Sea of Galilee~Mensa Christi~Day Six

Welcome back to Galilee! I'll never get over the views...not ever!

My friends, THIS was my favorite place to be on our entire trip to Israel!

On THIS beach, a resurrected Jesus called out to His disciples who had been out fishing ALL NIGHT,
"'Friends, haven't you any fish?' 'No,' they answered. He said, 'Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.' When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish." John 21: 5,6

After this interaction, John realized it was Jesus, Peter JUMPED INTO THE WATER to get to Jesus as quickly as humanly possible, leaving the other disciples to haul all these fish in.

The church that was built here is called Church of the Primacy of Saint Peter, or Mensa Christi for short.

There was one monk sitting inside reading his Bible when I stole a quiet moment inside. While we were still there, a church group sang a few hymns.

Mensa Christi, literally translated "Christ's Table," is believed to be the place where Jesus cooked His friends fish and bread over a fire by the time they made it back to shore. Did you catch that? When His friends had been out fishing all night long and caught NOTHING, Jesus had already cooked them a fish breakfast, and it was ready for them when they docked!

"When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish you have just caught.' Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' John 21: 9-12"

These stones could have been part of a fishing wharf!

You can exactly imagine Jesus standing there cupping his hands to amplify His voice and calling out, "Friends! Haven't you caught anything?!"

This makes you actually picture what happened. They fished ALL NIGHT and caught NOTHING. Then, a man on the shore gives these professional fishermen a tip. Haha! They gave it one more try. What did they have to lose, after all? Then they hauled in this HUGE CATCH! John realized that it was the Lord, and Peter jumped ship and swam (or waded) the 100 yards (Jn 21: 8) to shore, leaving his buddies to do the dirty work! WHY? You can click HERE if you'd like to know the background as to why Peter would have jumped ship in the first place!

After "the guys" ate breakfast together, Jesus "recommissioned" Peter. Remember, Peter had denied Jesus THREE TIMES shortly before Jesus went to the cross, so there was a bit of mending to be done to their relationship. Jesus went for it. He reinstated Peter right there in front of all of the disciples that were there at breakfast. You can read more about this story in John Chapter 21.

Nostalgic doesn't begin to scratch the surface of this place. Listening to the Sea lap gently on the black, pebbly shoreline, hearing your steps crunch through the miniature stones and shells on the beach, being where the RISEN SON OF GOD was with His disciples...
unexplainable...
undeniably awesome...
humbling.

Next stop in Galilee, a quick, windy road up the hill to:
The Mount of Beatitudes

Caesarea, Israel~Day Five

Welcome back to Israel, friends! The day after we returned from Jordan, we sort of had a "down day." Dallas and I went and had Cappucinos at this little sidewalk cafe in Tel Aviv in the morning. Next, we ran over to the US Embassy with Stewart. Then, it was off to the quaint town of Caesarea (pronounced "Kay-saw-ria")-a 20 minute drive north of Tel Aviv.

Caesarea is mentioned multiple times in the book of Acts. In Biblical times, Caesarea would have been a Roman port...a MAJOR Roman port. True to form, King Herod had a massive palace that jutted out into the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea complete with a Hippodrome in the "front yard" where they would race chariots by the sea! The views? True to Israeli form, phenomenal! The architecture? You got it, unbeatable!

Below is a Bosnian Mosque. I don't have an explanation about this, but I'm assuming that it was built well after King Herod's time!

In this ancient bustling town turned modern artsy-fartsy, a man named Cornelius took up residence in Biblical times. Cornelius was called a "God fearing man," and he had a vision that called him to send for Peter in Joppa, modern day Jaffa. The Bible specifically says, "Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea." Acts 10: 5, 6 So Cornelius sends three of his servants to Simon the Tanner's house (which I wrote about several days ago) to find Peter. The next day, Peter, six "brothers" from Joppa and these three servants headed North to Caesarea. They walked for about a day and a half to get there (Caesarea is probably about a 35 minute drive due north of Jaffa). When they reached Cornelius's house, "Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people." Acts 10: 27 So he asked why they sent for him. Cornelius tells him of the events that led up to his sending for Peter and then says, "...it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us." Acts 10: 33 Peter proceeds to tell them about the man Jesus. "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message...Then Peter said, 'Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.'" Acts 10: 44-47

I just love that God put a large group of believers in this bustling sea town-right in the middle of all the action!

