Who Do You Say I Am?

Happy Thanksgiving from the Holy Land! Today, we had a change of schedule from the original plan due to the rain forecasted but a great day! We started at the ancient village of Katzrin which is an original biblical village but also an interactive tour site. We dressed up in biblical clothing and we learned and helped make olive oil using the stone basin crushing device. People during these times valued olive oil greatly and used it for such things as lighting fuel, medicine, cooking, moisturizing, and even perfume.

From there, we saw the homes that the people lived in during these times. These were the homes similar to the home mentioned in Mark 2 where they lowered the man down to Jesus through the roof. Pastor Steve talked about how they had to destroy a man’s home to get a man to Jesus. A question was asked, “What obstacles our we willing to push past to get our people to Jesus?”

Next, we were able to visit Oleo Essence, an olive oil factory where cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil (the best kind!) are made such as pure olive oil, skin products and even cleaning products. It was very informational and so neat to learn about the nutrition and medicine that God has provided to us through different plants and foods!

Our last spots of the day were located along North Jordan River in North East Israel near the Golan Heights. Mount Bental was a location where we looked over into the country of Syria and walked the many bunkers on the mount. Here we heard stories from our guide, Yahuda of the way God has protected his Promised Land even in the recent years. Stories of protection, when the odds were not in Israel’s favor. The only explanation of victory is God!

The last two spots were be locations of Caesarea Phillipi and Dan. Two locations that many people worshiped idols at. It was at the location of Caesarea Phillipi that Brother Bob talked about Matthew 16: 13-28 when Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Two lessons can be gathered from these verses where Jesus spoke to his disciples. We are the church and built upon the foundation of the Rock. The final lesson being that we know what men say about Jesus but who do we say Jesus is? The answer is eternal life-the thing that we should be most thankful for on this Thanksgiving day!

We ended the day with a feast of St. Peter’s fish (for some pizza) by the Sea of Galilee. A blessed day indeed!

Written by Brette and Ryan