News from February 2010

Israel Journal Day 3

February 27, 2010

Day 3: JESUS MINISTRY IN GALILEE

After a great sleep until 3:00 am at the Kibbutz Ginossar which is right on the Sea of Galilee, this is what I woke up to as I looked outside of my 4th floor window doing my devotions.

I spent some time reading through Mark 1–3 where all of this God activity took had taken place. I was in Galilee! Being in the place where Jesus preformed so many miracles is very moving and found my prayer being – “Lord may you have full control over my life to do whatever activity in me that you choose”.

Galilee refers to both a region and a sea in the northern part of Israel.
The Sea of Galilee, which is also named Sea of Tiberias, Lake Kinneret, Lake of Gennesaret, and Holy Lake, is a fresh-water lake in northern Israel. It’s 13-miles long and about 8 miles across at its widest point. The lake is 640 feet below sea level and is surrounded by mountains about 1500-feet high. Its maximum depth is 150 feet. The Jordan River feeds it from the north. It then continues south to the Dead Sea. The area around the lake is a paradise of trees, grass fields and fertile soil. The lake itself is well stocked with fish.

After a phenomenal breakfast at the kibbutz we visited the remains of an ancient fishing boat from the time of Jesus.

In 1986 2 men were walking along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee when they noticed this buried piece of wood that later through a team of excavators found this boat. After removing all the bugs in the wood by soaking it in acid for 10 years they covered it with wax. The Vatican had requested that they borrow this boat to place on display to celebrate the millennium but the kibbutz denied the request fearing that they would not see the boat return to them.

Later we boarded a boat and sailed north from Tiberias up to Capernaum. The ride on the lake caused me to reflect on all of the activity of God that had taken place here.

Jesus preached along these shores and called James, John, Peter and Andrew to be his disciples, to be “fishers of men.” He performed many miracles here, such as the calming of the stormy sea, walking on water, and feeding the 5000.

Today there are churches built on or near areas that mark the event in the life of Jesus. I am standing over looking the site where they believe that Jesus gave the sermon on the Mt. at the Church of the Beatitudes. It is a beautiful setting!

Tabgha, the church of the Loaves and Fishes mark the place where Jesus fed the 5000. There is a pool of gold fish in the front of this church that really caught  my attention.

This church is built over the rock that Jesus is believed to have set the bread and fish on when he blessed it before passing it out to the people.

Mark 6:41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to his disciples to serve the people, and he divided the two fish among them all.

Galilee is the highest and coolest area in Israel with a valley dividing the area in half, the upper half rises 3000 feet above sea level, and the lower half has rich soil for agriculture. The sea has a Syrian/African rift which creates a wind tunnel that normally causes the winds to travel north south. On rare occasions an eastern wind called a “sharkea” will cross through this rift creating tsunami-like conditions. Our guide actually saw one take place where there was a wall of water that hit Tiberias – it made quite a mess. Interesting when you imagine the storm that Jesus and the disciples went through – no wonder they were frightened for their lives, I would have been too!
Mark 4:37–38 Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?”

Capernaum

Next we drove to Capernaum, centre of Jesus’ Galilean ministry. Capernaum is a town on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, with a port for its fishing industry. Jesus went there from Nazareth and found his first disciples, Peter, Andrew, James and John.

It was in Capernaum that Jesus directed Peter to catch a fish with a coin in its mouth to pay the Temple tax. On leaving Capernaum, Jesus condemned it along with other cities that had not heeded his call to repentance.

Today there is the remains of a synagogue like the one Jesus would have gone to while he lived there. It would have been here where Jesus would have healed the man with the withered hand in Mark 3.

Mark 3:1 Then Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.

A short distance from the synagogue, a church was built in the 4th century over what is believed to be the house of Peter.

Since then, a new church has been built on the site. Houses have been excavated in Capernaum dating to the 1st century AD. Jesus left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum, in Peter’s house, after he heard that John the Baptist had been arrested.
Mark 1:29–33 Now as soon as they left the synagogue, they entered Simon and Andrew’s house, with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law was lying down, sick with a fever, so they spoke to Jesus at once about her. He came and raised her up by gently taking her hand. Then the fever left her and she began to serve them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered by the door.

