In the time of Jesus

Today we started the day in Qatzrin to see how people lived in the time of Jesus. While we gathered in a typical house of that time, Rich recounted the story from Mark 2 about the paralytic whose friends lowered him through the ceiling because it was so crowded in the house. As all 50 of us crowded into this room we imagined the scene with Jesus teaching and people crowding in around him. The friends of the paralytic were so desperate to bring him to Jesus that they broke through the roof and lowered him down. Jesus allowed the roof to be destroyed and this was no easy task, as these roofs were solidly constructed. We carried away the story of the faith of these friends and how Jesus first forgave the man’s sin and then healed him.

Then we continued on to the Golan Heights where we looked right at the Syrian border. Our most excellent tour guide, Ronen, gave us a lot of historical and current history about the region and I feel better informed about Israel and its neighbors.

At our next stop in Caesarea Philippi Pastor Doug taught about the significance of that place. It’s where Peter acknowledged Christ as the Messiah. Here in this place of pagan beliefs Peter exclaims, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus Messiah!!!

To culminate the day we gathered at the Jordan River to witness the baptisms of a handful of our group by Pastor Doug. Still can’t believe that I stood in the Jordan.

Clem