what it is we believe because God is truth. Thinking and being a Christian are not juxtaposed; in fact we are to study to show ourselves approved (2 Timothy). We should have a grasp of what we believe and why- not that we will ever have all the answers, but because God does. My faith does not depend on scrolls found in 1947 but it is further supported by them, (and by other archeological finds) and for that I am glad.
Dead Sea
After a hot, busy day we were transported via bus to the Dead Sea. Running short on time, the ladies decided to kick the men off the bus, close the curtains and use the bus as our changing room. You can imagine our surprise when in the middle of changing, our bus started moving. Those of us in the back did not hear the announcement, but apparently our bus was in the way, so our guide had opened the front door enough to announce- “Josi (short for Joseph) has to move the bus, he won’t look.” As the bus started rolling it was too late to do anything but finish the process that had already started. There was much giggling and comments about joining Josi’s harem, as we ducked behind bus seats and finished changing.
The Dead Sea was unlike any other water I had ever been in. As I went out deeper into the water, I felt like a bobber. I could literally stand straight up without my feet touching the bottom. You could float and spiral with no effort. Many cosmetic companies sell the minerals found in the Dead Sea as beauty treatments. So we wiped the mud on our arms, chest, back and face to enjoy the mineral benefits. I found my face burning in a short amount of time so I had to rinse fairly quickly, but the skin on my arms did feel smooth after. So although not good for drinking or washing, the Dead Sea is great for floating.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Day 6
Jerusalem means, “they will see peace”: Ironic name given the continuous political turmoil of the country. Jerusalem has over 70 different names including Zion, which means ‘place that is marked by God’. Jerusalem is also mentioned 700 times in the Bible. A couple of other tidbits that I found interesting: Everywhere you go in Jerusalem you can see the golden dome which is an Islamic shrine, placed on top of the dome of the rock/ Mt. Moriah. Mount Moriah is where Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac until God provided another sacrifice. This was the location of the first and second temple. Muslims believe this is the place where Abraham came to sacrifice Ishmael. I never realized that Mohammed never actually came to Mount Moriah. It is considered a sacred place for Muslims because Mohammed had a dream that he leapt from Mt. Moriah into heaven. 2000 years after Abraham this became the place where God once again provided the sacrifice through Jesus.
Our first day in Jerusalem we went to the Mount of Olives, we pictured Jesus’ entry into the city riding his donkey. A horse was used for battle, a donkey for civilian affairs. Palm branches were a ‘patriotic’ symbol used by the people to honor Jesus. Once again as the people looked for a mighty warrior, Jesus came to them humbly, choosing to be the lamb although capable of being the lion. The gate has now been concreted in as if that can somehow stop the lion from returning.
At the Garden of Gethsemane we sat at the stairs of a beautiful catholic church which overlooked a busy road, past that a Muslim cemetery, and past that the eastern gate. From this vantage point I realized for the first time, that Jesus would have seen the guards coming for him. The lands from the garden of Gethsemane sloped gently down and then back up, so you could clearly see straight to the gate. As he prayed the three times, I wonder if when he came back to wake the disciples, he saw them coming. He would have had time to get a head start, to perhaps escape, but we know he prayed “not my will but thine be done”. The area was busy and chaotic with many tourists, buses and cars honking from the street below, but as you entered in to the somber, dark sanctuary there was a reverence. As I tried to reflect on the pain he willingly and knowingly endured, the sweating of blood in the garden, the pain of betrayal, the physical agony of beating and crucifixion I was struck with my own weakness, my own inability to deserve this sacrifice made.
This same day we visited Yad Vashem (Israeli Holocaust museum), again with heavy hearts we walked through the stories of lives ripped apart, lives ended too soon, and while viewing the awful depravity of what mankind is capable of, a few glimpses of light - heroes that risked their own lives to help others. One of the first quotes I read there was “A country is defined not only by what it does, but also by what it tolerates.” As the list of countries that ignored the holocaust was shown, the personal stories were recorded and played on video; personal artifacts from those killed were also displayed. One area did commend those that worked through the underground system to get Jews to safety, but mostly this was a museum of horror and shame. The last room was called the room of names. It was a circular white room with thousands of notebooks lining the walls. Six million names, six million lives with potential, talents, skills, abilities, and relationships gone. I know that evil exists. I know we are capable of it directly, but also we must know we are capable of it indirectly when we do not stand up to injustice. As I stood in the room of names, grieving the injustice, I still knew, God knows their names.