As well as Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law, he also healed the paralyzed man who was lowered through the roof, and many others who gathered to see Jesus. Being in the hometown of Jesus especially seeing how close the synagogue was from Peter’s house really brought the action of the ministry of Jesus home for me. Interestingly, we were told that the town of Capernaum was on the border of 2 ruling kings so if Jesus would get in trouble in one region he would just go over to the other for a time! I love the stories I am hearing about Jesus.

Caesarea Philippi

Next we drove up to the Golan Heights where the war between Israel and Syria took place in 1967 as well as the war of Yom Kippur 1974. Then to the Banias at the foot of Mt. Hermon which is one of the 3 sources of the Jordan River, the spot of Caesarea Phillipi the most northern limit of Jesus ministry. Snow covered the top of Mt. Hermon and then learned that this Mt. is actually shared between 3 countries, Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. Caesarea Philippi is north of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus and his disciples visited this region. Here, Peter declared that Jesus was the Son of God.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. – Matthew 16:13–17

Being at the place where Jesus went on to say, “On this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail” was very eye-opening! There stands this hole in a mountain and a pit that sits next to a pagan temple – Pan – that would have been what Jesus would have pointed to when he made this statement.

Jesus in the face of the pagan gods makes this bold pronouncement and it still moves me as I see the bride of Jesus as God’s tool for kingdom activity!

February 27, 2010

Day 4: NAZARETH/BEIT SHAN/JERICHO

I find it pretty awesome to wake up and realize – Hey I’m right next to the Sea of Galilee where so much of the live of Jesus was spent! As I walk down to the restaurant for breakfast I can’t help but notice that on the side of most every hotel and house door that I can see is a “Mezuzah” which means “Guardian of the doorways of Israel.”

The placing of a mezuzah on the doors of a home or office protects the inhabitants – door posts are mentioned in the Old Testament.
Deut 6:9 Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates.

Nazareth
Today we went to Nazareth via Cana, where Jesus turned the water into wine (John 2). We didn’t stop in Cana but as we passed by I let myself imagine this festive event of all these people and how kind Jesus was to be sure that the host was not to be embarrassed in the shortage due to his poor planning. It gives me such a great picture of the person of Jesus – 1st miracle is wine!

We then visited an authentic reconstruction of a Nazareth village in the way it would have been from the time of Jesus. The picture of this 1st century building shows how the roof would have been constructed which shows the determination the 4 friends of the paralytic had in order to break through the roof in order to lower their friend to Jesus. (Mark 2)

Nazareth is a town in Galilee about 18 miles west of the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee. It was there the angel Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary and announced that she would give birth to Jesus which is marked by yet another church.
Luke 1:26–27 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.

From the 4th century onwards, churches were built on the sites located by Helena, Constantine’s mother, which were connected with Jesus, Joseph and the Virgin Mary. This one is called the Church of the Annunciation and was completed in 1969.

As Teresa and I were walking through this church I leaned over and kissed her cheek. Well how was I supposed to know you are not allowed to do that – ya I got in trouble, it wasn’t the 1st time this happened in Israel and it wouldn’t be the last! Stay tuned!!

Some time after the birth of Jesus, the family returned to Nazareth. Jesus grew up there while Joseph worked as a carpenter. This stairwell is believed to lead to the workshop of Joseph. I’m pretty sure that I was some sawdust on the floor 

While in Nazareth we learned of the writings that the Jewish Rabbis would have used and the time periods of each. We were told that from the time the temple was destroyed up to the 5th century the 6 volume “Mishna” was to be followed. 2nd was the “Talmud” followed by 3rd the “Gomorra”. “The guide to the perplexed” is the 4th book, and the last book is “The set-up table”. At this point there is no other book which apparently accounts for the many divisions within the Jewish faith.

