Galilee Day 02 - Nazareth and the Light of the World

Yesterday God led me to write that you are the light of the world. Today RVL gave us another image of what that is like. Imagine that the field shown below was your inheritance. Covered in rocks and thistles, this acre-or-so sized lot was what you had to live on. If you started sowing seed, some might fall on rocks, or among thistles. Not a good thing. Does your light burn bright enough to destroy the thistles so that the rocks in your heart are uncovered? Do you live in community so that those rocks can be dug up and tossed aside? Have you circumcised your heart so that God’s word can spring up a bountiful harvest?

We spent some time in this field literally picking up rocks and tossing them on top of these ancient boundary lines.

Imagine that you were a Jew, or a Muslim, whose ancient history was death of your family at the hands of those wielding cross-shaped swords bearing crosses on their flags and crosses on their tunics. Crusader is a dirty word for many in this part of the world. If we are to speak to them in a coherent way, perhaps another symbol, as precious as the cross is to us, is one that speaks to them.

RVL suggests an olive branch as that symbol. We carried them in our hats for the rest of the day.

TEKTON – carpenter or stone mason? RVL suggests the latter. Imagine the Stone the builders rejected preparing you, His living stone, for a place in His Father’s house, so that His Father has a place to live. And you are from the same quarry as that Stone, and that of Abraham, Issac, Joseph, Jacob, David, Paul, Stephen – you get the picture. Maybe next time you are dealt a sharp blow, it might help to think of it as an edge that needed to be refined so that you can fit with your neighbor into that perfect spot in the one House.

RVL asking us to imagine a little dark-haired, dark-skinned boy following His earthly father, learning the skills of the trade.

Herodian Jews decided that living with fresh water toilets, smooth paved streets, and stylishly decorated homes were the right way to live. Sound familiar? But to a Galilean Jew in the time of Jesus, these would have been lavish uses of money that could have gone to heal the sick, feed the poor, and clothe the homeless. Do we really believe Jesus when He says to sell all you have and follow Him?

An incredibly detailed mosaic in Zippori, the jewel of the Galilee. RVL estimates it took 40 man-years to complete. Jesus would have been offended by this image - Deuteronomy 4:15-19.

Once again on an eremos tapos, a lonely place, we were challenged to listen and hear Jesus’ commission to make disciples. Are we ready to disciple and be discipled? To whom are you accountable, and who is accountable to you?

One of RVL’s disciples, and the Galilee over his shoulder. That we would always live with the Galilee over our shoulders.

We ended our day with the moon rising over Tiberias, standing on the cobbled stones of Bethsaida, and contemplating the amazing mission the boys from that village undertook in fulfillment of that mission.

Sorry this was late - I fell asleep almost as soon as I returned to my room. Know that we love you and pray for you often.

Shalom, KTR