Continuing Our Walk Where Jesus Walked

We began our day early, an hour early to be exact. Our morning wake-up call came an hour earlier than it should have. It was okay with me, I took time to sit on my balcony overlooking the Sea of Galilee. It was a little hazy and cool but the view was gorgeous and again my mind went back to the picture of Jesus walking on the water.

Since I haven’t mentioned it yet, our group enjoys a buffet style breakfast and dinner at the hotel each day. While they serve many food familiar to us in America, we are also able to try many middle eastern foods. I try to be brave and try as many new things as I can. My favorite is enjoying shakshuka at breakfast. Shakshuka is a dish of tomato sauce with eggs cooked overtop. It is delicious!

As we headed off this morning Chris gave a devotional on our bus. He talked about how God was a God of covenant (promise). The land and the people here are a testament to that. We headed to the Lavi forest to plant trees. As we were in a bit of traffic our guide explained the idea of a kibbutz. They were essential in establishing modern Israel. These communities are all about equality. They share tasks, clothing, food, etc. It might sound like communism but these are privately owned by the people in the community. There are about 300 active today in Israel. Not all are run the same way. Other countries have tried to do the same thing but it hasn’t worked because it was forced on them (like the Soviet Union).

We got to the Lavi forest and planted trees. The joy was palpable as everyone planted in the rocky field. Before we began we read the “Planter’s Prayer.” Many planted trees to honor and in memory of family members. Because I was busy taking photos, Marti planted my tree. (Thanks Marti!) Our guide reminded us of the first day when we were driving in the park and seeing people picnicking on the side of the road. He told us one day soon, our forest will have visitors doing the same!

Israel has turned the desert into forest through people all over the world helping to plant trees. Anyone can buy a tree in Israel to show their solidarity. The Friends of Israel has a program to do that! You can check it out here. http://www.foi.org/store/product/plant-a-tree-in-israel/

Our next stop was Nazareth. As we were driving we saw Arab children planting flowers in a roundabout. Our guide told us it was “Doing Good” day in Israel. We arrived at Nazareth village. It is a community based on archaeology put on by Arab Christians. The tour is about 75 minutes long. We saw sheep, donkeys, and people dressed as first century townspeople. We learned how an olive press functioned, saw a synagogue and tomb replica, and visited a carpenter’s house. Our guide showed us a wine press that was excavated when they began building the village. He added amazing insight to prophecy that was fulfilled through Jesus. After the tour we had a meal similar to what the people of the village would have eaten. My favorite was the fresh hummus! There was also lentil soup, chicken, and salad. It was all so good! Everyone enjoyed shopping in the gift store after lunch.

We headed to the Mount of Beatitudes after leaving visiting Nazareth. Our guide, Tito tells us that the “land of milk and honey” in the Bible actually refers to goat’s milk and date honey not cows and bees like we would think. When we arrived Gary read the Beatitudes then we sang “How Great Thou Art” together. Tito mentioned that in Matthew 5:2 it says, “Then He opened His mouth…” He explained that this means something very serious or important will follow. Similarly, “He rose up and went” means Jesus went somewhere important. We were given time to walk around the Catholic Church built on the property with the view of the Sea of Galilee.

Our last stop was to the town of Capernaum. We were told that unlike other sites we visit, we can be confident that Capernaum is actually Capernaum. Jim, our director gaves a devotion when we arrived reminding us of all the miracles performed there. The man who couldn’t walk and was lowered by friends, the man with the withered hand, the nobleman whose son was sick, etc. Then Jim readed the judgement against Capernaum in Matthew 11:23. He explained that Jesus did many miracles here and they still did not repent and believe. We are all responsible for what God gives to us. The greatest thing He has given to us is the Gospel. We need to be sensitive to the Word of God and its teaching.

Jim mentioned replacement theology (where people believe the church today has replaced Israel and God’s promises to it), he asked why the church ignores the Jewishness of the Bible. There is no verse in the Bible that says God has rejected the Jewish people. We then discussed John 10:17&18, “‘Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.’” Because of replacement theology, many believe the Jewish people killed Jesus but this verse makes it very clear that Jesus laid His life down willingly. Our guide mentions that he guided French groups, many Catholic, for his first 20 years of touring. Listening to the priests teach was his first exposure to replacement theology. He said it’s only over the last couple of decades that the Jewish people have felt the love of Evangelical Christians. I’m aware of the dangers of replacement theology but being here and hearing these words, gives me pause.

We walked around Capernaum. It is a beautiful place. It’s also owned by the Catholic Church. It’s right on the sea. The weather has been warm today with periods of sun and clouds. Near the sea the wind is cooler and making it cooler and the water is choppy. As expected, it’s hazy over the sea, but the view is still lovely. Tito shows us the house believed to be Peter’s. There is a Catholic Church built over the site. We walked through the ruins of a synagogue built by the Romans. The remaining structure is beautiful.

After dinner at the hotel we enjoyed a concert by “Heart of Galilee.” An Israeli band of believers in Jesus who played Israeli and English praise songs. The group included a guitarist, drummer, and a clarinettist who also played the flute too! It was beautiful and a great ending to the day.