We then went to Beit Shan, an ancient city dating from the time of King Saul, and it is here that Saul and his sons were believed to be hung.
1Sa 31:10 They placed Saul’s armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and hung his corpse on the city wall of Beth Shan.
This city was discovered by a man who was digging the foundation for his home and while digging hit something that resulted in being the Amphitheatre.

Fortunately we have this amazing city to explore but unfortunately for this man he lost his home.

Jericho
Being that Jericho is controlled by the Palestinians and our Israeli guide did not take us through the city because of this. I am becoming uncomfortable with what it is that I am seeing in the Israeli Palestinian debate to which I’m sure my future journal entries will address. It just doesn’t look right in the way that the Israeli authorities are treating these people, but that being said, Jericho is about 15 miles northeast of Jerusalem. During the days of Jesus, the ancient site of Jericho was largely abandoned and there was a newer settlement to the south, which had been built by King Herod.

Jesus performed miracles here, including the healing of a blind man named Bartimaeus.
Mark 10:46 They came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.

Jericho is believed to be the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world. In ancient times, about 3400 years ago, Joshua sent two spies into the walled city, where they were aided by Rahab, the harlot.
Josh 2:1 Joshua son of Nun sent two spies out from Shittim secretly and instructed them: “Find out what you can about the land, especially Jericho.” They stopped at the house of a prostitute named Rahab and spent the night there.
Because of her assistance, she and her family were spared when the Israelites attacked the city. After seven days of circling the city with the Ark, the Israelite army shouted and the walls of the city came down. Jericho was the first major conquest by the Israelites after they crossed the Jordan and entered the promised land. It’s sad to me that after all of this great history that this city is under the rule of the Hemas and that Israeli people cannot enter it safely because of the risks associated with the unrest.

The story of my journey as a Pilgrim in this country is very eye-opening. I’ve had enough for one day, it’s time to call it a day.

February 24, 2010

Day 2: CAESAREA – MT CARMEL – MEGIDDO

Driving 33 miles north of Tel Aviv along the Mediterranean coast we came to Caesarea Maritima. We first visited the remains of the 25 km aqueduct which was necessary because when this city was built here by Herod there was a need for water.

Caesarea has a rich history as it was the capitol of the Roman province of Judea for many years. In the middle of the 3rd century BC, the Phoenicians built a small port here, and called it Stratos Tower. It was captured by Alexander Janneus in 96 BC, and became a Jewish community. When general Pompey conquered Israel in 66 BC, Stratos Tower became a non Jewish city. Emperor Agustus gave the city to King Herod, who built an entirely new city between 22 and 10 BC, and called it Caesarea to honor the emperor. Jerome states he saw the Hebrew original of the Gospel of Matthew here.

Peter baptized the Roman Centurion, Cornelius here.
Acts 10:1,48 Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort… So he (Peter) gave orders to have them baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Philip the Evangelist lived in Caesarea.
Acts 21:8 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist..
Paul was imprisoned here 2 years, before being sent to Rome for trial. (Acts 24:27)

Excavations starting in the 1958 after a man discovered the theater while working in his field on his tractor resulting in uncovering a large Roman theater, and the city wall.

The first known inscription of the name Pontus Pilate.
This plaque proved the accuracy of the NT claim of this political figure.

There is also a Crusader fort near by.

Modern day Caesarea has become known as the Beverly Hills of Israel having the only golf course in the country.

Mt. Carmel

We Continued north until we came to Mt. Carmel where Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal.
1 Kings 18:18–19 Elijah replied, “I have not brought disaster on Israel. But you and your father’s dynasty have, by abandoning the LORD‘s commandments and following the Baals. Now send out messengers and assemble all Israel before me at Mount Carmel, as well as the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah whom Jezebel supports.

The view from the lookout was spectacular with us being able to see Jerusalem in the distance. I looked up into the beautiful clear sky and saw 4 F15’s pass overhead, as well as the runway for the Israeli air force located in the Kishon valley. All of a sudden we heard an explosion which caused a certain level of curiosity – later we were told it was one of the F15’s breaking the sound barrier. COOL! This is the valley that Elijah executed the prophets of Baal. (1 Kings 18:40).