As a little girl I remember reading Corrie Ten Boom books at my grandmother’s house. So many beautiful, amazing stories she lived through with grace and a desire to be Christ like. While at the museum I learned that she had a tree planted there in her honor. She and her sister had been involved in helping Jews, and when caught had been sent to a concentration camp. On the day that she died, her tree at the holocaust museum also died.
We also visited the Israel Museum, some of which was under renovation. We were able to see a model of the second temple, which started to give me an understanding of the size and scope of the area. We also were able to read about the Dead Sea scrolls that gave us a great introduction for our trip to Qumran the next day.
Our first day in Jerusalem we went to the Mount of Olives, we pictured Jesus’ entry into the city riding his donkey. A horse was used for battle, a donkey for civilian affairs. Palm branches were a ‘patriotic’ symbol used by the people to honor Jesus. Once again as the people looked for a mighty warrior, Jesus came to them humbly, choosing to be the lamb although capable of being the lion. The gate has now been concreted in as if that can somehow stop the lion from returning.
At the Garden of Gethsemane we sat at the stairs of a beautiful catholic church which overlooked a busy road, past that a Muslim cemetery, and past that the eastern gate. From this vantage point I realized for the first time, that Jesus would have seen the guards coming for him. The lands from the garden of Gethsemane sloped gently down and then back up, so you could clearly see straight to the gate. As he prayed the three times, I wonder if when he came back to wake the disciples, he saw them coming. He would have had time to get a head start, to perhaps escape, but we know he prayed “not my will but thine be done”. The area was busy and chaotic with many tourists, buses and cars honking from the street below, but as you entered in to the somber, dark sanctuary there was a reverence. As I tried to reflect on the pain he willingly and knowingly endured, the sweating of blood in the garden, the pain of betrayal, the physical agony of beating and crucifixion I was struck with my own weakness, my own inability to deserve this sacrifice made.
This same day we visited Yad Vashem (Israeli Holocaust museum), again with heavy hearts we walked through the stories of lives ripped apart, lives ended too soon, and while viewing the awful depravity of what mankind is capable of, a few glimpses of light - heroes that risked their own lives to help others. One of the first quotes I read there was “A country is defined not only by what it does, but also by what it tolerates.” As the list of countries that ignored the holocaust was shown, the personal stories were recorded and played on video; personal artifacts from those killed were also displayed. One area did commend those that worked through the underground system to get Jews to safety, but mostly this was a museum of horror and shame. The last room was called the room of names. It was a circular white room with thousands of notebooks lining the walls. Six million names, six million lives with potential, talents, skills, abilities, and relationships gone. I know that evil exists. I know we are capable of it directly, but also we must know we are capable of it indirectly when we do not stand up to injustice. As I stood in the room of names, grieving the injustice, I still knew, God knows their names.
As a little girl I remember reading Corrie Ten Boom books at my grandmother’s house. So many beautiful, amazing stories she lived through with grace and a desire to be Christ like. While at the museum I learned that she had a tree planted there in her honor. She and her sister had been involved in helping Jews, and when caught had been sent to a concentration camp. On the day that she died, her tree at the holocaust museum also died.
We also visited the Israel Museum, some of which was under renovation. We were able to see a model of the second temple, which started to give me an understanding of the size and scope of the area. We also were able to read about the Dead Sea scrolls that gave us a great introduction for our trip to Qumran the next day.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Day 5
We started this day at Belvore. Belvore was the remains of a crusader fortress. Looking down into the moat and walking around the once massive walls with intentional slots for arrows made me think of Lord of the Rings. This was a well-fortified fortress on the top of a mountain. There was a huge water cistern that had once served those living here. Ironically there was a vulture perched a short distance from the building. I couldn’t help but think of the death and destruction that accompanied the crusaders. The history of the crusades is not an area of my expertise, but as a lover of peace, it seems so wrong that killing would occur in the name of Christ. But all the ‘little kids’ agreed it would be a great place for a paintball battle.
Our next stop was Beit Shean. Again it was amazing to think how old this city was. This was the city where Saul and his sons were hung on the wall after they were killed. This city had been rebuilt over 20 times and became the capital of Decapolis. In the 4th and 5th century the city grew to its glory of about 40,000 and housed a mixed population of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. It was very influenced by Rome, housing a theatre, bathhouse that included a fridgedarium, a thriving market area, hippodrome and even public bathrooms (where of course we had to take a picture with appropriate reading material).
As we sat in the impressive theater, Aaron relayed a dream he had the night before. He was sitting in a big church with lots of performances going on- magicians, performers; almost a cirque de sole feel. An actress comes to his seat and whispers in his ear- “You have to play your part”. He replies “What??” Again she says, “You have to play your part.” As he starts to rise out of his seat the dream ends.
