June 30, 2005
06/28 Israel - Day Seven
On Monday we drove south out of Jerusalem to Massada about an hour-and-a-half trip by bus. After a tour over the ruins of this magnificent fortress built by King Herod in 30 BC, we drove to a beach at the Dead Sea. We viewed the Qumran caves of the Essenes, a radical Jewish sect that provided us the famous Dead Sea Scrolls.
We spent Monday night at a kibbutz on the east side of the Sea of Galilee. Our tour bus pulled in late Monday night. By the time we got settled in our rooms and sat down to dinner, the sun was setting behind Mt. Arbel and the city of Tiberias.
The Sea of Galilee, this beautiful place, was the center of so much of Jesus' ministry. Korazin, Capernaum, Bethsaida - cities around the sea are mentioned in the Bible. The feeding of the 5,000, the miracles of the two catches of fish, the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, the demoniac and the devilish legion ... all these stories and more happened in this area.
I couldn't sleep Monday night. The presence of the Sea of Galilee was too disturbing. Odd isn't it? Water is supposed to have a calming effect, but not for me. It was too real. The wind was blowing hard across the sea and the waves were pounding the shore just a hundred yards from our balcony. While I was watching the waves, I couldn't help but think about Jesus and the miracle of the calming of the storm. That was a good thought. But, the story of Peter getting out of the boat to walk on the water kept running through my mind. I kept looking at all that water and I realized that I would never get out of the boat, not unless I was thrown out. You know, it's a bit disturbing to realize you're less the disciple than you think you are. It's a bit unsettling to come to that realization. It's easier for me to identify with Peter's denial during Jesus' trial than to identify with his heroic step out of the boat. Peter, 'You-the-man!' I couldn't have done it - not when I'm standing by the sea looking at all that watery chaos.
Jesus must have thought that Peter was something special too. He said to Peter on another occasion, "Peter, you are a rock!" He was! He had to be.
It's hard to face your "Sea of Galilee;" that is, to see your weaknesses, your flaws and faults, and those places where you're reluctant to serve as a disciple of Christ. But it's important to know, and even more important to admit.
Do what I did while I was standing knee deep in the water of the sea - surrender all your fears, faults and failures to Jesus. I left them there on the beach, and you can leave them with Him in prayer.
Posted by roger at June 30, 2005 06:52 AM