Megiddo

Megiddo became the main route between Egypt and Syria, and because of its position, many battles were fought in this area. Excavations have revealed a history of 20–25 layers of occupation going back 3500 years, when Thutmosis 3 and the Egyptian army conquered the area from the Canaanites.

It is believed that human sacrifices actually took place here on this round rock altar. Just looking upon this mound of rocks brought such a sense of sadness to me as I wondered of the people that had lost their lives in the name of religion. Even sadder was imagining children being placed here by their parents.

Eventually it came into the hands of the Israelites where King Solomon built one of his walled cities which overlooks the Jezreel Valley.
1Kings 9:15 Here are the details concerning the work crews King Solomon conscripted to build the LORD‘s temple, his palace, the terrace, the wall of Jerusalem, and the cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.

In the 10th century BC King Ahab built a water tunnel where we walked through which required that we descended 183 steps. Big walk just for water.

Not long after, in 925 BC, during King Rehoboam’s reign, it was captured by Pharaoh Shishak of Egypt. Later, it fell to Tiglath-Pilser III, King of Assyria, in 732 BC, who made it the capitol of one of the Assyrian provinces. King Josiah’s last battle occurred here against Pharaoh Necho in 609 BC at Megiddo.
2Kings 23:29 During Josiah’s reign Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt marched toward the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to fight him, but Necho killed him at Megiddo when he saw him.
The city’s continued destruction and rebuilding has resulted in raising it into a high mound. It has become one of the largest archeological excavations in Israel. In the future, the armies of the world will assemble at Armageddon (Megiddo Revelation 19:14–16) for what is referred to as the “battle of midway”. It marks the half way point between the Nile delta and Golan Heights. For me to see all of these areas where battles have happened for all of history as well as seeing the battles that are presently on the verge of taking place is very sobering to me. Why can’t people just get along?

Jesus may your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

February 18, 2010

ISRAEL
January 24-February 2, 2010

Day 1: TEL AVIV

Leaving Toronto and 11 hours later being in Tel Aviv is amazing.

I absolutely love learning about cultures that are unfamiliar to me. It seems my antennae are more sensitive some how when I’m in a new or chaotic environment. I find that when there are people from wholly different world views than my own I feel challenged to hone my thinking. At the same time the flight disrupts the body clock. I’m alert right now but my body feels like it’s been in a boxing ring.

Meeting our guide Schmulick (we called him Samuel) was a real treat! This silver haired 65 year old had lived in Israel all of his life – raised in Tel Aviv while now living in Jerusalem and refers to himself as a “secular Jew”.

Our group consisted of 18 people with most of them being senior pastors from all over Canada. This is one very diverse group of people – should be interesting.

Driving through Tel Aviv Jaffa/Joppa really gave me the contrast of the old and the new just as the name Tel Aviv means. Jaffa being a 5000 year old port city on the Mediterranean sea grew to eventually spill into the official making of a new city Tel Aviv in 1909 with today having a population of 3 million forming Israel’s biggest metropolis.
We were told that the national bird of Israel was the crane 

The history of the city is rich. After Joshua conquered the new land, Joppa became part of Dan. King Solomon used Joppa as a port to bring in timber from Lebanon for the Temple, and Ezra also had cedar trees brought into Joppa from Lebanon.
2 Chron 2:6 Send me cedars, evergreens, and algum trees from Lebanon, for I know your servants are adept at cutting down trees in Lebanon. My servants will work with your servants.

The prophet Jonah sailed from Joppa on a ship going to Tarshish, but ended up in Nineveh.
Jonah 1:3 Instead, Jonah immediately headed off to Tarshish to escape from the commission of the LORD. He traveled to Joppa and found a merchant ship heading to Tarshish.

As we leave the airport we were traveling down the highway where Peter probably traveled on his way to Jaffa. This is where Peter stayed a long time in the house of Simon the Tanner.
Acts 9:43 So Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a man named Simon, a tanner.
It was here that Peter saw his vision of the beasts on a sheet, coming out of Heaven (Acts 10:5–17). As well, it is here where the resurrection of Dorcas took place (Acts 9:36–43). St. Peter’s Church commemorates both of these events.