I have grown up basically in church settings and have often heard the term hypocrite. It’s become a churchy term. But when Jesus used this word, it was used in the theatre. It was the word that we today would use for actor: A person that loves applause, a person that pretends to be someone else. Matthew 6:1-18 talks about the need to do things for God and not for show, not to gain applause or get credit in the eyes of others. Matthew 23 harshly judges those that do not practice what they preach. An ongoing challenge of the church as we try to reach out, try to be relevant, trying to bring people in; are we putting on a show or glorifying God? Who is truly our audience? In the movie Gladiator there is the much-quoted line “Are you not entertained?” If our purpose is for the audience of One how would that change our service? How would it change my own worship? Even when I am singing on the worship team at church, how difficult it is to focus simply on Christ rather than how the music sounds or if my vocals are blending or if anyone in the congregation seems to be enjoying it. I know the pure heart singing for God is more blessed than perfect harmony, but also harder to obtain and sustain.
As we walked around the ruins and up onto the hilltop, it was hot, hot and dry. Almost all of the ruins we visited were hot and dry. The once filled cisterns were empty, the once filled pools and bathhouses dry. The absence of water reinforced the knowledge that this city was dead. The landscape of Israel definitely reinforced and gave new clarity to the idea of Jesus being the living water. Water that is so taken for granted here in Georgia, must be used wisely there. You can tell from the aquaducts and cisterns that water availability was incorporated into the city plans. Anywhere you find a natural spring, this barren dusty land becomes green and lush, a transformation. We visited Harod’s spring next.
Harod’s spring is the location for the story of Gideon. The closer you got to the spring, the more greenery, the more plants and flowers appeared. With large trees nearby there was much needed shade and coolness. As we looked at Judges 6, once again Israel is wandering from God. They are scattered in the mountains, threshing wheat in a winepress because they are in hiding. God speaks to Gideon and calls him “mighty warrior”. Gideon say basically- “who me? not me?”. Gideon sees what he is, but God sees what he will be. Isn’t it cool to think that God doesn’t look at us and see what we see? Makes me wonder what nickname he has for me. God then tells him to (v.25) tear down your father’s alter to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole. So Gideon sneaks about at night and does what God asks. Before God can use Gideon in even bigger ways, he has to take a stand and call God God and deny the false gods. When he is discovered his father defends him saying “Baal can defend himself”. In Chapter 7 we find Gideon now camped with 32,000 men about to wage war with the Midianites. There are 135,000 Midianites giving about 1 Israelite to every 4 Midianites- but God says to Gideon you have too many men. When given the option to leave, Gideon is left with 10,000, now it’s about 1 to 14, but God says to Gideon it is still too many. He gives a test of drinking at the spring, those who lap like dogs are sent home, those that used their hands are kept. 300 were left, 1 Israelite to 450 Midianites. It seems like pretty impossible odds. I think sometimes God wants to put us in a position that we cannot take the credit ourselves. This would have to be God’s intervention for it to be successful. I find it interesting that “harod” means fear. I wonder if those 300 felt fearful knowing they were about to face 135,000. Gideon sneaks down to the enemy camp and hears how they are having nightmares about Israel winning. Gideon comes back and praises God. He praises God even before the actual victory because he knows the victory will come through God. It reminds me that I should be more vigilant in praising God for both past victories and those to come.
We were able to end the afternoon swimming in a beautiful series of natural pools connected by waterfalls. The water was refreshing and the surroundings gorgeous. It looked like a scene out of movie, blue water, trees around the sloping hills, even the lifeguard was a former Olympic diver and did a couple of dives for us. I felt relaxed and refreshed as we boarded the bus and headed toward Jerusalem.
Our next stop was Beit Shean. Again it was amazing to think how old this city was. This was the city where Saul and his sons were hung on the wall after they were killed. This city had been rebuilt over 20 times and became the capital of Decapolis. In the 4th and 5th century the city grew to its glory of about 40,000 and housed a mixed population of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. It was very influenced by Rome, housing a theatre, bathhouse that included a fridgedarium, a thriving market area, hippodrome and even public bathrooms (where of course we had to take a picture with appropriate reading material).
As we sat in the impressive theater, Aaron relayed a dream he had the night before. He was sitting in a big church with lots of performances going on- magicians, performers; almost a cirque de sole feel. An actress comes to his seat and whispers in his ear- “You have to play your part”. He replies “What??” Again she says, “You have to play your part.” As he starts to rise out of his seat the dream ends.
