The Land of Miracles: Israel

Israel: Mountainous, Green and Peaceful

Israel is a land of miracles, mountainous, green and peaceful. Visitors are astonished to find most ethnic peoples getting along just fine. Amazement is evident when the fertile, green landscape is viewed and the result of reforestation of about 200,000,000 trees is enjoyed. Borders are still in existence, but it is more peaceful than ever before in modern history.

GOOD FENCE

The tops of the hills of Naphtali and the northern part of the Golan Heights border the now peaceful southern Lebanon. Due to the Lebanese civil conflicts and the anarchy of terrorism further north, southern Lebanon has become quite isolated. When Israel was proclaimed a state in 1948, many of the Arab people from the north of Israel settled permanently in this area, just north of the border of Israel. Recently, thousands of these same Moslems and Christians have come back across Israel’s `Good Fence’ for medical aid and to shop for basic necessities. There are hundreds of Lebanese that regularly work in Israel, some even drive their cars, specially licensed, back and forth across the border.

The Hula Valley

THE HULA VALLEY

The challenge to drain the ancient, stinking swamps called the Hula, was met by new Jewish immigrants in the 1940’s and 50’s. The land is now fruitful. Many of the returning Lebanese visitors are surprised to see the new landscape which has changed considerably since they last saw it almost forty years ago. New settlements and development towns like Kiryat Shemona dot the fertile countryside.

THE SPRINGS OF THE JORDAN

Much of this fertility comes from the luscious nature preserve bursting forth with springs, trickles and bubbling brooks. The three sources of the Jordan River that come together are from the Lebanese mountains, the Mount Hermon, (Banias), and the springs of Dan. A walk through the Dan area is like a stroll in the Garden of Eden. The waters depart from the ruins of the tribe of Dan and combine with the run-off from Mount Hermon, then flow down to the Sea of Galilee. The Hebrew word for going down is “yored”. Some people feel that the term or expression “yored – Dan”, is the origen of the name Jordan, (even though Joshua crossed the Jordan River before the tribe of Dan had settled in this northern area).

The name “Banias” is derived from the name “Paneus”, meaning a place (and resort) where the mythological God Pan was worshipped. Incidentally, in mythology, the god Pan was responsible for nature and vegetation. The Roman held pagan worship activities in this incredibly verdant area.

Caesarea

CAESAREA PHILIPPI

At the foot of Mount Hermon where the Banias source of the Jordan River begins and by a huge rock escarpment, stood the two thousand year old town of Caesarea
Phillipi built by Herod Philip. Here, Jesus asked his disciples, “…Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” and then “…whom say ye that I am”. Simon, son of Jonah, (Bar Jonah in Aramaic means the “son of your father Jonah”), said, “…Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Jesus responded to Simon by calling him Peter, (Petrus in Greek), a rock, then most likely indicating the massive rock, reminded Simon Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed it to him but that his Father in Heaven had. (MATTHEW 16:13-19) The dialogue, with words from several languages, seems to be a lesson to Simon Peter (Rocky in very modern English) that there is a difference in perceiving things by man’s (flesh and blood) understanding as compared to that which comes through revelation from his Father in Heaven. A sure way to recognize the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, is with the rock of revelation.

THE DRUSE

On Mount Hermon, in the Golan Heights, are several villages of Druze, a people claiming to be descendants of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses. Their industrious nature and secretive religious functions, customs and traditions make them an unusual and colorful people. They are an integral part of Israel’s modern population, serving in government and military positions.

THE KENITES

Some speculation suggests that the Druze may be much like the ancient biblical Kenite people, who unlike the Canaanites, were loyal to Israel. (1 SAMUEL 15:6) Modern archaeology seems to indicate that the Kenites practiced similar Israelite religious customs and even built their temples like the temple of Israel, (three courtyards, holy of holies, horned altar, etc.)..

GOLAN HEIGHTS

Since 1967, the Golan has become a peaceful place as Israelis have cleared this rocky land, discovered great farming soil as well as new water sources. The unique combination of rich volcanic soil and modern farming techniques have produced outstanding agricultural yields including award winning grape and wine production for modern Israel.

Close to sixty different ancient Jewish sites, dating to the 3rd, 4th and 5th Centuries after the time of Jesus, have been found as new Jewish settlements were established. During the beginning decades of the modern State of Israel, the Syrians used the Golan Heights to shoot at Israeli settlements and swamp clearing operations in the Hula Valley below. In the 1967, six-day war, the Israelis moved the Syrians off the western side of the heights and to the Eastern low lands on the other side. Since then, on the Israeli side, the Hula valley and the Golan above it has become fruitful. The Golan was inhabited by Israel (tribes of Dan, part of Manasseh and some Levites) in Old Testament times as well. (JOSHUA 21:27) Most of the New Testament accounts occurred in the Golan/Galilee area.