We were able to see the house that Simon the Tanner lived in – actually it is now a 15th century building but I like to think of it as the original.. and I’m sure that the guy that is living in this house wishes the same. :)

So many battles have taken place in this area over time. This is the home of the Philistines of old. It is also this territory that Napoleon conquered leaving so many killed and lying in the ground that it was said that there were more dead then people alive to bury the dead so the dead were left to rot on the streets. The tension over this country 450 km by 150 km called Israel is still alive and well. Presently Israelis are called to serve in the army for 3 years beginning when they are 18 years old (women serve for 2). They are then apart of the Israeli reserve army until they are 42 years old.

The foundation of the country of Israel is built upon being a land for the Jews to return to. This raises the question of what is a Jew? This became our dinner conversation with Samuel our tour guide. It appears that there are 3 ways that a person becomes a Jew.
1. Anyone born of a Jewish mother.
2. Anyone converting to Orthodox Judaism – Hard complex process.
3. Anyone converting to Conservative Judaism – Easy process.

My devotions for the day found me in Deut 30:3,6 where is says..
If you turn your hearts to the Lord fully – then I will be gracious to you and free you and I will gather you from all the peoples from where you are all scattered… when you turn your hearts toward the Lord GOD WILL cleanse your heart so that you can love Him fully!

As I write out these verses I am sitting in the foyer of my hotel in Tel Aviv with a fresh cappuccino in my hand. I was struck by the initiation of God in 2 ways;
1. to gather His people that are scattered.
2. to change the hearts of his people.
It seems from this passage that all people need to do is to fully lean toward God so that the great work of God can begin. But even the beginning work has God written all over it. There is something about the timing of this reading just as Teresa and I embark on this journey as pilgrims through Israel. This land was promised by God as a GATHERING PLACE for His people from all the peoples. God loves His people and God wants to be loved by his people – yet God sees the intention of people’s hearts and it’s not good. But God is even committed to change the problem in people’s hearts. How gracious – How giving – How does one refuse this loving gesture?
I asked Samuel what it is that he does with the person of Jesus and why he does not accept Jesus as messiah. His response was “When the messiah comes the land will be completely beautiful – full of flowers – and the Dead sea will be sweet”. The difference between Samuel and Myself.. Samuel believes the Messiah comes to make the Dead sea sweet whereas I believe it is the followers of Jesus that are to make the Dead sea sweet. It is the mission of followers of Jesus to bring good news to this broken world. Big difference.

I love being able to do this trip with Teresa – we have dreamed for a long time to be able to. Life is filled with adventure and wonder and I want to keep pushing to move in and out of the box of my life. It’s a dance so dance well Mike!!

February 10, 2010

Joshua 18:3 How long do you intend to PUT OFF OCCUPYING the land God has given you?

Let’s say that someone has just given you a new house – it’s all empty and ready for you to move your furniture in and to make this house your home. You pull up into the driveway in the moving truck and you see this beautiful house and you decide to not make a move any further toward the house. In fact, you decide to eat and sleep and live while you sit in the front seat of the moving truck.

Sounds crazy?

This is what is going on with God’s people. Brand new land just waiting for them to make their new home but they decide to stay sitting in the moving truck.

Why do we do this?

It could be fear – it could be comfort – it could be distraction – but for sure we are missing out on a beautiful, adventure-filled life if all we do is stay in the truck.

Jesus calls us to follow him and become like him in the way that we live. Will we trust him? What he is calling us to is to be a people that see that our beautiful, adventure-filled life is to be about; Loving God – loving people – loving mission.

But in order to live this way we really need to get out of the truck!

Consider: The Plan

Date Posted: Jul 30 2010 by Teresa Klassen
Consider: The Word of the Lord

Date Posted: Jul 29 2010 by Teresa Klassen
Consider the Great Love of the Lord

Date Posted: Jul 28 2010 by Teresa Klassen
Consider The Blameless

Date Posted: Jul 26 2010 by Teresa Klassen