I have grown up basically in church settings and have often heard the term hypocrite. It’s become a churchy term. But when Jesus used this word, it was used in the theatre. It was the word that we today would use for actor: A person that loves applause, a person that pretends to be someone else. Matthew 6:1-18 talks about the need to do things for God and not for show, not to gain applause or get credit in the eyes of others. Matthew 23 harshly judges those that do not practice what they preach. An ongoing challenge of the church as we try to reach out, try to be relevant, trying to bring people in; are we putting on a show or glorifying God? Who is truly our audience? In the movie Gladiator there is the much-quoted line “Are you not entertained?” If our purpose is for the audience of One how would that change our service? How would it change my own worship? Even when I am singing on the worship team at church, how difficult it is to focus simply on Christ rather than how the music sounds or if my vocals are blending or if anyone in the congregation seems to be enjoying it. I know the pure heart singing for God is more blessed than perfect harmony, but also harder to obtain and sustain.
As we walked around the ruins and up onto the hilltop, it was hot, hot and dry. Almost all of the ruins we visited were hot and dry. The once filled cisterns were empty, the once filled pools and bathhouses dry. The absence of water reinforced the knowledge that this city was dead. The landscape of Israel definitely reinforced and gave new clarity to the idea of Jesus being the living water. Water that is so taken for granted here in Georgia, must be used wisely there. You can tell from the aquaducts and cisterns that water availability was incorporated into the city plans. Anywhere you find a natural spring, this barren dusty land becomes green and lush, a transformation. We visited Harod’s spring next.
Harod’s spring is the location for the story of Gideon. The closer you got to the spring, the more greenery, the more plants and flowers appeared. With large trees nearby there was much needed shade and coolness. As we looked at Judges 6, once again Israel is wandering from God. They are scattered in the mountains, threshing wheat in a winepress because they are in hiding. God speaks to Gideon and calls him “mighty warrior”. Gideon say basically- “who me? not me?”. Gideon sees what he is, but God sees what he will be. Isn’t it cool to think that God doesn’t look at us and see what we see? Makes me wonder what nickname he has for me. God then tells him to (v.25) tear down your father’s alter to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole. So Gideon sneaks about at night and does what God asks. Before God can use Gideon in even bigger ways, he has to take a stand and call God God and deny the false gods. When he is discovered his father defends him saying “Baal can defend himself”. In Chapter 7 we find Gideon now camped with 32,000 men about to wage war with the Midianites. There are 135,000 Midianites giving about 1 Israelite to every 4 Midianites- but God says to Gideon you have too many men. When given the option to leave, Gideon is left with 10,000, now it’s about 1 to 14, but God says to Gideon it is still too many. He gives a test of drinking at the spring, those who lap like dogs are sent home, those that used their hands are kept. 300 were left, 1 Israelite to 450 Midianites. It seems like pretty impossible odds. I think sometimes God wants to put us in a position that we cannot take the credit ourselves. This would have to be God’s intervention for it to be successful. I find it interesting that “harod” means fear. I wonder if those 300 felt fearful knowing they were about to face 135,000. Gideon sneaks down to the enemy camp and hears how they are having nightmares about Israel winning. Gideon comes back and praises God. He praises God even before the actual victory because he knows the victory will come through God. It reminds me that I should be more vigilant in praising God for both past victories and those to come.
We were able to end the afternoon swimming in a beautiful series of natural pools connected by waterfalls. The water was refreshing and the surroundings gorgeous. It looked like a scene out of movie, blue water, trees around the sloping hills, even the lifeguard was a former Olympic diver and did a couple of dives for us. I felt relaxed and refreshed as we boarded the bus and headed toward Jerusalem.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Day 4
Sepphoris- Zippori- “bird”
During the reign of King Agrippa II, Sepphoris was the capital of Galilee. From the top of a building where there was an explanation of the mishna (6 commentaries on the torah) you could see where Nazareth would have been. Through the ruins you could still see the original roads that went through the center of town. There were detailed mosaics covering the floors of public buildings. We walked through the main building which was thought to have belonged to a wealthy Jewish family- yet you see the influence of the Roman culture in their floors. Greek images such as Hercules and pictures of people- the “Mona Lisa of Israel”. In orthodox homes no graven images are allowed so you would not have seen pictures of faces. The question becomes were they compromising their beliefs? Was it simply going with the current fashions and trends? A clear reminder of how difficult it is to stay true to your own culture in a multicultural world, or to be in the world but not of it. As Jesus was being raised in the small town of Nazareth, this was the neighboring ‘big city’. When the revolt against Rome occurred and the subsequent burning of the second temple, many of the Jews had escaped to Sepphoris. It became a thriving center, experiencing economic growth. It is thought that Joseph and Jesus probably worked here as builders before Jesus started his ministry. We spent some time here reflecting on what Jesus’ childhood would have been like.
