Real and living history

Our crisp, cool morning began with a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee.

After the crew raised the American Flag and played the National Anthem, we were treated to a number of worship songs, starting with "10,000 Reasons." What a thrill it was to sing, dance and sail together across the Sea. We even had the chance to wish one of our own a happy birthday.

Halfway across, the captain shut down the engine, and Terry read two familiar Sea of Galilee accounts: Matthew 14:22-32 and Luke 8:22-25. Each story involved a sudden storms, common to this area, and bringing a restless fear to Jesus' disciples.

In the first account, Peter walked on water, but when afraid, shouted, "Lord, save me!" In the second, the disciples woke up their Master in great fear of the storm, after which he calmed the waves. Both accounts ended with awe and wonder of the Lord.

As we discussed these two familiar stories, Terry raised a couple of insights:

Though Peter allowed his faith to get in the way, Jesus was pleased to save Him. Because he looked to Christ in time of fear, he survived. What great reminder of how the Lord is pleased to rescue us, no matter how much we mess up. As long as we call on Him, he is pleased with such faith. Jesus is not focused on how we do in handling the storms of life. He's only interested in the answer to one question: "Did you trust Me?"

Another observation in each is that Jesus could have spared His friends from the storms, but He chose not to do so. For us, it's easy to wonder why God doesn't prevent the storms in our lives, though He is capable. Instead, He permits hardships, using them to strengthen our faith and ask ourselves, "Are we trusting Christ when the storms rage?"

As this writer listened to our discussion (on the calm waters of Galilee today, thankfully), I thought about two couples on board, who have lost children. I thought about two widows, who could not share this experience with their husbands. I also thought of certain "storms" in the lives of others on the boat. Thoughts like these tended to bring the principles to life--We've all been through storms, where we've cried out, "Lord, save us!" and such storms are certain to come in our futures. What a comfort to know our Savior is not looking for heroes or strong people, just dependent children, who look to Him for refuge.

The Ancient Boat:
When we reached the other side, we entered an exhibit showing an ancient boat, discovered during a drought in 1986. As two men were walking along the Galilee shores, they came across one nail, then another, then another. Digging down, they felt wood and realized they might have found something extraordinary.

Long story short, after careful excavation from the mud, the boat was transported and preserved, and now sits on display in this small museum. Based on what historians know, it matches the size and shape of a fishing boat from the time of Jesus.

As with so many other sights and facts Yehuda has shared with us, this was just one more reminder that our faith is not rooted in a "Once upon a time" sort of book, but in real and living history.

Beth She'an and Scythopolis:
At our next stop, we hiked up the Tel of Beth She'an, where we could look out and see many familiar sights in the distance: Mt. Gilboa, Mt. Tabor, Endor, and Jezreel.

Beth She'an is where King Saul's headless body was taken and fastened to the wall after he died in battle. Soon after, some valiant men from Jabesh-gilead snuck into the town, got Saul's body, and took it back for proper burial (1 Samuel 31).

As we continued across the Tel, several of us gasped as we looked down on the ancient city of Scythopolis, built 300 years before Christ, then taken over by Rome a few centuries after Christ.

This city, first built by the Greeks, then rebuilt by the Romans, portrayed a heavy contrast to the Jewish villages we saw Friday. In the middle was a marketplace, not a synagogue. The social scene of the city was not in the courtyard of homes, but in the gymnasiums (or as Yehuda calls them' "country clubs." The values of the city were transmitted through the theatre and amphitheater, rather than the dinner table.

Leading off our study in this fascinating civilization, Terry reminded us that the geography of a city will tell you a lot about its values. Jewish villages were centered around worship. Roman cities were centered around commerce. The social foundation of Jewish villages was the household. In Roman cities, it was In the city, drawing families away, rather than toward each other.

"We (Americans) are the children of the Greeks and Romans," Terry reminded us. Our cities are built around commerce. Our activities tend to draw us away from the table. Our entertainment informs our values.

This was a fitting reminder of what Jesus did when he came. "I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly." Why did this message have such an impact in the Roman world? Perhaps because hope in Christ offered not only Jews the hope they had awaited, but a secular world hope beyond its own inventions.

The gospel calls us to center our lives around the Living God, not mere commerce. Christ calls us into community with one another in His Church. And he admonishes us to get our values from His Word, not from the culture.
This will, of course, put us at odds with the culture, but at peace with the One who offers abundant life.

And so as fascinating as Scythopolis was, the fact that it lies in ruins serves as our reminder: True Life; eternal Life, is not found in a civilization centered on itself, but in hearts centered on the Living God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Jordan River Baptisms:
Our last stop before a fish dinner was the Jordan River, where about half of our group chose to be baptized.

One thing we learned as we first arrived in Galilee is that the Jordan has been dammed up just south of the Sea of Galilee, and only a small fraction of water flows south from there. Therefore, baptisms in the Jordan don't occur in the most probable location where John Baptized, but very close to the Sea.

Nevertheless, the baptism time was a time of great joy, especially for our group that continues to grow close and enjoy the company of one another.

Our Saturday began on the waters where Peter, James and John fished. It ended with a fish dinner, just off the shore.

Sunday will be much like Friday: lots of new places to see and far more new things to learn.

As always, we appreciate your prayers, and we wish you all could be here to share this with us!

For now, enjoy the photos below.