Jesus speaks and creation responds

Today we started our day at Tel Dan, Jonathan Greer’s favorite place where he has spent much time digging. We learned about many people and how they lived during the times of the Old Testament, especially in the books of 1 and 2 Kings, and Amos. We were convicted as we learned about their ritualistic patterns, in how they were doing it “right” according to biblical guidelines, yet received word that their actions were not pleasing in the eyes of God. They were not concerned about justice for God’s people, or to say it plainly, they were not concerned in caring for the widows and the orphans. Because of this, all of their ritualistic patterns were a stench to God as he is one who cares for his people and expects those who follow him to do the same.

From there we went to Caesari of Philipi. This place gave us great context for Matthew 16:13-20 when Jesus takes his disciples from their familiar Jewish villages to a Greco-Roman empire where Caesar is worshiped. Jesus asks the question “Who do you say that I am?” It would have been one thing to ask this question in the lands of the Jews, but to go to a pagan culture and ask this was incredibly impacting for our group as we reflected on this. With the many Greek gods being worshiped, the context in which this conversation took place deserves much more attention than many of us give it. Peter replies, “We believe that you are the LIVING God,” implying something so powerful as the pagans worshipped dead gods. We learned that it is believed that this is when Jesus’ ministry began, directly after the disciples confessed their belief in him as Lord and Savior.

Our third stop was at Mt. Hazor where we learned about how Joshua led the Israelites to take over this area. We learned some of the history behind Solomon’s idea of infrastructure, and also were able to see a typical Israelite house and how they would have lived. It was very eye-opening as it was so different from what many of us would have envisioned. Living with extended families and animals within their very homestead, they had an area for a courtyard and an olive press. Many of us stated that their houses were bigger than we would have expected, made out of stone and plaster, some homes even being two stories tall with bedrooms for multiple family members to sleep in.

After lunch we went to Capernum where we literally walked in the very areas Jesus walked. We walked in and even received teaching in the synogogue that was built in the 4th century right over the very synogogue Jesus would have taught in. We saw the home where Peter’s mother-in-law lived and received healing from Jesus just after he drove out an evil spirit in the synogogue only about 20 feet away. Capernum is a very small town and it was amazing to sit and learn about the multiple healings that took place in such a small area, and how Jesus spoke against so many things of that time. The whole experience was humbling, and absolutely amazing as some of us prayed for our very needs in this modern age, still over 2,000 years later believing in the very Healer that Jesus was in that time, in this very land.

To finish the day we took a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee while we listened to some teaching and some music as we reflected on our day. Watching the storm clouds roll in, we reflected on the times when Jesus called the disciples, the times when he walked on the water, calmed the storm, and did so many other things in this very place. It is with ONE word that Jesus speaks and the wind and waves respond. Encouraged, it is still the same today. “Jesus speaks and creation responds,” in the words of Jennifer.

The last couple of days we have been fire-hosed with information and experience. As we end the day, for many of us it is safe to say that there is no way to leave a trip like this the same as we came. Deeply spiritual experiences are starting to take place as the Holy Spirit moves in our hearts as we walk through the lands Jesus physically walked.
Tomorrow we finish up in the Galilee area and head to Jerusalem. So, stay tuned!!