Day 02 - Sardis, Colossae

Day 2: Discovering the Ancient Wonders of Sardis

Today, we journeyed to Sardis, once a lively city and the capital of ancient Lydia. In its heyday, Sardis was a bustling hub, even featuring the famous "King's Road," which stretched from the Persian capital of Susa all the way to this city.

As we explored, the ruins left us in awe. Our guide, Ozan led us through the ancient markets, and showed us what is believed to be the largest ancient synagogue ever found. The beauty of this ancient city really came alive when we saw the grand Roman gymnasium courtyard.

The size of the synagogue hints at a significant Jewish community in Sardis. Inside, we noticed statues of an eagle and a lion. Jade explained that these symbols suggest the presence of Hellenistic Jews, as traditional Hebraic Jews would seen that as breaking the 2nd commandment: "make no graven images". This observation made us reflect on how cultures can blend and clash. It reminded us of the importance of spiritual discernment in deciding which worldly influences to accept or reject.

While sitting in the courtyard of the vast Roman gymnasium, Jade shared insights into the Jewish education system of the time. Boys began studying the Torah at a young age, continuing their education until they were about 18 or 20. The most promising students had the honor of studying under a rabbi, aiming to become rabbis themselves—a highly esteemed role. Interestingly, there's no evidence that Jesus studied under a rabbi; He stated that His authority came directly from the Father. In contrast, the Apostle Paul studied under the respected Rabbi Gamaliel.

Reflecting on Paul's background, we considered his journey from being born in Tarsus to a Pharisee father, to becoming a zealous student under a renowned rabbi. As we sat in the Roman courtyard reading his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, we step into the beginning of his transformative mission.

In the afternoon, we visited the Temple of Artemis in Sardis. Seeing two towering pillars still standing showcased the architectural strength of the ancients. Later, a church was established within the temple's remains, and our group gathered there to read Paul's letter to the Galatians. We closed out this sweet time together by singing "I love you Lord" much like I imagine the early Christians may have done in the same place. 

Walking through these ancient sites, envisioning the culture and myriad temples, offered us a fresh perspective on the challenges Paul faced in spreading his message. Whether addressing his Jewish people in synagogues or Gentile audiences, it's evident from Galatians that living out faith in Jesus required spiritual discernment and strong leadership, as God was orchestrating a new movement throughout the Roman world.