3 Nights by the Sea of Galilee

For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste.  - Isaiah 60:12

By the grace of God, we made it!  (At the Synagogue in Chorazine)

On the way to our hotel from the airport our bus drives near the Palestinian border.  The Israeli military and police are one and the same, walking around armed with powerful guns.  It amazes me as our guide, Juda, impresses on us the fact that 8 million Israelis are able to fend off 1000 million Palestinians.  God's hand must be at work.

It is the Year of Jubilee in Israel (Leviticus 25:8-55).  It also amazes me that the Jewish people are still observing a 3000 year old Law.  Where is Rome?  Where is Babylon?  The Jewish people were scattered throughout the world and had no independent country until May 14th, 1948.  Never before in the history of humanity has anything like this happened, that a people, a couple thousand years later, come back together and still maintain their same culture.

By the time we arrive at our hotel (The Scots in lower Tiberias, located 600 feet below sea level) we are a half hour too late for dinner.  However, the staff makes an exception for us and keeps the buffet going.  I just want to say, that the food is so good here, I would travel to Israel just to eat it.  I may be exaggerating but you get my point.


Whether because of jet lag or excitement or strange dreams, I get only 2 or 3 hours of sleep the first night in Israel.  The next morning we enjoy a magnificent breakfast and then load onto the bus.  It was dark when we arrived so now is my first opportunity to get a good look at the Sea of Galilee.  Wow.  I'm really here.  So many times I thought I would not get to be here, even going back to when my then wife and I separated.  Yet here I stand, in the Promise Land.  Praise God!

Our guide gives us each a transmitter which is to be set to channel 33.  I find that ironic.  Our guide, Juda, has a wealth of knowledge that he shares with us.  Trying to take it all in is like trying to get a drink from a fire hose.  He is also hilarious.

The Valley of Armageddon

Our first site is the top of Mount Carmel, over 1700 feet above sea level.  Once at the top we have an amazing view of the Valley of Megiddo.

Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. -Revelation 16:16-18

Mount Carmel is the location where Elijah dueled the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:16-40).  God proved himself by burning up the offering, the rock, and the water.  All the prophets of Baal were then slaughtered.  In that story God proved Himself.  I reflect on how God has proven Himself in the valleys of my life.  2013 was easily the worst year of my life.  But my God guided me and built me up.  He led me to trust Him.  And now, in 2014, I am on the adventure of a lifetime as he unveils the Promise Land to me, and in so doing, Himself.  Has God proven Himself to you in the midst of a difficult season?

Nazareth

Next, we journey to Nazareth, Jesus' home town.

"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.  -John 1:46

We make our way through a street market on our way to the Synagogue where Jesus read the scrolls of Isaiah.  There were anti-Christian signs along this route.  I did not hide the cross around my neck.

"Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.  -Matthew 10:32-33

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  -Luke 4:18-21

All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.  -Luke 4:28-30

When Jesus returned to his home town of Nazareth he was rejected by his family and friends.  They even attempted to throw him off the cliff above.  I can relate.  At the same time that I had a revival in my life, my wife rejected Christ from her life.  She hated the light that she saw in me, and started having an affair.  There are even friends that have pushed away from me now that they see that God is first and foremost in my life.  If you are experiencing this kind of rejection, take heart, for your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ suffered the same rejection.  Don't let it keep you from fully serving Him.

Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home."  -Mark 6:4

Capernaum

The Synagogue in Capernaum is just one of a couple of places that historians know for certain that Jesus walked.  Jesus was the Rabbi of this Synagogue.

And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbath; and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority. In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm. And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, “What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.” And the report about Him was spreading into every locality in the surrounding district.  -Luke 4:31-37

According to Juda this is the only accurate depiction of the Ark of the Covenant on the face of the Earth.

A Menorah (Jewish Candle) can be seen carved into this excavated block that rests to the left of the Synagogue.

Below is an ancient millstone.  Juda explains to us how fisherman in Jesus' time used broken millstones as boat anchors.

