Monday - Galilee to Zippori/Nazareth to Mt Carmel to Caesarea to Jerusalem

Another great day, but I'm worn out tonight.  Still lots to share.  So many lessons along the way.

Lovely Ramon Resort Hotel

We left our lovely hotel overlooking the Sea of Galilee to drive toward the Great (Mediterranean) Sea.  Zippori is a great historical place right next to Nazareth.  Not much to see in Nazareth because it has had constant habitation and presently a town preventing excavation.  But oh my - I had no idea what was right next door.

Pastor Kevin teaching
at Zippori

Amazing mosaic
all over the place

Zippori is a major Roman city with a Roman theater, pagan temples, richly adorned homes and a very sophisticated water supply.  Joseph was a techton, in the Greek - traditionally translated "carpenter," but more likely a stone cutter or mason and would have had major work in Zippori or stone quarries at Nazareth.  We spent a great time reflecting on Isaiah 51:1, 8:14 and the faithfulness of God who will repeat uniquely through Jesus the great things He did for Israel.  1Peter 2 reflects on how Jesus has taken us together as living stones to build his Temple.  It's an amazing place.  Jesus was not from just some backwater village, but raised on the edge at least of Roman culture and power.  He knew the literature and the current events of his day and incorporated them in His teaching.

Mt Carmel

Next to Mount Carmel, site of one of my favorite Old Testament stories - the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1Ki 18). I studied this passage in detail as a high schooler.  And here God proved Himself to be triumphant Lord over the pagan gods of the spiritual wandering Northern Kingdom.  Pastor Danielle had a great lesson on the passion of Elijah and the fire of God that overwhelms any cold buckets of water thrown on God's purposes.  God send your fire - that the world may know Your glory. We want to be part of the gospel story You are still weaving.

Amphitheater still used - setting up
for a concert

We traveled then to Caesarea, built gloriously by Herod the Great it is a tribute to his megalomania. It is mentioned often in Acts. Peter there first brought the gospel to Gentiles (Acts 10). It was through here that Paul traveled with the gospel.  It had one of the early strong, outreaching Chrisitan churches (Acts 21).  This place is crazy impressive.  Herod the Great built a twin sided amphitheater, a huge hippodrome, a massive palace with fresh water swimming pool out into Mediterranean and an double aqueduct that brought fresh water over 7 km, most through tunnels and over deep valleys with a steady 1% drop for a perfect gravity flow.

What an amazing day with huge implications about how the gospel of Jesus intersects and impacts secular (even pagan) culture.  Rome is long dead.  The gospel of Jesus will triumph over every government of man. I've set my loyalty on the Eternal King.

Tonight we're in the Holy City.