With water absolutely abounding in this gorgeous sea town, it makes you wonder where this "large gathering of people" went to be baptized...here, maybe?

These columns (replications) would have been near the entrance to Herod's massive reef palace.
Another significant event that happened in Caesarea is Paul's imprisonment as he awaited trial by Caesar. You can read about that in Acts 23-26.

Every corner of Caesarea has majestic views!

The hippodrome

Our friend, Stewart, with the seating for the hippodrome in the background.

Have a look at the Roman Theater!

Two of my favorite men in the whole world!

Atop the aqueduct that supplied water to Caesarea from 7 miles up the road!

As the sun set on day five of our Israeli adventure, we were met by a stunning sunset, tainted only by this ancient artifact.

Caesarea~a true jewel.
Beauty beyond beauty.
Every step a new jaw dropping view.

Day Six of our trip to Israel may take me a few days to put together. We went to Nazareth and around the entire Sea of Galilee which is steeped in Biblical history!

Jaffa, Israel-Day 1

Dallas and I were recently able to travel to ISRAEL to visit our dear friends, Stewart and Elizabeth and to see The Promised Land up close and personal! The first day we were there, Elizabeth took us to the ancient city, Jaffa Port, which is only 20 minutes from their home in Tel Aviv! Jaffa is filled with biblical history! This ancient town is where Jonah "ran away from God" from! In it's prime, Jaffa would have been a pretty busy port town. This town was one of my favs! It also is the city where Peter lived for probably a couple of years! He stayed with Simon the Tanner when he was there, and we were able to see the home that may have been Simon's house!

Dallas and I stopped for a quick shot by the Mediterranean Sea. You can see Jaffa in the background.

Jaffa had this neat clock tower along the main road.

We went in this neat store with all sorts of unique culinary treats and spices, wines from Israel and pottery! Below are a few of the wines they sold. Passion fruit, Pomegranate and Kiwi wines are a few that they had to offer!

Below is the roof of the store I mentioned above! This roof was amazing! The building was built during the Ottoman Empire, and this store, as I was told by the owner, was the stable for the police station!

In Israel, you have your typical Jewish towns, your typical Arabic towns, and then your typical Palestinian territories. More on that to come, but Jaffa is your typical Arab town, complete with this gorgeous "prayer tower."

Old Jaffa Port's square! It was so beautiful...so Mediterranean!

I'm a sucker for doors and windows. This quaint town had doors and windows a'plenty! And, nestled within these ancient buildings were artsy stores and boutiques that one could peruse for days on end. This town is perfect for a lazy afternoon stroll, and afterward, you can go grab a fresh Pomegranate juice from the little cafe in the town square.

Views like this one were around every corner in Jaffa...

Below is a picture of Simon the Tanner's house.

Jaffa's whale fountain is so perfect! It's like a little bow atop a perfectly wrapped present!

In case I haven't quite convinced you to visit Jaffa...have a look at their hanging tree!

Mosaic tile abounds in Israeli artwork!

Doors and windows...oh my!

The Catholic church in Old Jaffa City...so gorgeous!

The actual port in Jaffa.

Our beautiful, sunshiny day in Jaffa was just perfect! The friendly people, salty sea air, and quaint, small town atmosphere was a perfect introduction as to what was to come in the time ahead!

Wednesday's Word-DO YOU LOVE ME?

Some of you may not have been around for the beginning of the Wednesday series on Peter and Jesus. Since we can safely assume that Peter was Jesus's BFF while he was on earth, I think it's worthwhile to dig a little deeper into their friendship. Check out the first three weeks below, and then let's get started!

Peter series-1, Peter series-2, Peter series-3

We're comin' atcha from John 21 today! It's been about 10 days since Peter had betrayed Jesus. Jesus has appeared to the disciples (Peter included) twice already, and they have not had the chance to talk things out yet. Have you ever ended a conversation or relationship with absolutely no opportunity to make things right again? This must have been pretty uncomfortable for Peter (being with Jesus again with no reconciliation) because all these guys were with Peter and Jesus when Jesus told Peter that he would disown Him three times. They were all there when Peter begged to differ, and John was an eyewitness to Peter disowning Jesus. I'm SURE the rest of these guys knew the entire story. It's accounted for in ALL FOUR GOSPELS. It's interesting that Jesus reinstating Peter is only accounted for in John.

