Listen to Him!

View of the historical Church of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, Israel

I learned on my tour of Israel, that once a place is holy it is always holy. The church above was built over the place of the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mt. Tabor. Eight days after Jesus told His disciples about the coming of His suffering and crucifixion, He took Peter, James and John up this mountain. As He prayed, His face and appearance changed. His clothes became as bright as lightning. Moses and Elijah showed up and talked to Jesus about His departure. The Bible says in Luke 9:32, “Peter and his companions were very sleepy.” How could they be sleepy? What did it take to wake them up? They saw three men in glory. When Moses and Elijah began to leave, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here,” and he offered to build shelters for each of the three men. While he was talking, a cloud covered them and the disciples were afraid. A voice spoke from the cloud. “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him” (Luke 9:35).

Peter, James and John were Jesus’ closest friends. They saw Him heal the sick and raise the dead. They were with Him when He preached the Sermon on the Mount and when He fed 5,000 with 5 loaves. Yet, they were human. How can I criticize them? I have the Bible and lots of commentaries to help me understand the Scriptures. The disciples were eyewitnesses. Things happened all around them. Powerful events came and went in a moment. They had to pay attention or miss the miracles. Jesus’ time with them was coming to an end, and they didn’t realize it. The Father said, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.”

The message is the same for us. It’s important for us to pay attention when we read the Bible, to ask questions, to apply the truth to our lives–truth about God’s amazing love, mercy, forgiveness, blessing, and judgement. Sorry I had to put that last word in there, but judgement is coming. It will come in the twinkling of an eye like a thief in the night. Will you be ready? Turn your eyes upon Jesus, say His name, experience His love. Abundant life awaits you–life now and forever.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your word. We can read it over and over and learn something new every time we read it. Help us to pay attention and listen to what you have to say to us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Caesarea, the Home of the First Non-Jew Christian

Ruins of the ancient city and port of Caesarea. Israel. Sunny spring day. The preserved and restored minaret of the times of the Arab invasion. Concept of archeological and historical tourism

Cornelius, a centurion who lived in Caesarea, Israel, had a vision of an angel that said to him, “Cornelius! Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea” (Acts 10:4-6). Cornelius sent for two devout soldiers and told them everything the angel said to him and sent them to Joppa.

The next day Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat. He fell into a trance and saw Heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. A voice said, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” Peter said, “Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice answered, ” Do not call anything impure that God has made clean” (Acts 10:9-15). This happened three times. Then the sheet was taken back to Heaven.

While Peter pondered the meaning of the vision he heard men downstairs asking for him and he went to see them. They said they came from Cornelius the centurion, who is a righteous and God-fearing man in Caesarea, respected by the Jewish people. An angel told him to have you come to his house so he could hear what you have to say.

The next day Peter went with the soldiers back to Caesarea where Cornelius and his relatives and friends waited to see him. Peter said, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, . . .” (Acts 10:24-36) and he explained the gospel to them. The Holy Spirit came on all who heard Peter’s message, and he baptized them.

Our purpose is no different than Peter’s – to bear testimony of God’s love, forgiveness and eternal life. We each have different gifts, talents, abilities and experiences, but our message is the same. Don’t worry about what you will say. Pray for the opportunities and God will provide the words.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for this story of Peter’s courage and for the wonderful results of salvation among non-Jewish people. Help us to follow in Peter’s steps and do our part to further your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Do You Love Me?

TABGHA, ISRAEL, SEPTEMBER 15, 2018: Church of the primacy of saint peter in Tabgha, Israel

After Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection, the disciples were confused. They didn’t really know what to do next, so they went fishing. As seasoned fishermen, they thought they would return to something they knew, but they fished all night without catching one fish.

A man stood on the shore and said, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” The disciples said, “No.”

The man on shore said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”

That’s what they did and they caught so many fish they dragged the net with the boat to the beach. The story is from John 21, and the man on the shore is Jesus, who prepared breakfast for the tired fishermen. After they ate, Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me more than these?” Jesus asked Peter two more times, “Do you love me?”

If I was Peter, my heart would break. Doesn’t He know I love Him. Is He testing me because I denied knowing Him in the heat of a moment? What does He mean, “Do I love Him more than these?” Could Jesus have meant, Do you love me more than your friends, more than fishing? I have had to ask myself that question too. Do I love Jesus more than my family and friends? Do I love Him more than what I do for Him or others? I began to put other things in the place of “these.”

The number of fish the disciples caught that day was 153–the same number of nations in the world at the time. Jesus’ last will and testament is, “Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:118-20).