FISHES AND LOAVES

At the Lower Golan, on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, a more desolate or deserted place where few people lived, Jesus would go to be alone. But when the people heard that he was there, they followed him out of their cities. He blessed them and preached to them until the Disciples urged Jesus to let them go home to buy food to eat, He said, “…Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. And they did so, and made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.” Jesus told the disciples to feed the people, they said it couldn’t be done because they did not have enough food. He took what they had, prepared it and returned it to the disciples, then they were able to feed loaves and fishes to five-thousand – not counting women or children. (LUKE 9:11-17)

Capernaum Ruins

CAPERNAUM: A ROMAN AND JEWISH CITY

In recent times, excavations have uncovered the ruins of a once thriving city of Romans and Jews. In ancient times, Capernaum may have had ten thousand inhabitants. It was a Roman toll station. It seems that a toll-taker challenged Peter for toll on his guest, Jesus of Nazareth. Peter apparently offered to pay it, but Jesus begins a significant dialogue, “What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. (MATTHEW 17:24-27) Graciously, Peter offers to pay the tribute for Jesus (which actually was unnecessary). Jesus, even more graciously, has Peter catch a fish which contains a coin in its mouth of large enough value to pay the toll for both of them.

Capernaum was the home of Peter and other apostles, including James, John and Matthew. (MARK 1:29) Matthew was also a toll-taker. Jesus lived here for eighteen to twenty months of his three-year ministry. Most of his miracles occurred here or at nearby Chorazim or Bethsaida. Sadly, these three cities were cursed by Jesus and only their ruins are visible today. (MATTHEW 11:20-24)

Some other of the better known miracles that happened at Capernaum include a palsied man being lowered through the roof on his bed so Jesus could heal him; healing a man with a withered hand; healing Peter’s mother-in-law; having Peter catch fish on the other side of the boat; healing the centurion’s servant from a distance and many others.

Jesus must have made many friends here, after all, thousands followed him. It is conceivable that the very first ones to gather around him when he came out or arrived to speak were the little children. Many parents would also bring their children for blessings. The Disciples would try to turn them away so they would not disturb the Master, He responded, “…Suffer (allow) little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (MATTHEW 19:14-15)

Of the children at Capernaum, one recalls the account of a twelve-year old girl who was ill. Her father, the leader of the synagogue, begged Jesus to come and heal her. On the way to bless her, Jesus noted that a woman had touched his garment. (MARK 5:21-43)

Religious Jews today wear a garment of wool called a talith, the name seems to be derived from the Hebrew word for lamb, “taleh”. The hem or the strings of the talith are customarily touched during Jewish religious services, (the four sets of strings are knotted so that the sum of knots and strings equal 613 – the number of laws and covenants including the ten commandments, given to Moses on Mount Sinai). The woman who touched the garment of Jesus (probably the talith) was healed. When he questioned who had touched him, the women fell at his feet and confessed, probably because it was totally against Jewish custom for a woman, bleeding (ritually unclean), to touch anyone. Jesus assured her that her faith had made her whole.

By the time Jesus arrived to bless the daughter of the leader of the Synagogue, she had died. The people laughed at Jesus when he said the girl was only “asleep”. He sent all the mourners away, then, with Peter, James and John, “…he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel…and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi…” The endearing term, Talitha, may have been Jesus’ way of saying “my little lamb”, or “curly locks” – and “cumi”, in Hebrew, means get up. “And straightway the damsel arose, and walked…” (MARK 5:21-43)

The tender feelings, personal nature and poetry of Jesus and his teaching methods are reflected in the following verses that a young curly locked girl might have thought, two thousand years ago:

TALITHA – The reflections of a little girl.

They said he was a stranger man,
but, I liked him right away.

The crowds lingered and followed him
but, I always heard him say:
Hello my precious little one,
will you sit with me today?

He called me Talitha, curly locks,
…and he taught me how to pray.

When I was sick, he came to me.
but, my life had slipped away.

He told my father, not to fear,
Have faith, he was heard to say.

Then, took my little hand and said:
Talitha, rise up and stay.

Mount of Beatitudes

BEATITUDES – MOUNT OF BEATITUDES

On the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, on a higher elevation overlooking the sea, a higher law was given on the Mount of Beatitudes. Even ancient travelers have written in their journals of the peaceful feeling of this Mount. A church designed by the Italian architect, Barlucci, marks the traditional location. Considering the proximity of this place to other communities nearby where Jesus taught and lived (Capernaum, Chorazim and Bethsaida), the breathtaking view that inspires and the feelings travellers have reported throughout the centuries, this is a likely spot where Jesus might have shared an explanation of his mission with the twelve Apostles. (MATTHEW 5)

SERMON ON THE MOUNT

The Sermon on the Mount was apparently given to the Twelve, “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him”, (MATTHEW 5:1), yet it invites all people, whether rich or poor in spirit, happy or mourning, popular or persecuted, to come unto him. He promised that they would be filled with the Holy Ghost if they would accept Him.

