Monday, November 26, 2007

Walking Where Jesus Walked














Rob and Crystal with Bishop and Deborah Goodpaster at the Jordan River

This is Reprinted from the Saraland UMC Newsletter "Cornerstone" November 2007:

Dear Church Family,

As most you know Crystal and I traveled with our Bishop, Larry Goodpaster, and 45 or so others from our Annual Conference. As you can imagine, it was an incredible experience to see the lands where the Bible was lived. We flew into Amman, Jordan and spent our first two days touring the area where Moses and the Israelites spent 40 years wandering around. One of the most meaningful places we visited was Mt. Nebo where God gave Moses the opportunity to peer over into the Promised Land. Crystal and I got to stand where Moses stood thousands of years before and look into the land God promised to his chosen people. From there we could see the Jordan River, the Dead Sea, the City of Jericho, and the fertile Jordan River valley. Had it been a clear day, we could have seen all the way to Jerusalem.

We spent five days touring in and around Jerusalem. We visited Lazarus’ tomb in Bethany, saw an ancient sycamore (like the one Zaccheus climbed) in Jericho, prayed at the birthplace of Christ in Bethlehem, viewed the desert community of Qumran where the Dead Sea scrolls were found, and got to float in the Dead Sea. In Jerusalem we walked the Via Dolorosa, visited the Bethesda pool, prayed at the Western (Wailing) wall, saw the traditional sites of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial on which the Church of the Holy Sepulcher stands. Toward the end of our trip we toured the Galilee area. We visited the spring in Jesus’ boyhood home of Nazareth, walked the streets of Cana where Jesus’ first recorded miracle was performed, and toured the ancient ruins of Capernaum where Jesus lived during his three years of ministry. We had the opportunity to take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee where we recalled Jesus’ calming of the storm, and his walking on water.

It will take some time before I fully appreciate all that we got to see and experience during our trip. However, my faith was strengthened in several ways. First, visiting these Holy sites reminds me that the faith we have is a historical faith. The things we read about in the pages of the Bible are about real people and real places where God met people and showed himself to them. What we read in the Bible are not myths and fables, they are the real stories of the living God in love with his creation. Secondly, this trip has made me want to jump into the Scriptures with a renewed excitement and joy. Strange names of places that I in the past have just glanced over will now take on a new significance. Finally, our trip has renewed my desire to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). As you know, Israel is a very divided country. In order to reach the birthplace of the Prince of Peace, located in the West Bank, a person must travel past armed gunmen on both the Israeli and Palestenian sides of the newly built wall that now physically separates the children of Abraham. I am reminded of the song we learned as children: “Father Abraham had many sons…and I am one of them and so are you, so let’s all praise the Lord.” I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and that all people would come to know Christ – let’s all praise the Lord.

We thank you for the opportunity to go on this spiritual pilgrimage. We look forward to the day we can share the many pictures and stories we have from our experience. Please be on the look out in the New Year when we will take a Wednesday night to share these with you.

Peace,

Rob



Saraland United Methodist Church