PUBLIC MINISTRY

Hello, my fellow pilgrims!  Are you excited to see where our adventures on day 4 of our Holy Land pilgrimage will take us?  I continue to pray the places and scriptures come alive so you personally experience the fifth gospel.  Try to take a few minutes to pause, think about, and answer the reflection questions you will find along the way. Enjoy today’s sights, my dear reader~

Below is the Holy Land map again so you can see the places we have visited. We started at Mount Arbel, not specified on this map, but it is located near Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee. We then traveled to Nazareth, to Bethlehem, to the Jordan River, to the Mount of Temptation, and to the Judean Desert. The desert spans from Jericho through Hebron and along the Dead Sea. Our pilgrimage today takes us to Cana, Capernaum, and a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, which might be a little rough!

 

 

Cana, our first stop, is where Jesus performed His first miracle or sign, as St. John calls them, at a wedding feast.

Water has always been a valuable resource. Back in Jesus’ day water was especially important for the Jewish people who, often throughout the day, needed to be ceremonially cleansed by pouring water over their hands.

It is interesting to see the significance of Jesus performing His first sign at a wedding feast, and how the miracle relates to wine. It symbolizes things about Jesus’ mission.

 

Scripture refers to Christ as the bridegroom, and we, the church, are the bride.

As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.  –Ephesians 5:31-32  (NLT)

 

We know Jesus’ blood is the wine, part of the ultimate sacrifice offered for our sins.

And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.  –Matthew 26:27-28  (NLT)

 

Where the Wedding Feast of Cana is commemorated

 

 

A water jug

 

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,  and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.  When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”  “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside  and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.  –John 2:1-11  (NIV)

Reflection:  In what ways do you recognize and listen to Jesus’ voice “doing whatever He tells you?”  How can Jesus turn the water of your life into wine?

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While in Cana, we saw a few rooms of a house back in Jesus’ day. It was hard to fathom how families could live in such small areas. As I was listening to the tour guide, what really struck me was thinking about the timelessness of God’s word! Our world these days is so different between the technology and the luxuries we have, yet God’s word is just as applicable to our lives. How amazing is that to reflect on?

 

Small rooms!

 

 

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Here we are in Capernaum, where Jesus’ public ministry began. It was the village that became the adopted home of Jesus after He left Nazareth.

He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.  –Matthew 4:13  (NLT)

 

Jesus taught in the synagogue here and healed the paralytic, the man with the withered hand, and the centurion’s servant, to name a few of His miracles.

I was overcome with emotion standing at this synagogue, listening to the following Scripture knowing this was where Jesus spoke. It was a sacred encounter with Jesus that was a definite highlight, and I did not want to leave.

 

Synagogue where Jesus preached!

 

 

“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.  He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.  –John 6:27, 32-35, 57, 59  (NIV)

Reflection:  Do you work for food that endures for all eternity?  Is your heart filled with the One who provides the bread of life and the wine to satisfy your thirst?

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Right next to this synagogue is Peter’s house, where the following Scripture took place. As you have probably observed, many of the sites we visit have churches built over them to help preserve the areas.

 

Location of Peter’s house in Capernaum

 

Remains of Peter’s house under the church

 

When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.  –Matthew 8:14-15  (NLT)

Reflection:  Do you reach for Jesus’ hand in your time of need? In what ways do you try to keep growing in your faith journey?

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At Peter’s house, I went outside my comfort zone because I wanted to be bold enough to proclaim Scripture in the Holy Land. I was in the right place at the right time to be able to do that. I am grateful for the privilege and that the acoustics were good as there was no microphone.

 

Proclaiming Scripture

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Our final stop today is at the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus spent a lot of time on the water, going to different towns to preach and heal many people of their infirmities. We had the full experience of a stormy sea, as it was raining and windy during our time on the Sea of Galilee as our boat succumbed to the big crests of the water.  It was quite challenging to dock the boat as it took four attempts!

The boat ride on the Sea of Galilee was another highlight of the pilgrimage for me. I spent most of my time in solitude at the front of the boat holding on, embracing the wind, and having a better view. It was an amazing experience to be on a boat on the Sea of Galilee, knowing Jesus was here many times. I was looking at the same mountains and places as He did!

I like how this Scripture teaches us that Jesus is not only Lord of us, but of nature too! God is more powerful than the storms in our lives.

 

Come aboard for our boat ride on the Sea of Galilee!

 

Enjoy the ride seeing what Jesus saw!

 

 

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown! “He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”  –Matthew 8:23-27  (NIV)

Reflection:  Do you reach out in faith to Jesus when the waters of life get rough? How is Jesus the peace in your life when the water of storms overwhelms you?

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As you reflect on our pilgrimage stops this week, be encouraged to remember to…

…”do whatever He tells you.”

…be filled with food and drink from Jesus.

…reach for Jesus in your time of need.

…not be afraid as Jesus is in control of everything in this life.

 

For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.  –John 3:34  (NIV)