Aaron gave us some things to consider while there:
We know Nazareth at that time was a tiny town, the kind of place everyone knows about everyone’s business. Mary gets pregnant out of wedlock. Joseph marries her after the angel appears to him, but still everyone knows. We don’t know if he was teased by other kids, if he was looked down on or maybe pitied for his parent’s ‘mistake’. When we do get a glimpse of him at 12, he is in the synagogue. In that time, education is based on ability. If you had an aptitude, you would be placed under a rabbi to continue your education. Jesus clearly has an aptitude, as the rabbis were amazed at his understanding and answers (Luke 2:47), so why did he not train under a rabbi? Did he have to go help support his family since they were not wealthy? We don’t know when he knew he was the messiah. We don’t know what Mary told him. Maybe he always knew, maybe the voice at his baptism was his confirmation. We do know that as he entered into the wilderness in his temptation and confrontation with Satan, he asked “If you are the son of God…” Was this a play on doubts, the struggle of identity, the questioning of who are you in God? Jesus was fully human; he experienced struggles and pain (Phil 2).
Frank talked about the parable in Luke 19:11-15. This parable paralleled an actual ‘current event’ that was happening at that time. Herod had died and his sons had gone to contest the will. There was a Jewish delegation that followed in an attempt to prevent Archelaus from ruling. This would have been part of the ‘talk of the town’. Jesus used contemporary events and culture to teach. He drew on words from the theatre (hypocrite) to demonstrate spiritual applications. Jesus knew what was going on in the world around him and used it artfully to engage the attention of those around him.
I also learned about the different books used in Judaism. The Torah- the first 5 books of our old testament, is called the law. The Tenauch is the Jewish Bible, which includes the books through Psalms, and a few others from what we call the Old Testament. The Mishna and Talmud were written later after Jesus. These gave some redirection in Jewish thought after the loss of the second temple. So much of the Jewish religion had centered around the dwelling place of God- the holy of holies, there had to be some restructuring due to the missing structure. Many Jews did not know what to do after the destruction of the temple so rabbis wrote interpretations of the Torah meant to guide and direct. But there can never be a replacement for the original scriptures. Even today while commentaries can be a useful tool, we must look to the scriptures ourselves. I must use scripture to understand and explain other scriptures. I must not become lazy and rely solely on what someone else thinks.
Nazareth Village
This was Colonial Williamsburg, Nazareth style. We entered an area that replicated what life would have been like 2000 years ago. It started through a gate that had a much smaller door within called the ‘eye of the needle’. Once you entered you were transported into a rural area, we walked along the dirt path looking at the wheat field and beautiful wild flowers. We were able to see the tools that would have been used at that time to cut down the wheat and sift the grain. We saw young shepherd boys trying to keep the goats in a pen. There was a wine press in a rocky area, terraces set up for crops, olive trees and an olive press, as well as a millstone. The oil lamps that would have been used at that time were demonstrated and we even received a replica. There was a demonstration of common tools used in that time to create thread and then weave it into material. A gentleman showed us the manual version of the electric drill. We walked through what would have been a house of that time. Again as Jesus used common objects in his teachings, it gave new insights as you learn how weighty a millstone is.
As we entered the synagogue we read through Luke 4:14-30, where Jesus reads Isaiah 61:1 but leaves out ‘day of vengeance’. Jesus was briefly accepted until verse 24- “no prophet is accepted in his hometown”. He points out that while there were many widows in Elijah’s time during the famine, Elijah was sent to Zarephath in Sidon; and while there were many with leprosy in the time of Elisha only Naaman the Syrian was cleansed. In context this was pointing out the places where God had extended mercy to non-Jews. Jesus is basically saying- I am not here for you. The Jewish understanding of the messiah was that of a powerful ruler that would be there for them. They wanted their day of vengeance against Rome, but God had other plans. How often do we want what we want and fail to see God’s love for those ‘other people”? Those other people, those not as nice, not as respectable, not as hardworking, not as smart, not as good in our mind. But God loves us all. He loves that other as much as you and me.