So Peter, being a fisherman, decides to go fishing, and his buddies (the disciples) go with him. Fished ALL NIGHT...caught nothing. Then Jesus stands ashore and calls out, telling them how to catch fish. When they catch the fish, they realize it's Jesus. Notice this: Peter's in the boat...a distance from shore. Jesus is on shore, calling out. When they realize that it's Jesus, Peter jumps ship and swims back to shore. He seemed to be trying to bridge this gap between himself and Jesus no matter the cost. Was he just past the point of waiting for reconciliation? Did he need a couple minutes alone with his Lord? A couple minutes to reconcile this relationship? Well, he didn't actually get that conversation after all. Jesus waits until the rest of the guys are back ashore and have eaten breakfast before He approaches the subject, and THIS...is how it went down.

First, we need to define LOVE. We have one measely word for LOVE in the English language, and it's OVERUSED and UNDERAPPRECIATED. I'm talking, I'm not even sure any of us truly understand what it is anymore, overused. In Biblical times, there were several words for love, but we'll focus on two: AGAPE and PHILEO (since they are the two used in the following scenario)

AGAPE: A love that comes from your soul. Loving with all your heart, soul, mind, strength. This is the love that is mentioned in Matthew 22: 37, 39, where Jesus defines what the GREATEST COMMANDMENT is. This is how we are supposed to love the Almighty, with a love that's so deep and wide that by seeing this kind of love, one can see the very person of Christ.

PHILEO: A brotherly love. To be personally attached to someone.

Because Peter's sin was laid out for all the disciples to see. Jesus reconciled that relationship for all the disciples to see. They were all there, and Jesus says, "...do you truly AGAPE me more than these?" (Jn 21: 15) Jesus wants to know how deeply and truly Peter loves Him. Peter's reply? "Yes, Lord...you know that I PHILEO you." I love how transparent Peter is with Jesus here. And, all these others are around to hear this. I also wonder if Peter is being a little hard on himself. Think about it. If it were ME in that situation, I think I would be thinking "Of course I don't AGAPE Him. If I HAD, I would not have disowned Him! I'm going to call this love PHILEO because I'm pretty sure AGAPE love is not the "save your own hide" kind of love I expressed on that fateful night."

Jesus replies, "Feed my lambs."

Jesus asks him again, "Simon son of John, do you truly AGAPE me?" Peter, again, "Yes, Lord, you know that I PHILEO you."

Jesus replies, "Take care of my sheep."

A third time, Jesus asks, but changes his definition of love to see if they now match up, "Simon son of John, do you PHILEO me?" Peter was hurt this time, the Bible says, because Jesus asked him a third time, but I wonder if, it was the changing of the word to PHILEO that hurt. This time, in Peter's mind, Jesus got it right. And, let's face it, the truth hurts. Reconciliation sometimes hurts.

Jesus replied, "Feed my sheep...Follow me!"

This conversation must have been pretty intense...and very healing. Notice Jesus didn't come at Peter with a list of things Peter did wrong. He didn't lecture Peter about how he should have acted. He didn't say, "Don't do it again." Jesus forgave even before Peter had the chance to ask for forgiveness. He spoke healing words in to Peter. Jesus bridged the gap that Peter tried earlier to swim.

I think it would be wise to mention that Jesus STILL does this today. He doesn't come at me with a list of all the things I do wrong, but rather, waits with open arms for when I run back to Him. He doesn't give me some guilt trip when I mess up daily. He forgives freely when I go to Him with a heart grieved over the fact that my sin, again, separated me from Him. He speaks words of healing to ME! Jesus bridges the gap that I try to fill but can't. And, I think it's worthy to note that EVEN IF my love for Him is PHILEO and not AGAPE, He still desires a relationship with me.

Wednesday's Word-OH, NO! That guy KNOWS me!

I wish I could blame the slight delay in posting this on the fact that Blogger was down for about two days, but the truth is, I've been sick...and busy. So, Wednesday's Word is comin' atcha today, Friday!

I want to keep going on this interaction between Peter and Jesus. So, remember last week how Jesus told Peter he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed? Yeah? Well, then Peter told Jesus, "...even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And, here we are. This week's "word" can be found in ALL FOUR GOSPELS (Matt 26, Mk 14, Lk 22, and Jn 18).

Jesus is now being questioned by the High Priest (at the H.P's HOUSE). This "other" disciple followed Jesus to the High Priest's house alongside Peter. These two "followed at a distance," but this "other" (unnamed) disciple went right into the courtyard while Peter waited at the entrance. This other disciple came and talked the girl at the gate (a female Bouncer?) into letting Peter in as well. They're now sitting by the fire with servants and officials of the High Priest.