After Jesus said, “Do you love me?” He said, “Feed my lambs.” I think Jesus was preparing Peter, as He prepares us for ministry–to turn loose of everything that hinders our carrying God’s message of love, mercy and eternal life to the ends of the earth.

A sign on the steps going up from the shore where Jesus made breakfast says, “This is Holy Ground.” Up from there is a chapel, pictured above, known as Peter’s Primacy. Let it remind each of us of the urgency of Jesus’ question, “do you love me more than these?” and the message He wants us to take to the ends of the earth.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your word. Thank you for places that mark where you walked and make your word come alive in our hearts. Empower us to do your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

New Beginnings

Sea of Galilee

Peter, James, John, Nathanael and Thomas were together by the Sea of Galilee. I can only imagine the confusion in their hearts. They had been in the upper room with Jesus. He washed their feet, which they thought was strange. Why would He do that? He shared the Passover meal with them; then the bread and wine. He said to remember Him when they did this in the future. After supper they went to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed. They fell asleep but were awakened by a crowd carrying swords and clubs. The guards arrested Jesus and took Him away (Matthew 26:47-56).

They beat Jesus, mocked, and tried Him. They put a cross on Him, which He carried through Jerusalem until a man named Joseph took it and carried it to the hill outside of town. There they crucified Jesus. Except for John, all the disciples left. Peter even denied he knew Jesus. Three days later they huddled in the upper room, afraid of the Jews, but Jesus appeared right in front of them.

They went back to doing what they did before Jesus called them–fishing on the Sea of Galilee. That night they caught nothing. Early in the morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize Him.

“Haven’t you any fish?” He called. They answered that they didn’t. “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some,” Jesus said. When they did that, they were unable to haul the net into the boat because of the large number of fish.

John said, “It is the Lord.” Peter jumped into the water and swam to shore. The others followed in the boat. Jesus had a fire with some fish and bread on it. “Bring some of the fish you caught,” He said. Peter got into the boat and dragged the net to shore. Even though it carried 153 fish, the net did not break.

After breakfast Jesus commissioned Peter to “Feed my lambs.” It was from this shore that the disciples began their ministry (John 21:1-9). About three thousand were added to the number of believers at Peter’s first evangelistic meeting. Empowered by the Holy Spirit the disciples gave eye-witness testimonies of Jesus and His teachings, and many more believed (Acts 2:40).

Jesus’ friends thought it was the end, but it was the beginning of the adventure of their lives. They would do what Jesus did and more. People were rescued from demons and sickness. The lame walked and the blind saw.

Today we see more signs of the end times, and it can be tempting to give up when times are tough. I encourage you to refocus. Look up to Jesus and not at your problems. Nothing is too big or too little for Him. Nothing is impossible. Let Him love you and give you new life. Let what you thought was the end be a new beginning by trusting God. It’s easy for me to say that because I feel blessed, but a simple prayer like, “Help me, Jesus,” is a powerful prayer for you. Sometimes all we have left is prayer, but prayer is the best and most powerful thing we can do.

Prayer: Holy Father, we live in troubling times. Many have lost homes, health, wealth, or loved ones. Comfort us in our loss. Heal our sickness and make us new in Christ Jesus. Strengthen us for the days to come. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Capernaum, Jesus’ Hometown

Resting on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee is the fishing town of Capernaum. The name, Capernaum, means Village of Comfort, which seems the perfect place for Jesus to settle. He taught in a synagogue where Jairus was the synagogue leader, and He raised his daughter from death. He healed a woman with a twelve-year medical problem. He healed Peter’s mother-in-law here, and she got up and served Him. He healed a paralyzed man and forgave him of his sins after his friends took him to the roof, uncovered some mud tiles and reeds to let him down in front of Jesus. He delivered a man possessed by demons and healed a Roman centurion’s servant here in Capernaum. Jesus called Philip, Andrew, Peter, James and John to be His disciples in this town.

Jesus claimed Capernaum as His home; not Bethlehem where He was born; not Nazareth where He grew up and not Jerusalem, the religious center of Israel. Although He performed most of His miracles in this place, they didn’t bring about repentance and changed lives. This is where Jesus said, “And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades, for if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you” (Matthew 11:20-24).

Although we may wonder why the people did not respond to Jesus’ miracles, His teaching or His amazing love, we can. They did not have the Bible as we have it today. They learned from teachers, like Jesus, who read the Scripture and taught what it meant. We have the great advantage of having the complete Bible to read and study on our own or in church, Sunday school classes or Bible studies.

Prayer: Teach us Father God to be receptive to the truth about who you are and how it can bring meaning to our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.