Mt. Tabor
Judges 4 tells part of the story of Deborah. I have to input that as a woman, I am so grateful for her story. Deborah was a leader/judge of Israel. Barak was the commander God had summoned to go to Mt. Tabor and defeat Sisera, but he says- “I will go if you go” to Deborah. She says- if I go, the honor will not be yours, it will go to a woman. So she goes, a woman named Jael kills the commander of the enemy, and God gives Israel the victory, and then peace for 40 years. I guess growing up in a Baptist background, I always felt like I was limited in what I could do through the church because of my gender. But I am not limited in what I can do through God.
Some believe the transfiguration of Jesus also took place on Mt. Tabor, although others believe it was Mt. Hermon. Regardless of where it happened, the disciples present would never see Jesus the same again. I can’t help but think of the Matrix- not in context, only in visual effect, when Neo dives into the agent and then there is a burst of light as he breaks through. I can’t imagine what it must have been like as the disciples got a small glimpse of God’s glory. Glory is shown through light. Revelation talks about there will be no need for the sun because of the light of God’s glory. Moses was present representing the law, Elijah there representing miracles, Jesus directly in the center representing God. Our challenge is to stay with Jesus and remain in balance between legalism and signs/wonders. The beauty of God’s radiance had to be amazing to see. “Most often light comes not as people would like- such as pure light spread sky-wide in bright neon dazzle- but refracted through an altogether different prism, one simultaneously more ambiguous and more personal, by means of touch or embrace, image or sign, glimpse or gaze, sound or music, beauty or horror, meeting or coincidence, forgiveness or blessing. The means are endless and always as new and unique as people themselves. In other words, when the divine does appear, it proves endlessly inventive and astonishing in the instruments of its showing” (G.M. Hopkins- as quoted in Critique).
During the reign of King Agrippa II, Sepphoris was the capital of Galilee. From the top of a building where there was an explanation of the mishna (6 commentaries on the torah) you could see where Nazareth would have been. Through the ruins you could still see the original roads that went through the center of town. There were detailed mosaics covering the floors of public buildings. We walked through the main building which was thought to have belonged to a wealthy Jewish family- yet you see the influence of the Roman culture in their floors. Greek images such as Hercules and pictures of people- the “Mona Lisa of Israel”. In orthodox homes no graven images are allowed so you would not have seen pictures of faces. The question becomes were they compromising their beliefs? Was it simply going with the current fashions and trends? A clear reminder of how difficult it is to stay true to your own culture in a multicultural world, or to be in the world but not of it. As Jesus was being raised in the small town of Nazareth, this was the neighboring ‘big city’. When the revolt against Rome occurred and the subsequent burning of the second temple, many of the Jews had escaped to Sepphoris. It became a thriving center, experiencing economic growth. It is thought that Joseph and Jesus probably worked here as builders before Jesus started his ministry. We spent some time here reflecting on what Jesus’ childhood would have been like.
Aaron gave us some things to consider while there:
We know Nazareth at that time was a tiny town, the kind of place everyone knows about everyone’s business. Mary gets pregnant out of wedlock. Joseph marries her after the angel appears to him, but still everyone knows. We don’t know if he was teased by other kids, if he was looked down on or maybe pitied for his parent’s ‘mistake’. When we do get a glimpse of him at 12, he is in the synagogue. In that time, education is based on ability. If you had an aptitude, you would be placed under a rabbi to continue your education. Jesus clearly has an aptitude, as the rabbis were amazed at his understanding and answers (Luke 2:47), so why did he not train under a rabbi? Did he have to go help support his family since they were not wealthy? We don’t know when he knew he was the messiah. We don’t know what Mary told him. Maybe he always knew, maybe the voice at his baptism was his confirmation. We do know that as he entered into the wilderness in his temptation and confrontation with Satan, he asked “If you are the son of God…” Was this a play on doubts, the struggle of identity, the questioning of who are you in God? Jesus was fully human; he experienced struggles and pain (Phil 2).
Frank talked about the parable in Luke 19:11-15. This parable paralleled an actual ‘current event’ that was happening at that time. Herod had died and his sons had gone to contest the will. There was a Jewish delegation that followed in an attempt to prevent Archelaus from ruling. This would have been part of the ‘talk of the town’. Jesus used contemporary events and culture to teach. He drew on words from the theatre (hypocrite) to demonstrate spiritual applications. Jesus knew what was going on in the world around him and used it artfully to engage the attention of those around him.
I also learned about the different books used in Judaism. The Torah- the first 5 books of our old testament, is called the law. The Tenauch is the Jewish Bible, which includes the books through Psalms, and a few others from what we call the Old Testament. The Mishna and Talmud were written later after Jesus. These gave some redirection in Jewish thought after the loss of the second temple. So much of the Jewish religion had centered around the dwelling place of God- the holy of holies, there had to be some restructuring due to the missing structure. Many Jews did not know what to do after the destruction of the temple so rabbis wrote interpretations of the Torah meant to guide and direct. But there can never be a replacement for the original scriptures. Even today while commentaries can be a useful tool, we must look to the scriptures ourselves. I must use scripture to understand and explain other scriptures. I must not become lazy and rely solely on what someone else thinks.
