Who do you say that I am?

We started off day 6 in the area known during Jesus’ time as the Decapolis/pagan region. Pastor Eric started us off with reading from Mark 4:35-41 about Jesus calming the sea emphasizing His sovereignty over all creation. Pastor Eric continued the teaching into Mark 5 about Jesus healing the man with an unclean spirit in the country of the Gerrasenes. We learned from this passage in Mark 5 that numerous people from the surrounding areas came to be healed by Jesus as a result of the man who had been demon-possessed going away and proclaiming in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him. Pastor Eric challenged us to share our faith stories with those outside our comfort circle.

We then proceeded to Qatzrin, a replica of a town typically found during the time of Jesus. To gain more insight into the 1st & 2nd century Galilean daily life, we enjoyed making and eating unleavened bread accompanied with hummus, cream cheese, berry spread and herb olive oil.

While sitting inside a replica 1st century home, Pastor Eric taught from Mark 2:1-12. We read that the friends of a paralytic went so far as to remove the roof of Jesus’ home to let him down to Jesus. Pastor Eric challenged us to stay connected in a community and examine the effort we take to bring someone to Jesus.

Leaving the area of Galilee, we headed to the Golan Heights. Our first stop was Caesarea Philippi, home of the god Pan. Not only was Pan worshipped here, but many other gods as well. The pagans would place their god upon a large rock, which sat just inside a large cave entrance, and worship their god. It’s believed that Jesus was talking to His disciples at the entrance to this cave when he asked His disciples “who do people say that the Son of Man is?” and then He asked His disciples “Who do you say that I am?” Simon replies, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus then affirms Simon’s answer by stating “Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” The dichotomy of the lesson is the rock inside the cave which was used by pagan worshippers is contrasted by Jesus’ affirmation of Peter’s declaration of Jesus.

From Caesarea Philippi we proceeded to the Tel Dan. We saw what happens when a people cheapen worship by settling for convenience and walking by sight rather than faith. We saw a city gate that dates to the time of Abraham (Genesis 14), and we learned that God delivers on His promises to preserve for Himself a people. We concluded our day by visiting a recent archaeological dig at Omrit – here we saw a temple built by Herod the Great on the road to Damascus – The Apostle Paul would have passed by here on his way to encountering The Lord Jesus. We are experiencing God’s Word in a vibrant display.

Steve & Jamie Reason
Whitehouse, TX