Did you know that
Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth is now an Arab city?
Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth is now an Arab city?
Did you know that
Bethlehem is not the quaint little village you would typically imagine our
savior being born in?
Bethlehem is not the quaint little village you would typically imagine our
savior being born in?
Did you know that the
place where Jesus carried his cross and was crucified is now called the Muslim
Quarter? A large mosque sits right next to Golgotha rock…ironic isn’t it?
place where Jesus carried his cross and was crucified is now called the Muslim
Quarter? A large mosque sits right next to Golgotha rock…ironic isn’t it?
Did you know that
people come from all over the world to bow down before the places and things
Jesus had touched?
people come from all over the world to bow down before the places and things
Jesus had touched?
Did you know that at Golgotha rock people
bring their Christmas presents and rub them on a marble slab covered in oils where
Jesus’ dead body had lay?
bring their Christmas presents and rub them on a marble slab covered in oils where
Jesus’ dead body had lay?
Did you know that the
Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray, is now a well-manicured lawn
with paved walkways?
Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray, is now a well-manicured lawn
with paved walkways?
Coming to the Holy Land, I thought I would never get a
better opportunity to feel closer to God. Instead, the holy places of Christ,
our Savior, have been turned into tourist attractions and even worse, places of
idolatry. The message of hope and salvation seems lost among the crowds and
varieties of religions.
better opportunity to feel closer to God. Instead, the holy places of Christ,
our Savior, have been turned into tourist attractions and even worse, places of
idolatry. The message of hope and salvation seems lost among the crowds and
varieties of religions.
Walking around the Sea of Galilee, there were signs posted
everywhere reminding me that this was Holy Land and appropriate dress was
required. I wondered what people considered to be holy, the ground Jesus walked
on or the actual man who walked this earth? And I could not help thinking,
shouldn’t we rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus and our promised salvation
instead of idolizing the places and things He may have touched?
Don’t get me wrong, Israel really is a beautiful country
with a rich historical past; however my own expectations are what let me down.
I was hoping Israel would give me a close encounter with Jesus, what I
discovered was that being here isn’t necessary for that. You don’t need to come
to the “Holy Land” to see the Bible come to life or deepen your relationship
with God. He is all around us and in everything. Standing in the middle of Capernaum, where Jesus performed many miracles,
I realized that I can feel God’s presence just as intensely here as I can in my
own hometown.
with a rich historical past; however my own expectations are what let me down.
I was hoping Israel would give me a close encounter with Jesus, what I
discovered was that being here isn’t necessary for that. You don’t need to come
to the “Holy Land” to see the Bible come to life or deepen your relationship
with God. He is all around us and in everything. Standing in the middle of Capernaum, where Jesus performed many miracles,
I realized that I can feel God’s presence just as intensely here as I can in my
own hometown.