Nazareth Village
This was Colonial Williamsburg, Nazareth style. We entered an area that replicated what life would have been like 2000 years ago. It started through a gate that had a much smaller door within called the ‘eye of the needle’. Once you entered you were transported into a rural area, we walked along the dirt path looking at the wheat field and beautiful wild flowers. We were able to see the tools that would have been used at that time to cut down the wheat and sift the grain. We saw young shepherd boys trying to keep the goats in a pen. There was a wine press in a rocky area, terraces set up for crops, olive trees and an olive press, as well as a millstone. The oil lamps that would have been used at that time were demonstrated and we even received a replica. There was a demonstration of common tools used in that time to create thread and then weave it into material. A gentleman showed us the manual version of the electric drill. We walked through what would have been a house of that time. Again as Jesus used common objects in his teachings, it gave new insights as you learn how weighty a millstone is.
As we entered the synagogue we read through Luke 4:14-30, where Jesus reads Isaiah 61:1 but leaves out ‘day of vengeance’. Jesus was briefly accepted until verse 24- “no prophet is accepted in his hometown”. He points out that while there were many widows in Elijah’s time during the famine, Elijah was sent to Zarephath in Sidon; and while there were many with leprosy in the time of Elisha only Naaman the Syrian was cleansed. In context this was pointing out the places where God had extended mercy to non-Jews. Jesus is basically saying- I am not here for you. The Jewish understanding of the messiah was that of a powerful ruler that would be there for them. They wanted their day of vengeance against Rome, but God had other plans. How often do we want what we want and fail to see God’s love for those ‘other people”? Those other people, those not as nice, not as respectable, not as hardworking, not as smart, not as good in our mind. But God loves us all. He loves that other as much as you and me.
Mt. Tabor
Judges 4 tells part of the story of Deborah. I have to input that as a woman, I am so grateful for her story. Deborah was a leader/judge of Israel. Barak was the commander God had summoned to go to Mt. Tabor and defeat Sisera, but he says- “I will go if you go” to Deborah. She says- if I go, the honor will not be yours, it will go to a woman. So she goes, a woman named Jael kills the commander of the enemy, and God gives Israel the victory, and then peace for 40 years. I guess growing up in a Baptist background, I always felt like I was limited in what I could do through the church because of my gender. But I am not limited in what I can do through God.
Some believe the transfiguration of Jesus also took place on Mt. Tabor, although others believe it was Mt. Hermon. Regardless of where it happened, the disciples present would never see Jesus the same again. I can’t help but think of the Matrix- not in context, only in visual effect, when Neo dives into the agent and then there is a burst of light as he breaks through. I can’t imagine what it must have been like as the disciples got a small glimpse of God’s glory. Glory is shown through light. Revelation talks about there will be no need for the sun because of the light of God’s glory. Moses was present representing the law, Elijah there representing miracles, Jesus directly in the center representing God. Our challenge is to stay with Jesus and remain in balance between legalism and signs/wonders. The beauty of God’s radiance had to be amazing to see. “Most often light comes not as people would like- such as pure light spread sky-wide in bright neon dazzle- but refracted through an altogether different prism, one simultaneously more ambiguous and more personal, by means of touch or embrace, image or sign, glimpse or gaze, sound or music, beauty or horror, meeting or coincidence, forgiveness or blessing. The means are endless and always as new and unique as people themselves. In other words, when the divine does appear, it proves endlessly inventive and astonishing in the instruments of its showing” (G.M. Hopkins- as quoted in Critique).
Day 3 part 2
Day 3 continued…
After walking through the beautiful ‘garden of Eden’ like forest, shaded by trees, hearing the roar of the Jordan River, we came to a clearing. We could see clearly into the neighboring country of Lebanon. From the perch here you could see the border that divided one country from another. What a contrast between our peaceful atmosphere and the constant political turmoil of the region. There is a constant threat of war and the need to always be prepared. How like our own spiritual lives- even when we are on a mountaintop enjoying God’s beauty and peace, we must still be vigilant for spiritual attacks. We must guard against thinking it is our own power, for thinking we are somehow deserving, for thinking we are in control. It is God who gives and it is God who takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.
