Well, I've been in Israel just over a week. As I write, sundown has happened, and the evening stars signal the beginning of Sabbath (Shabbat) until sundown tomorrow. It's a day of rest for both secular and observant Jews. We're in Galilee, a more observant part of Israel and I'm eager to see what tomorrow brings. We will be on the study tour and we'll be out and around.
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| Galilee |
Today was grand. We started out with a beautiful boat ride on the Sea of Galilee (Tiberias, Genneseret, Kineret, Chinnereth - all those names). It was a beautiful, though hazy morning. They know what to play over the sound system for American Christians - "Give Thanks"... with a grateful heart, then raising the American Flag to the Star Spangled Banner. Kind of tarnished the moment for me. But devotions there were awesome. I John 2:6 Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life that Jesus lived. (MSG) A high order. A paraphrase from Richard Wurmbrand - Some are only customers, not disciples of Jesus. I'll be chewing on that for a long time.
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| Synagogue at Capernaum |
Then we spent the morning visiting and studying Capernaum (the center of Jesus ministry) and Korazin. This area of Galilee was the center of Rabbinic Judaism during Jesus' day. The sites are amazing archaeologically with beautiful synagogue ruins, but we talked through the foundation of Jesus teaching and ministry in the Tanach (OT). I'm so amazed with our teachers and their depth of scripture knowledge.
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| Tzitzit (Nu 15:38, Deut 22:12) |
At Korazin I saw new stuff in Jesus words of John 14. I never saw marriage imagery there before, but I won't miss it now. We studied Matt 9 and the woman with the issue of blood who was healed when she touched the "tzitzit" of his garment and the amazing connection to Malachi 4:2. Who knew what she touched on the hem of Jesus garment and why? Sweet story.
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| Great Goat Cheese! |
Then we were served the most amazing lunch of goat cheese, salads and fresh bread at a gorgeous restaurant under a huge arbor. The goats were just 15 yards away from the tables and we were probably within a half mile of where the produce was raised. Simply sumptuous. I'd come back to Israel just for another taste.
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| Tabkha - site of John 21 |
We then started at the top and marched down the Mount of Beatitudes. There we read Jesus teaching and considered big implications of being salt and light in the hard places of those Jesus calls the blest. We trekked down to the shore of Galilee and I got to stand at the only possible place for one of my most favorite Jesus stories from John 21. A warm spring there identifies the place for the type of night fishing and the post resurrection conversation Jesus has with Peter.
The insights, challenges and moments of spiritual warmth come so fast and so powerful that I can hardly retain them in my mind. But they sure are changing my heart.
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