Who do YOU say that I am?

By: Madison Humphries

Day 5. About halway through the trip and we have now successfully walked/hiked/and swam our way through a lot of Israel. I say swam because yes, we have had the incredible opportunity to swim in the Sea of Galilee and have baptisims in the Jordan River but we have also had our fair share of rain. Today, God was so gracious to give us nice weather and increible sites. How can I adequately explain what the Lord has been teaching me through these people on this trip and through His land? I know that my words will not and cannot do it justice but I am honored to share with you a little of what Jesus taught me today in the same places he taught His diciples many years ago!

Our first site early this morning was a place called Qatzrin. Here, though not a biblical site itself, served as a picture for us of what a beit (or household) looked like in Jesus' day. Matt preached on the passage in Mark 2 where the paralytic man was brought to Jesus by his FRIENDS or his insula (community). Jesus wasn't just impressed with the faith of this man but even more so the faith of his community. These guys were seeking Jesus with URGENCY because they KNEW that He had the power to heal and that He could heal their friend. How often am I begging Christ to heal my friends pain? Not enough. How often am I believing that He WILL heal my friends pain? Not enough. This entire trip has revolutionized my view of community and the importance of it. When Jesus is the object of your faith, you are able to GIVE to your friends and not just take. When He is the object of your faith, your friendships will draw people into His presence. What Grace!

Our next site took us on a decently long hike through woods, mud (always) and gorgeous waterfalls only to come to the top and realize that we were standing in front of the city of Caesarea Philippi. This was crazy to me. I literally stood with my mouth wide open for at least 60 seconds. Matt began to teach and as I have been praying this entire trip, the Lord opened my eyes. Ceasarea Philippi is where we find Jesus and his disciples in Matthew 16 verses 13-28.
Jesus asks Peter, "Who do you say that I am?" and Peter replies; "You are the CHRIST, the SON of the LIVING GOD." He then in verse 24 goes on to tell all of His diciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

These two verses (along with all of the text), I will never read the same again! While there is so much to say about the lessons learned at Caesarea Philippi these two stick out the most:
First, I am NOT the one who gets to decide if Jesus is the Messiah. The Messiah decides if He is the Messiah and because of God's grace alone I get to claim to be the daughter and co-heir to the Messiah's kingdom and ministry. I don't get to decide that He is the Messiah however, I do get to have FAITH that He IS who He says He is AND I get the opportunity to be obedient to Him. Again, grace abounding.

Secondly, as the text continues we see that Peter wants to tell Jesus the way that it needs to be. He did not see it fit that Jesus would go into Jerusalem and die (vs.22) and while this seems noble at first, if you dig deeper into the text one realizes that because of Peters pride he himself wanted to rule and reign for Jesus. The way of victory for Christ was through suffering FIRST and ruling later. Who is Peter to think there is a better way? Who are WE to think there is a better way?

The lesson of Caesarea Philippi is that we MUST follow Christ on His terms and not our own.
This is the lesson of Caesarea Philippi and this is the lesson I will be preaching to myself everyday for the rest of my life. I like to be in control, and yet I declare with my mouth that Jesus Christ is my Lord. Does my demand for control line up with that statement? Hardly.

Our last stop today found us in the city of Dan. Even today, being known as a danite is not a compliment. This place is where idol worship started and unfortunately, idol worship hasn't stopped even today. Dan represents the very world we live in--a fallen place that is currently in exile. Here we talked about how if we don't know who our Savior is and who WE say that He is than this world will give us a declaration of it's own. It's the everyday choices to sin and to choose yourself and comfort over Christ that will ultimately put you in a place like Dan.
Today was a big day for me. For all of us here in Israel. However, one thing is for sure and that is this: the lessons learned today aren't just for this trip and aren't just for us. So my question to you is what are you clenching with your fists today and refusing to give control over to the true Guide, the one true Savior? If you are anything like me, it could be a lot of things. Today I am letting go and tomorrow I will let go again. All the while trusting that it is better to be given a cross handed by God than a crown handed by man.

Today, tomorrow and forevermore I choose to follow Christ into rejection and pain because HE IS LORD and THAT is who I say He is. Father, may I hear Your voice and obey!
Amen? Amen!