"If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.  -Mark 9:42

I need to ask myself, have I ever been a stumbling block to someone on their faith journey?  Have you?

The Sea of Galilee

As I approach the Sea of Galilee I find myself in tears.  Luckily I am wearing sunglasses that hide my eyes.  It's as if it finally hits me where I am and what I am doing.  A feeling of absolute thankfulness and worship sweeps over me, and this is just day one!  The Spirit whispers to my heart, "It gets even better..."

This 2000 year old boat was discovered in 1984.

Before boarding our boat, I climb down the rocks and fill a bottle with water from the Sea of Galilee.  I plan to do this same thing at the Jordan River and the Dead Sea.  Winds whip us as we venture out onto the Sea of Galilee.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

-Matthew 14:25-33

The view of Tiberias from the Sea of Galilee.

Mark and I float on the Sea of Galilee on our way back to the hotel.  I can't convince Mark to get out of the boat and walk on the water.  If only he had more faith...

Sometimes Jesus calms the storms of our life.  Sometimes he comes out and meets us in them.  But those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose will not be left to drown.  The Lord did not take away my pain right away, He instead tested my faith and taught me many lessons through my suffering.  His will is so much wiser than mine.  What storms in your life has Jesus come out to meet you in?  How great is our God?

After just one day of exploring Israel I already feel like I have been here a week.  Or maybe even my whole life.  It's hard to explain.  I'm having a hard time sleeping here; I'm too excited and add to that the jet lag.  But there's something else.  I've been having strange and vivid dreams ever since I boarded the bus to New York.  Now that I'm in Israel the dreams have ramped-up.  The dreams are too long and too unusual to write out.  After the first night of exploring, I slept for an hour and a half.  I awoke feeling completely rejuvenated and thinking I had slept a full night - but I hadn't.  Then something compelled me, "Rise.  Write."  So I did.

Chorazin

Day 2 begins with a trip 3000 feet above sea level to the city of Chorazin, another city where Jesus was the head Rabbi (along with Capernaum & Bethsaida).  It's amazing to me to think of Jesus as head Rabbi of these 3 places all at the same time.  There is no other Rabbi in recorded Jewish history who has been under the age of 40 and unmarried.  They obviously recognized that he was something special.  They loved Him.  They came to Him for teaching.  But his followers in these three cities fell short in a pretty big way.  They failed to acknowledge Him as the Messiah.

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.  -Luke 10:13-14

A Mikveh, or Jewish purification bath. It was used to cleanse one's self for the Shabbat.

A Beit Midrash (A Jewish school where people could ask questions about the Law).

The Synagogue of Chorazin, yet another Synagogue where Jesus was the Rabbi.

As I walk the streets of Chorazin I try to imagine myself in the first century.  If Jesus were here now, what would He say to me?  Would I listen?  Would I hold back?  Would I only accept Him part way?  Or would I give myself fully to Him?  I went through a lot of trouble to get to Israel.  I decided to travel to Israel because I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah.  I give myself fully to you, God.  Have you given yourself fully to Christ?  Fully?

Our guide, Juda, sits on the seat of Moses within the Synagogue.

"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.  -Matthew 23:2-3

Tel Dan

The tribe of Dan was located in the far north of the nation of Israel.  The Dan River is one of three sources that supply the Jordan River.  This water begins as snow and filters through Mount Hermon for 3 years (a.k.a. the Mount of Transfiguration).  The cool thing about this water is that it is pristine at this point and drinkable.  We gladly fill our water bottles with drinking water and start our hike northward.

Juda assists members of our team fill their water bottles.

Jordan means "From Dan."  As the water flows from Dan to the Jordan River and then to the Sea of Galilee, the water is young, so to speak.  Then, the water continues south through the Jordan River and ends in the Dead Sea.  Like our eternal life through Christ, the water does not die there.  Instead it evaporates and comes down in the north as snow, and is thus reborn.

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  -John 4:13-14

This location has several stories about people living just outside God's law.  Abram came here to rescue Lot from his folly (Genesis 14), King Jehu killed the Baal Worshipers here (2 Kings 10:25-28), and King Jeroboam set one of his two golden calves here.

