We've just traced the journey from the Last Supper in Egypt (Passover) to the Lord's Supper wherever we worship. It's an amazing journey from the banks of the Nile, via the Upper Room in Jerusalem to God's meeting with his people today.
Saturday 9 May 2009
Saturday Morning (May 9) at Belfast Bible College
Over three Saturday mornings we have been xploring the Festivals of Israel. These divine appointments set up in Leviticus 23 take us into the richness of Israel's encounters with the Living God.
We've just traced the journey from the Last Supper in Egypt (Passover) to the Lord's Supper wherever we worship. It's an amazing journey from the banks of the Nile, via the Upper Room in Jerusalem to God's meeting with his people today.
We've just traced the journey from the Last Supper in Egypt (Passover) to the Lord's Supper wherever we worship. It's an amazing journey from the banks of the Nile, via the Upper Room in Jerusalem to God's meeting with his people today.
Tuesday 5 May 2009
Israel Trip
The land of Israel is sometimes described as the '5th' gospel.
In April a group of thirteen 'xplorers' walked and talked together in Galilee and then went 'up' to Jerusalem seeking a better understanding of Jesus in Jewish world.
The past is like a foreign country - they speak a different language and do things differently than we do. By way of orientation to the past and to help us step into the world of Jesus there's few better places to begin than Nazareth village - a reconstruction of a 1st century Galilean village.
DAY 2
From he was 12 until the beginning of his public ministry we know little of the life of Jesus, save that he was a 'tekton'. As such did he and his father Joseph ply their trade in the neighbouring town of Zippori which was being rebuilt by Herod Antipas at this time? Our 'xplorations' of his world took us next to that very place, only about an hour's walk away from Nazareth.
Jesus may have spent years working in this city and walking these streets but we only had a morning. However, even to spend a whole morning there reflected one of the distinctives of an 'Xplorations' study tour. These trips are not about notching up places visited but rather taking time to absorb the atmosphere and reflect on what we can learn to help us understand the Biblical text better. To travel in Israel is to be constantly toggling between the ancient and the modern and after Zippori we had lunch at a more modern establishment
To help us move from the challenges of ancient life to those of modern life in Israel we spent a fascinating time Dr.Faydra Shapiro who has just launched what she calls the Selah Workshop. Faydra is a superb teacher and, along with her friend Yitzhak, we got a rivoting introduction to Jewish life and olive growing.
Today we had the ABC of the world and words of Jesus - Arbel, Beatitudes, Chorazin.
From the heights of Arbel, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, we traveled round to the Mount of Beatitudes where we xplored the depths of Jesus' teaching in the revolutionary statements we call the Beatitudes.
It is particularly challenging to sit on the steps of the synagogue in Chorazin and ask ourselves if we would have reacted any differently than the early villagers who rejected Jesus when he came to the place.
Of course, wherever we went there was always an opportunity to learn about archaeology. Virtrually every site was a tell - the visible stones standing on top of layer upon layer of other stones laid down in earlier generations. Each layer, like each hat on Rose's head representing a different time.
DAY 4
Heading north for a day, we travelled back in time to the days of Northern Kingdom as we xplored the ancient altar of Jeroboam at Dan.
DAY 7
How can words convey the depth of emotions on the approach to the city of Jerusalem? Something is stirred deep within on the way 'up' to the city. This is further intensified as we stand on stones dating from the time of King David and walk on Herodian steps that Jesus, the Son of David would have climbed to the Temple
DAY 9
Our final day is something of an emotional roller-coaster. Early morning sees us on the Temple Mount reflecting on 'the place', the scene of Abraham offering Isaac and David's altar before visiting Yad VaShem, the holocaust memorial. Suffering is never far from our minds, reminding us of the pain at the centre of being the one of God's choice, whether as Israel the nation, or Israel, the man.
In April a group of thirteen 'xplorers' walked and talked together in Galilee and then went 'up' to Jerusalem seeking a better understanding of Jesus in Jewish world.
The past is like a foreign country - they speak a different language and do things differently than we do. By way of orientation to the past and to help us step into the world of Jesus there's few better places to begin than Nazareth village - a reconstruction of a 1st century Galilean village.
There we met Hanna, who like Bezalel (Exodus 31) is a weaver.
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The workshop gave us a wonderful insight into the tools that Jesus as a 'tekton' ( =workman, artisan who could have worked in wood, stone or metal) would have used a
nd the things that he may have made. No rural Galilean village would have been complete without the local shepherds. Walking among them, we felt transported back into an earlier age and many of the shepherding images found in the Bible began to leap out.
nd the things that he may have made. No rural Galilean village would have been complete without the local shepherds. Walking among them, we felt transported back into an earlier age and many of the shepherding images found in the Bible began to leap out.DAY 2
The day started at the Precipice just outside Nazareth. 