Caesarea Philippi
My first impression of this place was the huge rock and cave. This gaping opening in the rocky mountainside where once the Jordan River flowed through was now devoid of the water, which flowed below. This was once a site of pagan worship. Greeks paid homage to Pan here, and later many other idols of deities were given prominent places alongside this opening. This place was referred to as the gate to the underworld. Worship here included animal and child sacrifices. In the once polytheistic culture you could come here and pick your idol on the rock wall. In Matthew 16:13 Jesus comes here with his disciples. “Who do you say I am?” he asks the disciples. After pointing out what various other people say about Jesus, Peter steps up in verse 16- “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Verse 17-18 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” So looking at this giant rock known then as the gate of the underworld, Jesus lays claim. I heard this in a Ray Vanderline video also but listening to the verse again while seeing this massive rock was a powerful testimony to Christ’s intent. “The gates of Hades will not overcome it”. If a gate is designed to be defensive, to keep people in and out, we are on the offensive. We are to be on the attack against Satan’s kingdom bringing people into Christ’s kingdom.
Mt. Bental
Our last stop for the day, we talked about Israel more recent struggles and political turmoil. We could see and walk through the bunkers used. I was impacted most by seeing so many casually dressed young men, late teens to early twenties, in shorts and tees, with a machine gun strapped around their chest. Military service is not optional in this small country. They take their training seriously and the need to be ready – always training, always ready.
At the end of the day thinking through the various places and stories I found myself once again struck by the necessity of perseverance in faith, and the need to overcome fear. I tried to reflect on the promises given in scripture and wrote a few down (these were off the top of my head- not a conclusive list and totally from memory- so if you are looking for accuracy dig in to your bible to find them ☺)
In Isaiah- I have never seen the righteous forsaken.
In Jeremiah- I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
In Philippians- I can do all things through Christ.
In John- I can do nothing apart from God.
Just a few promises in a bible filled with encouragement for choosing faith, for the power and love of an immense God that still cares for His creation. Pretty good stuff to live your life by, I think.
After walking through the beautiful ‘garden of Eden’ like forest, shaded by trees, hearing the roar of the Jordan River, we came to a clearing. We could see clearly into the neighboring country of Lebanon. From the perch here you could see the border that divided one country from another. What a contrast between our peaceful atmosphere and the constant political turmoil of the region. There is a constant threat of war and the need to always be prepared. How like our own spiritual lives- even when we are on a mountaintop enjoying God’s beauty and peace, we must still be vigilant for spiritual attacks. We must guard against thinking it is our own power, for thinking we are somehow deserving, for thinking we are in control. It is God who gives and it is God who takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.
Caesarea Philippi
My first impression of this place was the huge rock and cave. This gaping opening in the rocky mountainside where once the Jordan River flowed through was now devoid of the water, which flowed below. This was once a site of pagan worship. Greeks paid homage to Pan here, and later many other idols of deities were given prominent places alongside this opening. This place was referred to as the gate to the underworld. Worship here included animal and child sacrifices. In the once polytheistic culture you could come here and pick your idol on the rock wall. In Matthew 16:13 Jesus comes here with his disciples. “Who do you say I am?” he asks the disciples. After pointing out what various other people say about Jesus, Peter steps up in verse 16- “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Verse 17-18 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” So looking at this giant rock known then as the gate of the underworld, Jesus lays claim. I heard this in a Ray Vanderline video also but listening to the verse again while seeing this massive rock was a powerful testimony to Christ’s intent. “The gates of Hades will not overcome it”. If a gate is designed to be defensive, to keep people in and out, we are on the offensive. We are to be on the attack against Satan’s kingdom bringing people into Christ’s kingdom.
Mt. Bental
Our last stop for the day, we talked about Israel more recent struggles and political turmoil. We could see and walk through the bunkers used. I was impacted most by seeing so many casually dressed young men, late teens to early twenties, in shorts and tees, with a machine gun strapped around their chest. Military service is not optional in this small country. They take their training seriously and the need to be ready – always training, always ready.
At the end of the day thinking through the various places and stories I found myself once again struck by the necessity of perseverance in faith, and the need to overcome fear. I tried to reflect on the promises given in scripture and wrote a few down (these were off the top of my head- not a conclusive list and totally from memory- so if you are looking for accuracy dig in to your bible to find them ☺)
In Isaiah- I have never seen the righteous forsaken.
In Jeremiah- I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
In Philippians- I can do all things through Christ.
In John- I can do nothing apart from God.
Just a few promises in a bible filled with encouragement for choosing faith, for the power and love of an immense God that still cares for His creation. Pretty good stuff to live your life by, I think.
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