DENIAL #1: This servant girl carefully studies Peter and finally says, "You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus." Peter's reply? "I don't know or understand what you are talking about." (Mk 14: 67, 68) Then he got up and left the courtyard. He went back to the entryway. WHY? He makes up TWO lies: I don't KNOW what you're talking about and I don't UNDERSTAND what you're talking about. Then he bails on the conversation? Peter went somewhere where he could be less conspicuous, a place where there were more people around where he could just fade into the crowd, and where he could make a quick getaway if need be. What happened to the bold Peter who was so bent on proving his allegiance to Jesus that he cut Malchus's ear off?!

DENIAL #2: Here, Peter's at the gateway where another girl saw him and said, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." (Matt 26: 71) Peter denied this claim again! This time with an OATH! "I don't know the man!" Remember, Jesus, all the while, is being questioned by the high priest and is not denying anything...even though all these lies were being fired His way. Meanwhile, Peter is denying ALL these true things so he can save his own skin.

DENIAL #3: THIS time, a servant of the High Priest comes up to him. This servant was the brother of Malchus (the guy whose ear Peter cut off). This guy would have been CERTAIN of who Peter was! An HOUR has now passed. This man says, "Certainly this fellow was with Him, for he is a Galilean." (Galileans had a distinguishable accent...think Boston.) At this point, Peter's stressed out. "He began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them 'I DON'T KNOW THIS MAN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!'"

Cue rooster.

"The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter." (Lk 22:60)

Eyes locked.

Peter remembers...

"Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." (Lk 22: 34)

I can't even imagine the intensity of that moment. Peter's heart must have just been POUNDING! This guy KNOWS me! He KNOWS I know Jesus! I'm as good as dead! And then, in the middle of all the noise, the questioning, the rooster crows. This must have been going in slow motion for him. That sort of slow motion where you can hear your own heartbeat in your ear. It all came back. ALL these conversations he'd had with Jesus...and he lost it.

"He went outside and wept bitterly." (Matt 26: 75)

I kind of think of relationships we might have with friends or family. You know, the relationships that seem "unfixable." Someone has betrayed you or hurt you beyond something that can be humanly restorable. How could Peter claim that he'd DIE for Jesus on the same day that he DENIED Him THREE TIMES?!

Next week, we're going to talk about restored relationships. There's hope! Have a great week!

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Wednesday's Word-YOU JUST CUT THAT GUY'S EAR OFF!

So, last week, we talked about how Jesus told Peter that before the rooster crowed, he would disown Jesus THREE TIMES! Peter's reply? "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." Matt 26: 35

Peter now has something to "prove," right? I mean, if you've ever put yourself out there to where your very integrity is at stake, you're DEFINITELY going to be right! You have EVERYTHING to prove and "your word" to lose...oh, and PRIDE! So, Peter's now antsy about making SURE he does NOT disown Jesus! If there was ANYTHING he was going to prove Jesus wrong about...THIS WAS IT!!!

We're talking from John 18: 1-11, but focusing on verses 10 and 11.

Jesus and His buddies are hanging out at their local hangout--The Olive Grove---(The Mt. of Olives). All of the sudden, a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees show up, led by Jesus's former disciple, Judas Iscariot. These guys were ARMED and LOOKING for a reason to kill Jesus, and Jesus and all His disciples knew it. So there is this interaction between Jesus and Judas, and then Jesus and the officials (which I'm totally coming back to in a couple weeks!). Finally, this band of people who came to arrest Jesus made their arrest. Jesus, the Man who never sinned, was now in handcuffs.

In Luke 22: 49, we find that during this arrest, his followers realized they were about to take Jesus into custody, so they question Jesus, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" But, Peter wasn't waiting around for the opportunity to come for someone to accuse HIM of disowning Jesus. He decided to take matters into his own hands! He was going to PROVE to Jesus that he meant what he said when he said he would never disown Jesus or he would DIE trying! He drew his sword, and took a swing...cutting off the EAR of Malchus, a servant of the High Priest.

Jesus's response to this?
1) "Put your sword back in its place...Do you think I cannot call on my Father and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matt 26: 52, 53).

2) "...and He touched the man's ear and healed him." Luke 22:51 JESUS JUST HEALED THIS GUY'S EAR! THE GUY WHO CAME FOR THE VERY PURPOSE OF ARRESTING HIM!