At one and the same time this was a high point physically but a low point historically - since it is believed that this was the cliff that the crowd wanted to throw Jesus from after he had announced his fulfilment of the Isaiah Scriptures in the synagogue.
At one and the same time this was a high point physically but a low point historically - since it is believed that this was the cliff that the crowd wanted to throw Jesus from after he had announced his fulfilment of the Isaiah Scriptures in the synagogue.From he was 12 until the beginning of his public ministry we know little of the life of Jesus, save that he was a 'tekton'. As such did he and his father Joseph ply their trade in the neighbouring town of Zippori which was being rebuilt by Herod Antipas at this time? Our 'xplorations' of his world took us next to that very place, only about an hour's walk away from Nazareth.
Jesus may have spent years working in this city and walking these streets but we only had a morning. However, even to spend a whole morning there reflected one of the distinctives of an 'Xplorations' study tour. These trips are not about notching up places visited but rather taking time to absorb the atmosphere and reflect on what we can learn to help us understand the Biblical text better. To travel in Israel is to be constantly toggling between the ancient and the modern and after Zippori we had lunch at a more modern establishment
To help us move from the challenges of ancient life to those of modern life in Israel we spent a fascinating time Dr.Faydra Shapiro who has just launched what she calls the Selah Workshop. Faydra is a superb teacher and, along with her friend Yitzhak, we got a rivoting introduction to Jewish life and olive growing.
DAY 3
Today we had the ABC of the world and words of Jesus - Arbel, Beatitudes, Chorazin.From the heights of Arbel, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, we traveled round to the Mount of Beatitudes where we xplored the depths of Jesus' teaching in the revolutionary statements we call the Beatitudes.
It is particularly challenging to sit on the steps of the synagogue in Chorazin and ask ourselves if we would have reacted any differently than the early villagers who rejected Jesus when he came to the place.
Of course, wherever we went there was always an opportunity to learn about archaeology. Virtrually every site was a tell - the visible stones standing on top of layer upon layer of other stones laid down in earlier generations. Each layer, like each hat on Rose's head representing a different time.
DAY 4
A glorious day on and around the Sea of Galilee, xploring Capernaum, praying by the water's edge and seeing how big a role fishing played in the Gospel records. It's fascinating to learn about the seine, trammel and casting nets were used and referred to in the scriptures.
When our boat cut the engines the silence on the sea spoke volumes as we thought about Jesus walking on the water, 'passing by' (=revealing himself) and calming the storm.
As always Nigel had a smile and just loved the water.
Heading north for a day, we travelled back in time to the days of Northern Kingdom as we xplored the ancient altar of Jeroboam at Dan.This gave us the opportunity to xplore the roots of Israelite kingship and trace through the Hebrew Scriptures the preparations for the coming King of Kings. It followed on quite naturally to visit Banias, the site where Peter made his famous affirmation of Jesus' messiahship and the journey 'up' to Jerusalem started.
DAY 6
Leaving the Galilee, carpeted with spring flowers, we 'set our faces' to Jerusalem but on the way 'up' made two rather lenghty stops at the city of Beth Shean and Qumran. Both sites provide wonderfully rich environments to help us better understand the context of Jesus' life.
As we walked the 'broad' street of the city we reflected on whether or not Jesus could have been thinking of such a street when he contrasted it with the narrow way. In the theatre we pondered if he had ever attended a performance, but whether or not he did, he knew about the actors ('hypocrites' in Greek). Of course, there was some fun the remains of the public toilets as well some real lessons to be learned.
DAY 7
How can words convey the depth of emotions on the approach to the city of Jerusalem? Something is stirred deep within on the way 'up' to the city. This is further intensified as we stand on stones dating from the time of King David and walk on Herodian steps that Jesus, the Son of David would have climbed to the Temple
To walk the city streets on Friday afternoon is a special experience. Sabbath is in the air. It is palpable. The Jews prepare to welcome in the queen - the highpoint of the week. The smell of bread permeates the market place.
DAY8
It's Sabbath. A blanket of quiet covers the city. It's a time for reflection as we sit among the ancient olive trees at Gethsemane. It's a day for walking through the quarters of the old city. It's a day for celebration as we worship together at the Garden Tomb.
DAY 9
Our final day is something of an emotional roller-coaster. Early morning sees us on the Temple Mount reflecting on 'the place', the scene of Abraham offering Isaac and David's altar before visiting Yad VaShem, the holocaust memorial. Suffering is never far from our minds, reminding us of the pain at the centre of being the one of God's choice, whether as Israel the nation, or Israel, the man.
DAY10
Return to Ireland.
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