I used to tease my dad about getting emotional when my little sister or I did something. It really didn’t matter what it was – band, choir, grades (she has always been smarter than me), stuff he understood and stuff he didn’t, Dad always showed his pride in us with tears and smiles. Big strong marine that he is – his kids (and now grandkids always bring him to tears). Well, today was my turn.
I knew today was going to be one of those days that overwhelmed me, but I truly wasn’t expecting 3 moments that took my breathe away. The first was at the archeological dig for the city of Magdala (Mary Magdalene’s home town). this place was a new stop – only recently uncovered and dedicated since I was here last in 2013. We were given a tour by Father Kelly (great Irish man of God living here and helping the ministry of this incredible place). In this place that had been covered by dirt until 2009, was home to a synagogue dating to the 1st century – it was a place that Jesus would have known, would have visited, would have physically touched.
To truly capture this place would take multiple visits and more posts than I have words to describe. The most fantastic find (among so many) that I want to share was an inscription in the synagogue. In one of the stones “Jesus is Lord” was etched. That makes sense to me, but for it to be found in rock dating from around 40-60 AD confirms that the early church believed in the divinity of Jesus well before any councils and any generational shift (basically this means that the theory that the Jesus of faith was something dreamt up by the church years later for the sake of power is nothing but a dream of naysayers). I heard the words of Father Kelly and my mind popped. This was a game changing find!
Moment 2 happened on the Sea as I was asked to share today’s devotional. As a pastor, one of my absolute joys is to teach and share the stories of scripture. But, as I said in my previous post, this Sea of Galilee messes with you. I couldn’t really bring myself to preach – just read the story from Mark 4:35-41, and invite our fellow pilgrims to place themselves in the story and hear the words, the command of Jesus – “Be Calm! Be Still! Don’t Fear! Have Faith.”
If that wasn’t enough, having my son by my side reading filled my heart with so much joy. He ended up reading at 3 different locations (2 of which he wasn’t prepared for – and 1 of which had some serious OT names that were very difficult). He read with enthusiam. He invited people to feel what he was reading. He spoke with authority. He shared with passion. He incarnated what he was reading. I could see it in his face, I could see it in the other pilgrims, and I could feel my own pride and joy radiate.
Moment 3 is connected. We went to the ancient ruins of the city called Bet Shein. It was one of the 10 cities called the Decapolis in the book of Acts. II Samuel also has a pretty brutal story involving Saul in this story as well. I watched his inner child spring to action. He ran from place to place watching, exploring, soaking up the sites. I smiled as I watched him, remembering that I did the same thing 5 years ago. From the Roman bath house, to the public latrines (he wanted a picture by the row of toilets, but we couldn’t jump the line), to seeing the temple to Dionysius, and the amphitheater, Alex absorbed the space. We made it to the top of the tell where he found a tree used in the movie Jesus Christ Superstar. He was in heaven.
This moment, where scripture and history came alive to him was almost too much for me. The story we love – these 66 books that make up our Bible – is real. It’s rooted in history. It has a place. And Alex is not only seeing it, but it is swirling in him. It’s swirling in dad too. And it is truly a joy filled moment.
Tomorrow, we head to Nazareth, Megiddo or the valley of Armegeddon, and Caesarea Maritime on the Mediterranean Sea. These have been deeply moving places for me – let’s see how they touch us tomorrow. Again – another story, for another day.
Until then – Shalom from the city of Tiberius, in Galilee of the Gentiles, in Israel.
Grace and Peace.