"Be still and know, that I am God"
A really cool day filled with bringing more stories of the Bible to life, and challenging us to bring the message we are learning home with us, to share it, and to recommit to fulfilling the role God has created for each of us.
Here is the rundown for the day, with some thoughts to go with it:
1. Jordan River. We had a chance to talk about baptism and why it is an important sacrament for the church, but also a good reminder that it isn't the words or water that are special, it is that Jesus shows up in it! We got to share a cool time with our disciples (Me with Mason, Anita with Cory, and Pat with Bryce), and to bless each other to recommit our heart, soul, mind and strength to the calling God has placed on each of our lives. We are being claimed for Jesus!
2. Nazareth Precipice. An absolutely beautiful overlook of Nazareth and the Jezreel Valley. We got to talk about Luke 4, where Jesus comes to his hometown, and is first adored - until he points out some of the ugliness and pride they are living in. Then all of a sudden he is about to be thrown off a cliff, quite possibly the one we were on. A great reminder that we can so often adore things because they make us look good, not for glory they might be bringing the Father. We also had a view of Mt. Tabor, where it is very likely the place where The Transfiguration took place.
3. Megiddo. This city is where we get the name "Armageddon". This was a quick stop, but this ancient city is mentioned often when it comes to the end times. Whether it is an actually place for things to happen, or just a good example, because this city and the Jezreel Valley around it has known more war and bloodshed than any other in the world. We also got to see the brokenness of the Canaanite people who lived here when Abraham came rolling through, and the huge altar they built to sacrifice animals, and unfortunately, children on.
4. Mount Carmel. An absolutely stunning overlook of the Mediterranean Sea, and the harbor that now resides in the town of Haifa at the base of the mountain. We got to share the story of Elijah calling down fire, and then sprinting across the Jezreel Valley (22 miles) to spread the news of what God had down. It was a great reminder that we should all be filled with a great urgency to share the gospel, and to be courageous in doing so. Here is a sentiment we have shared often, and I believe it runs so true in the North American church. We expect people to believe and behave before they can belong, and this has to stop. It isn't about knowledge, but about relationship. Join me in changing this culture!
5. Caesarea Maritima. This was a special place for Anita and I to stop, as we talked about the story of Cornelius (this is where our son Kase gets his name) and his family being the first "gentiles" baptized into the family, and the earth-shaking that provided to the new church. So long, it had been only for the Jews, and this was blaring evidence that the Holy Spirit was now for ALL! That on top of the beauty of this location, where once again, Herod went in with all his earthly might to make it majestic and powerful in the face of nature.
6. Mediterranean Sea. We got to spend about a half hour walking the beach and spending some time in the water of the Sea along some super majestic aqueducts that were built again by Herod.
God is up to some mighty cool things! Check it out....
JORDAN RIVER:
The beautiful area of the Jordan River that we came to as we talked about baptism.
More of the area we came too.
Definitely not a 'submersive' baptism experience - but cool all the same as we reaffirmed our commitment to loving and following Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
Pat and Bryce sharing a prayer!
Cory and Anita sharing a prayer as well.
Jesus was baptized in this river - how cool!?!?!?
Story of Jesus' baptism.
NAZARETH PRECIPICE:
A pano of the Jezreel Valley. Mt. Tabor is off to the far left.
Mt. Tabor - thought to be the site of The Transfiguration.
This is very like the cliff that the people of Nazareth march Jesus to, wanting to toss him off and stone him to death after calling them out.
A continuation of the pano picture that now includes the city of Nazareth.
Not super easy to see - but about smack dab in the middle of the picture is a church with a brown cone-shaped steeple. This is the Church of Annunciation - the place where Mary received her vision from the angel about Jesus.
One lucky dude :)
MEGIDDO:
A model of what they city probably would have looked like.
What they call a 'Solomon Gate'. It has 6 chambers, which King Solomon was known for making.
Outline of an ancient city that has been destroyed over and over. There are 32 layers of cities in this Tel.
The giant circle of rocks is an ancient Canaanite altar - used to sacrifice pigs and children to their god.
An underground 'silo' where they stored their grain.
Sorry if this ruins someones picture of Christmas, but this is very like the type of 'manger' that Jesus was laid in. Made of stone.
Down to the water!
And down...
And down!
MOUNT CARMEL:
As we head up the hill, there was a beautiful Muslim temple that has been built into the hillside. So thankful that our God doesn't need a temple built by hands, but that he lives inside you and me!
The beautiful pano from the place we ate our lunch.
The harbor. A cool example for us as Christians, that all to often we like to take things in during our faith (like a ship being loaded up ), but all to often we are unwilling to go out and give of ourselves (the ship leaving the harbor).
And this was our drive from Mount Carmel to Caesarea Maritima. I would equate it to driving down Hightway 1 in California along the Pacific Ocean.
CAESAREA MARITIMA:
Approaching the back of the ancient theatre.
Inside - it is still used to this day. They were setting up for a concert while we walked around.
More or less, an ancient Roman coffin.
The 'hippodrome' - where the Romans would hold their horse races.
The beauty of this area where Herod built this palace.
This is the remains of the fresh water swimming pool he built out into the Sea. Not to shabby.
Storage bins.
The grass is how far inland the harbor they built would have come into land. They were the first to create their own man-made harbor - which Herod would have done to show that he was more powerful than nature. Most of these ruins would have been temples where they worshiped many of their gods.
Some remains of the harbor wall they created.
Beautiful to see the water crashing into the rocks.
More beauty and power of the Sea.
Remains of an ancient home. Who knows - maybe of Cornelius :)
Exiting through the city gate that was built during the Crusades (1100-1300 A.D.) and still standing strong.
The remains of the support towers for the aqueduct that would have carried fresh water 22 miles from Mount Carmel to this location. No small feat.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA:
A picture perfect view.
A pano of the remains of these aqueducts.
How closely they ran to the Sea.
God's creation is stunning, beautiful, and amazing.
One last view.
So much to see and take in today, but so thankful for how God's Word is continuing to penatrate and mold our hearts as we see the stories and evidence come to life.
ONE DAY LEFT! Tomorrow will be an absolutely powerful and emotional day. We are retracing the last 24 hours of Jesus life, and celebrating the resurrection. I can't even put into words what my heart and spirit are anticipating. If we have one request, please surround us in prayer for this day, that we would experience all God has in store for us this day.
I am hopeful to have a chance to blog about the day before we get ready to leave. We will eat supper here around 6, have a debrief time with our team, shower, and hit the road for the airport at 9pm here. Our flights leave at 1:00am, and we will be landing in Minneapolis or Omaha around 3:30/4;30pm.
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