After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.  -1 Kings 12:28-30

One of Jeroboam's golden calves was worshiped at the top of this staircase.  The alter for burnt offerings would have been in front of the stairs.

Jeroboam's motive was not for worship of the one true God.  No, he was looking to maintain his political power and stay on the throne.  As I think of Jeroboam, Lot, and the Israelites that have abandoned God for false idols I cannot help but think of my friends and family who are on the outside of God's will.  In Chorazine I thought about myself and whether or not I was in right standing.  My thoughts drift now to those I love.  I'm thankful to have so many many friends that have accepted and revel in God's promises.  But what about those who have strayed?  How has God asked me to pursue them?  It's not fun to think about what has gone down in Tel Dan, but these stories can still encourage us.  Has God encouraged you to pursue anyone?

Caesarea Philippi

To get to Caesarea Philippi, the most northern part of Israel, our bus has to drive between two old Syrian landmine fields.  Even today, the region nearby is in conflict.  Our bus stops 35 miles outside of Damascus and I am able to snap a photo of smoke rising into the air from the civil war raging in Syria.

The Syrian civil war rages on.

Like Tel Dan, Caesarea Philippi serves as one of the three sources of the Jordan River.

Up until about 150 years ago, this cave roared with water.  But, an earth quake changed all that.  Now the water flows from a lower section of the mountain.

This cave has a dark past.  This whole area was used for pagan worship, particularly to the false god Pan.  This is the deity that looked like a half-man half-goat (Satyr).  Followers of Pan would use this cave, known as the Gates of Hell, to make their sacrifice.  Babies would be thrown into the roaring water of the cave.  If blood appeared in the water downstream, the sacrifice was NOT accepted, and another baby would have to be thrown in.  However, if there was no blood in the water, it meant that the sacrifice had been accepted.  What a creepy place.

The large niche housed the idol for Pan.

Smaller niches also housed false gods.

How ironic, that against this pagan backdrop, Jesus brought His disciples on a retreat in Matthew 16.  They did not come here to preach.  They pulled away to Caesarea Philippi for something significant to happen.  And it did.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, 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. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

-Matthew 16:13-20

I, like Jesus and His disciples, have gone off on a retreat (Israel) hoping that something significant will happen.  The rock is NOT Peter, but rather, Peter's declaration of faith.  I have to ask myself as I walk this place of pagan darkness, who do I say Jesus is?  My heart is full of the Spirit.  He is the Messiah, the Son of the living God!  I praise the Father for revealing this to me!  All these niches built for false gods are empty because they were never anything to begin with.  2000 years later, their followers are gone, too.

Have you ever had something significant happen to you when you've pulled away from your routine and spent some time with the Creator of the Universe?  Have you ever made time to pull away and be with Him?

Caesarea Philippi in the time of Jesus Christ.  This was an area full of pagan temples of worship.

Our group boards the bus and we head south on the Damascus Road.  Yeah, that Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-19).

Tomorrow something significant happens, for tomorrow we are leaving Galilee and heading south where I will be baptized in the Jordan River.

***

On our last night in Galilee, those who are to be baptized the next day are told to meet in the hotel garden at 8:30 PM.  Here, we are given instruction on how the baptisms will play out and the general itinerary.  33 of us are being baptized.  I just turned 33 and walked in the footsteps of Christ, who was crucified at age 33, all the while listening to our tour guide Judas on channel 33 of my transmitter, each day working toward my 33rd blog post in a blog entitled 33 on a trip from June 13th to the 23rd (3 to 3).  Tomorrow, each of the 33 people will deliver 1 or 2 sentences as to the significance of being baptized in the Jordan River.  How can I tell anyone in 2 sentences why I'm being baptized in the Jordan tomorrow?  I've been blogging since February 2013, trying to express why I'm getting baptized tomorrow, and I still have more to say about it.  Maybe they'll let me speak a few more sentences than just 2, perhaps even 31 more.