Day 07 - Western Coast: Pergamum, Weaving Center, Smyrna, Evening Cruise on the Aegean

As we awakened on a brisk and foggy Tuesday morning, we began week two of our journey. Our team of 14 has jelled amazingly. Having walked together for just a few days, in some ways, it feels like we have known each other for years. As a microcosm of the body of Christ, we learn from each other, we laugh with each other, we cry with each other, and we care for each other. There is a sweetness that exists in a group like this as brothers and sisters in Christ. The meals have become family time. The food is good, but the community is better.

Turkey Guide

Our guide and our driver are a blessing and a wealth of knowledge. The layers of learning have been rich with great depth. I have found myself longing to know more about geology, archeology, and architecture. 

Pastor Josh

The study of the Scriptures from Pastor Josh has opened all of our eyes to the original context of the later writings of the New Testament as well as the grandeur and the glory of God in the preservation of His people, His word, and His Gospel. The understanding of the New Testament church and the context of the movement of the church from the Acts of the Apostles has provided a deep yet life-changing context. 

Our first stop of the day was Asclepieion

Just a few miles from the Aegean Sea we continued our adventure in Bergama, the modern city built around the ancient ruins of Pergamum. We ventured to the suburbs to Asclepieion where it was believed in ancient days that Asclepius, the first doctor and a god of ancient times, would provide treatment and healing for those who would pilgrimage to the sacred spring. They would need to make a sacrifice to Asclepius and Zeus in order to enter the treatment facility. Many journeyed to the site and some claimed divine healing from Asclepius.

The sick were searching for remedies for their ailments hoping that the waters and their god would provide a treatment that would heal them. Luke, who was a doctor, may have been trained in a facility such as this. As believers in Jesus, we know that the Lord may heal us and our loved ones, yet he may choose not to remove the ailment or sickness on this side of glory. We were reminded of the necessity to pray and to recall that our great physician in heaven holds our lives and our health in his hands and that ultimately those who rest in Christ will be eternally healed.

Ancient Weaving Factory

Next, our team visited an ancient weaving factory enabling us to see the process that has produced fabulous hand-crafted rugs for a great many years. We observed how the silk is heated and spun onto spools to later be dyed into a plethora of different colors. The dyes then are woven with a unique and long-standing process of a double stitch that is painstakingly replicated. Some of the rugs take years for a single weaver to finish. Many of the designs have been memorized and passed down for generations as each weaver reproduces millions of individual stitches flawlessly. The wool, silk, and cotton products are truly one of a kind and some of the last remnants of a dying industry. We were treated to a beautiful outdoor lunch from some of the ladies of the co-op who prepared us a delicious meal that we enjoyed together. 

Smyrna

Having visited 5 (one we drove past) of the 7 churches mentioned in the book of the Revelation today, we rode through Izmir where we heard the story of our 6th church out of Revelation 2, Smyrna. A large city at its peak which boasted nearly 200,000 people, was known for its 2 harbors, athletic games, and its myrrh (hence the name of the city). Smyrna was noted for the beauty of the people and the city. Church history states that Polycarp, the disciple of John the Apostle, was martyred here. He was the bishop of Smyrna for over 40 years before he was burned at the stake in the stadium for his unwillingness to compromise his faith around AD 156.

Revelation 2 - The letter to the Church at Smyrna

John’s letter to Smyrna reminded them that just as Jesus died and resurrected to life so too their city had gone through much decay and been brought back to health. They were not rich people, and much like the church in Philadelphia the Jews had begun to evict them from the synagogue. Therefore, casting them out of the trade guilds and away from the Jewish worship protections. The call to them was to remain faithful even amid great suffering and opposition, knowing that the body can be killed in this life, but the soul will live on for eternity with Christ. As Jesus said, “remain faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown that is life itself.” - Revelation 2:10b ESV

Aegean Sea

The day concluded with a gorgeous sunset cruise ride on the Aegean Sea and then a dinner on the patio of our hotel. As our team gathered again enjoying great food and conversation concerning the day and the things we have learned, we were reminded that God is moving, and we are grateful to be on the journey.

- Lance Crowell