The story and the details in the Word of God

As we launched out onto the sea of Galilee for our boat ride it was impossible not to think about the biblical narrative about all the things Jesus did there. He launched his ministry near there. He did not start in Jerusalem, but rather in a strategic location where the Romans had an outpost. He used the surroundings familiar to the disciples to teach them that he is king of all and that the Kingdom of God had arrived. He showed them that he has power over the forces of hell. He was preparing them for the mission that he called them for. The residents of the area--including the disciples--would have believed that the underworld existed within the depths of the sea. Not only did Jesus show them that he was Lord of the underworld and all forces of darkness by walking on the water, but he also showed them by casting the demons into the pigs. They watched them run into the sea back to the underworld from which they came. The creator of the universe had invaded the kingdom of darkness. The kingdom is here! With this historical context, the fact that Peter would attempt to walk on the water is even more amazing to me now. They were being prepared by Jesus and he was giving them confidence, conviction and courage to continue in the Kingdom of God.
--Marvin Johnson 

The best parallel to Solomon's temple in Jerusalem that has been excavated, the largest spring in the entire Middle East, and the first mention of King David outside the Bible—this is what characterizes Tel Dan as one of the most amazing sites we have been to as of yet. The sheer amount of evidence of the temple shrine is overwhelming. The architecture is right as prescribed in the Scriptures. The stairs are in the right place. The doorways are in the right place. There is an ash pit and an altar kit with a mini altar. This was a city that was along the international highway. Colored by commerce and swept up in a Yahweh shrine that became a snare for Israel, the city of Dan and the remains there are a testament to a particular people in a particular land and their relationship with a particular god, the King of Kings, Yahweh. But, there is so much to say about this site, and this is a blog post and not an academic paper. So, onto the next one.

A quick bus ride brought us to Caesarea Philippi, a site not filled with walls, gates, and city structures, but with the idolatry of the region. A temple of Pan, a temple of Zeus, the courtyard of Nemesis, and a possible site for the temple of Augustus, became the backdrop for Jesus' powerful questions: Who do people say that I am? Who do you say that I am? The disciples answer for the people, but Peter answers for eternity: You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. In a region where emperor worship dominated, even 15 years after Caesar Augustus has died, Jesus' question is pointed. Thus, Peter's answer is not just a messianic declaration, it is a rejection of emperor worship and a turn to the true God of the universe.

Then, we arrived at Hazor, a short stop, but a significant one because of a major example of a six-chambered gate. This, along with Megiddo and Gezer strengthens the account of Scripture where Solomon fortified these three cities, making their most vulnerable section, the gate, stronger. Now, the lower city of Hazor was almost entirely underground, having not been excavated. But, the city was enormous, per their estimations. Then, we came across evidence for a Canaanite temple in the middle area of Upper Hazor and evidence of a thorough destruction of said temple was also found. All of this to say that the archaeology of Hazor runs closely parallel to the account of Scripture. It does not prove it, but it gives me more confidence in the story and the details we find in the Word of God.
--Erick Solomon

At times, memory can either be a curse or a blessing, causing us to relive moments of great impact with clarity and lucidity. One of these moments occurred to me while visiting the reconstructed temple at Capernaum. The sun-bleached walls still retained their ancient majesty after thousands of years. The professor stood before her pupils and spoke the first part of a message of healing and life, of Christ in antiquity and in present.

She continued the second part in the basement of a chapel in Magdala. Her background was a painted depiction of the bleeding woman who touched Jesus' robe, lit by electric candlelight. The professor spoke with emotion and conviction, captivating her audience.

Of course, these were just words, weren't they? Words to draw a 2,000-year tear from my eye. Words to become a memory of blessing.
--Taylor Kline