Day 07 - Mount Arbel, Zippori & Rock Quarry

Mount Arbel

Our day began with a steep hike up a stone mountain. We stopped to catch our breath by a series of caves and then Scott invited us all to walk in one. It had fresh evidence of sheep and cows recently staying there.

Despite what we’ve always seen. Mary likely gave birth in a cave like this one. That is where animals in this part of the world are kept.  We took in the smell, the dirt, the mess. Surely Jesus’ birth in such a place declared for all time that no one is too messy for his love to reach.

We got to the top of the mountain breathing hard and sweating buckets. “Have you ever prayed like that?” Scott asked. We discussed our prayer lives and how we can lean into that daily relational walk with God.

The steep climb down the mountain included times we were climbing down a sheer rock face. Definitely another opportunity for deep, heartfelt prayers!

Zippori

Our group ate lunch in the shade of olive trees that could have been around at the time of Jesus. Then we began exploring a 1st century Roman city. We saw amazingly intricate mosaics depicting Roman gods and myths.

Then we climbed to the top of a building and looked out over the entire ancient city including a large amphitheater. Scott said there was a large fire in this area around 4 BC and then the city was slowly rebuilt. He pointed to a nearby hill marking the city of Nazareth.

Again, despite what we’ve always heard, Joseph was not a carpenter. The actual Hebrew word is more accurately translated as “stone mason.” Plus, most structures in this time and place were built from stone. We looked out over all the crumbled stone structures around us, looked at nearby Nazareth, and the pieces began falling into place.

Even though it is not recorded anywhere, it is highly likely that Joseph worked on rebuilding Zippori. And he probably brought his son with him!

The Quarry

A quarry lies between Nazareth and Zippori. We wandered around the large rocks seeing where some were cut away. This is probably where Joseph and Jesus went to cut rocks to rebuild Zippori. We learned how patiently ancient stone masons went about their challenging work and that they were seen as wise, contemplative people.

It really put this verse into perspective: “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). Jesus knew the slow, steady process of measuring a space, walking 4 miles to the quarry, spending days chiseling out a rock with those specific dimensions, gathering other workers to transport it to the work site, and then, finally, the satisfaction of seeing the stone fit perfectly in its place.

This is the slow, steady work of Jesus in our lives. He is patiently forming us, shaping our character to fit the good works he prepared in advance for us to do. The process can seem painful and confusing because we don’t know where we’re going. But he does. And he has the joy of a master stone mason when he finally guides us gently into place.