Jesus indicated that the Law of Moses was fulfilled in Him, that he was restoring a higher law, one that was governed and dictated more by the spirit and intent than by the letter of the law, which was given at Mount Sinai, (after Moses had destroyed the first set of tablets). A better understanding of the Sermon on the Mount comes when comparing it to the commandments given on Mount Sinai.

A closer look at the “Beatitudes” also reveals that Jesus gave additional commandments. They were based on the original “Law of Moses”, but had deeper spiritual implications, implying that the reason behind keeping the commandments was more the spiritual guideline than the “letter of the law”.

The “old” and “new” laws are again like a “chiasm”, with the Savior’s ministry and subsequent atonement as the center, the “turning point”, linking the lesser and higher laws. The following poem illustrates this:

THE SERMONS ON THE MOUNTS

The law was given, the standard set.
But, best was not accepted yet.
We compromised with Heaven’s voice,
Just ten commandments was our choice.
Tooth for tooth and eye for eye,
retribution was the cry.

LESSER LAW

No other God-
Or Image Graven-
Not in vain, the name of Heaven –
Remember sabbath,
Father, Mother –
Thou shalt not kill –
Nor defile another –
Do not steal –
Or false word belabor –
Do not covet the wealth of neighbor –

But then was promised a covenant new,
inwardly, God would speak to you.
With sins forgiven and God revealed,
a higher law on us was sealed.

HIGHER LAW

Bless your neighbor-
Share a kindly word-
Give to others –
And clean thoughts preferred –
No need for anger to hide your smile –
Parents, children walk the second mile –
Use the Sabbath, blessings to bestow –
The name of God in your good deeds show –
Your life will God’s true image mirror,
As you and He become much nearer.

The secret of God’s law is known
when action by intent is shown.
In Heaven’s highest throne to stay,
Use thought and reason to guide the way.
The highest law is now defined –
in thought, in spirit and in the mind.

CHIASM

As stated before, the two sets of law form a chiasm around the ministry and atonement of Jesus. Fifty days after His crucifixion at Passover, the Holy Ghost came upon the congregation in Jerusalem. The Jewish Holiday commemorating the giving of the “Lesser” Law at Mount Sinai is also celebrated fifty days after Passover. Apparently, the same day was used in giving the gift of the Holy Ghost, the “Higher” Law. (ACTS 2:1-5) The day is called Pentecost.

Sea of Galilee

SEA OF GALILEE

Seven hundred feet below sea level, the waters of the upper Jordan River feed and form the Sea of Galilee. Here, Jesus walked on the water; the apostles were astonished and even frightened when they saw Him. “But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out…” “…and were troubled.” (MARK 6:44-51) Jesus bid Peter to walk, but when Peter saw what danger he was in – he began to sink. Peter cried out, “…save me”, Jesus then helped him out of the water and said, “…wherefore didst thou doubt?” Was Jesus teaching Peter a very personal lesson? After all, Peter was crying out to be saved. Was Jesus reminding Peter that he did not need to doubt, that Jesus was the Savior, that he came to save? (MATTHEW 14:30-32)

Due to the level of the lake being below sea level, (about 700 feet below), and the heights of the surrounding hills, (rising almost 10,000 feet above sea level), sudden storms still arise on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus calmed the wind and the waves, showing that he was the master of ocean and earth and skies. Comments were made, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (MARK 4:37-41)

Another sea story included Peter, who after fishing all night without catching anything, was told to cast his nets on the other side of the boat. He did, and drew so many fish that the boat almost sank. Their nets broke and the fishermen were not able to manage the harvest. (LUKE 5:4-9) From these shores, Jesus drew the fishermen and told them, “…I will make you fishers of men”. (MATTHEW 17:24-27)

After the resurrection, the Savior appeared to the Apostles at the Sea of Galilee. They had been fishing all night — and had caught nothing. He told them again, “…cast your nets on the right side of the ship”. (JOHN 21:6) The two stories of catching fish, one at the beginning of his earthly ministry and the second after his earthly ministry is another chiasm. The savior’s atonement is again evident as the center subject.

The first time the Disciples were told by Jesus to cast their nets on the other side, the nets broke, they were not able to harvest the fish. Three years later, he told them the second time to cast on the other side, this time the nets held together and the Disciples pulled in the catch. A symbolic consideration could be that their three years of training with the Master was to teach them how to be successful fishers of men.

After the resurrection, as they successfully pulled the nets in, Jesus bade Peter and the others to eat with him. Jesus, then asking Peter three times if he loved him more than the fishes, kept reminding Peter, “…Feed my sheep”. (JOHN 21:1-17) Jesus’ role is to save, the Apostles role is to feed the sheep. It seems that once the Twelve had learned that relationship, they were able to more successfully teach, effectively bless and divinely save; because now, they were not trying to do things from themselves, but were truly working in the name of Jesus.

It is his name upon us that is a constant reminder of the miracle of life eternal. He blessed, he saved, he restored. Modern Israel is a witness of the power of restoration of the land and of the people. The miracles of old are reflected in a now new land of miracles.

Remember your dream of walking in the footsteps of the Savior?

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