The uniqueness of this land

Our day started on the mountain of Arbel. This mountain overlooking the sea of Galilee, was a sight where the Jews, rebelling against Rome, made a stand. These cliffs give amazing views over the lake but at their heart are full of sadness. Sadness for the rebels who fought the Romans and were defeated, who eventually chose lots to murder each other rather than be taken by the Romans. As with the site of Masada, these men fought for their idea of what the Kingdom of God would look like, a restored Jewish dynasty in Jerusalem. They thought it would be established by military might and God sanctioning their military campaigns neither proved to be true.

Throughout this trip I have meditated time and again on the uniqueness of this land. From the Zealots to the Essenes to the Pharisee’s and the Saducce’s each group and their own idea about what the kingdom of God looked like, smelled like, felt like. Jesus however, had a completely different perspective. Rather than a King who came to conquer and assimilate everyone under His rule, He arrived to suffer and serve His people, a King who would humble Himself awaiting the Father’s exaltation. As I reflect on my own time here in Israel I look at a land that has been fought over for all of human history and ask myself the same questions. Do I accept the rule and reign of Jesus in my own life or do I want to define for myself what the rule and reign of God looks like? Standing on the top of Mt Arbel this morning and I was struck by the futility and the hopelessness of the Zealots cause that this cycle of violence still continues in the world today. Yet Jesus invites me to love my enemies because God first loved us. I pray I may trust the Lord enough to follow His lead.

—Written by Kate