3) And Jesus says to Peter in John 18: 11, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" The Man who, that VERY NIGHT, was praying FERVENTLY for God to make a way to take this cup from him, told Peter the cup had to be drunk, and He would be the one to do it.

So, Peter might have been a little overzealous to prove his loyalty to the King, but you know how it goes...you're trying to "prove yourself"...you get a bit prideful if your reputation is on the line and people are looking to you for leadership.

The thing of it is...after all this commotion, "...ALL the disciples deserted him and fled" leaving Jesus alone in "The Grove" with a detachment of armed soldiers, a bunch of people who hated him and wanted to KILL Him, and His betrayer, Judas. Did not ONE of the disciples want to stay? When push came to shove, they ALL...LEFT. Not ONE stayed.

Not even Peter.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The Word on Wednesday

Hi, Friends! Since "exciting" things only come around so often, I have decided to take the opportunities on Wednesdays to give you a quick little devotional read. I'm hoping that I can keep them brief, and that it will be something (especially for busy moms) that you can ponder as you go about the busyness of your day. God's word is alive and active-sharper than any two-edged sword, and I'm convinced that if I read the same passage 50 times, I'd get 49 new lessons than I got the first time. So, feel free to leave comments on what YOU get out of the same passage!

Last week, in our Young Life group, I led a lesson on all of John Chapter 13. WHEW! Yep. We're going through John, and we've been shooting for a chapter a WEEK! I won't go through all of 13 today, but just verses 33-38, so pick up your Bible, and let's GO!

Jesus just gave His disciples their Passover meal. They're still sitting at the table, and Jesus tells them He's only going to be with them for a little bit longer, and He lets them know that they can't come where He's going. What?! Can't come? But, we've been with you for three years, straight, and WE LIKE YOU!

Ever stop and think that Jesus NEVER tells us that? He never says, "Where I'm going, you CAN'T GO"! He promises us, "I am with you always, even to the ends of the earth"! But, at that time, the disciples COULD NOT follow Jesus. Although, we know that each of His disciples except John eventually would be martyred for their faith.

Instead, Jesus replied that they must "love one another." That, "all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." That's a pretty powerful message. That, if we want the whole world to KNOW Jesus, that we have to LOVE ONE ANOTHER! How HARD that is to carry out, too! Why would anyone want to have anything to do with Jesus if, in following Him, their relationships and their lives are no different?! I see people come to Jesus through other people. For example, I came to Jesus through my relationship with my dear friend, Elizabeth! My husband, Dallas, through his relationship with Elizabeth's husband, Stewart. We began to know God as a loving God because THEY LOVED US!

Notice Peter's next comment immediately following is this: "Lord, where are you going?" Um, PETER! Did you just MISS all that stuff about Loving one another?! I think about Tate. I'm talking to him at dinner last night. He's looking at his Easter basket...dreaming of the goodies that he can have for dessert. He heard NOTHING I said. I wonder if Peter was off in la-la land wondering what Jesus was talking about when He said, "Where I am going, you cannot come" instead of listening to the wisdom that would follow.

So, Jesus tells Peter that he can't come NOW, but that he WILL follow later, and later Peter DID end up dying on a cross as well, although he was cruxified upside down because he did not consider himself worthy of dying like the Messiah.

Peter's reply: "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Peter meant what he said. After all, he had already left his family, his job, his boat, his livelihood!

Jesus then drops the BOMB! "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!" OUCH! Imagine your BEST FRIEND telling you this! Jesus didn't tell Peter he'd disown Him once or twice, but THREE times! This, right after Peter told Jesus he'd lay down his life for Him! So, I ask, what would you lay down for Jesus? Would you give of your time, your money, your resources? Would you lay down your very life? Where would you draw the line? Are you "too busy," like the rest of the world, to serve Him...to reach out to your neighbor...to have that young couple over for dinner...to mentor that young mom? Would you boldly claim to the Almighty that you would "lay down your life"?

So, after Jesus tells Peter that he would disown Him, we find from Matthew's account of this story, that Peter does a little "talking back." Matt 26: 35-"But Peter declared,'Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.' And all the other disciples said the same."

I'm asking us ALL to do a gut check here! We call ourselves Christians. We say we love Jesus, but when push comes to shove, will we REALLY FOLLOW HIM? Will we obey? After all, Jesus said, "If you love me, you will OBEY WHAT I COMMAND"!!

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