Power

There was one word on my mind most of the day today. Power. Every site we visited, you saw it. No, you felt it. It’s palpable. But what we’re sensing is not just an exertion of power, it’s jockeying of multiple powers against the others. You might not notice it on the surface, but you can’t miss it. It’s like tectonic plates. For the longest time, they simply press against each other. There’s pressure, but no movement. So, on the surface, everything seems fine. Until one makes a move. Then everything underneath and on the surface shakes. Here’s what I mean. Walk down a busy street in Jerusalem and in the span of one minute, you’ll cross paths with Christians, Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, Aramean Christians, Greek Orthodox, Arabs, Israeli’s, Palestinians, Americans, Russians, etc… And while we will each be cordial and friendly to each other on the street, everyone understands how the systems and religions and governments and histories are all jockeying for power over the other. You see it at the borders. You read it in the rules. It’s even infected these historically holy sites. This is a worldwide power struggle all converging in a place only three-quarters the size of Maryland. Feel the tension? No question. When you’re here, are you caught up in it whether you want to or not? Absolutely. Now, for those of you who worry about such things while we’re here, don’t. Many of us have mentioned we actually feel safer here than in our own cities. We’ll just pray those tectonic plates stay where they’re at.

But there was another kind of power we talked about today. Pastor Cal Rychener from Northwoods Church lead us in a study on the power of Jesus resident in us through the Holy Spirit. As followers of Jesus, we have far more of that power in us than we ever give ourselves credit for. “Resurrection power is yours right now”, he says. And then he quoted Ephesians 1:18, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great POWER for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given…and God placed everything under his feet…And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus”. THAT’S power. And I have it. Why would I ever let Satan intimidate me? Why would I ever let sin win? I have the very authority and power that Jesus himself has? Oh man…that Power makes all these other powers look…well…you fill in the blank.

Tomorrow, it’s Galilee where we’ll focus on Jesus’ early ministry as described in Matthew. Thanks for going on this journey with us. We’re glad you’re here. Again, stay tuned to another update tomorrow. In the meantime, take a look at some pictures of the Mount of Temptation, Jericho, the Shepherds Field, worship in Bethlehem and, of course, the Church of the Nativity.