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Day 5 Blog
Jordan Gray
Sophomore (Lindale, Texas)

Sunday, May 20, 2018

We started out Sunday heading to Nazareth, the city where Jesus grew up.  Our first stop in the city was the Church of the Synagogue.  The synagogue was built in the 12th century, but it was built on top of the location of a synagogue that is believed to be a place where Jesus did some of his teaching and would often go to pray.  We read from Luke 4:16-30, when Jesus read from Isaiah and then explained to the people that many times the beneficiaries of prophets are outsiders of where they are from and they should expect no special benefits from his work.  This outraged them, and they took him to the top of a mountain to throw him off and try to kill him but in Luke 4:30 it states, "But passing through their midst, he went away." To be in the area where our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ taught 2,000 years ago is overwhelming and eye-opening.

After the Church of the Synagogue we went to the Church of Annunciation.  This is now a Catholic Church that is built on top of remains of what is believed to be Mary's house.  The church was absolutely beautiful, inside and out.  On the first floor is where they built around what is believed to be Mary's house, where she heard from the angel Gabriel. From a historical stand point, it is mind-blowing to me that a house built over 2,000 years ago is still standing, and we've seen numerous buildings and structures like that this week.  From a spiritual standpoint it is insane to look at that house and think about a young Jesus growing up there and in the remains of the city behind the house. I caught myself standing there staring at it thinking "this is where Jesus' life began, this was his childhood."  I have to make myself take some time and step back and really think about what I'm experiencing. 

The last place we went to was Mt. Precipice.  It connects back to our first stop and it is the traditional site that is believed to be the cliff that they were going to push Jesus off.  As we were standing there looking over Nazareth and out at other mountains, we talked about all of the biblical events that had happened in our line of sight.  Two of the things we talked about that stood out to me were Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) and Mount Megiddo (Armageddon).  Two biblical locations that we have learned about and actually seeing the places is an indescribable experience.

To summarize today, and the whole trip thus far, we are constantly reminded that Jesus was 100% human as well as 100% God.  As we see all the places where Jesus lived, ministered, died, and rose again we all take steps forward in our walk and relationship with Christ.  This trip has been and will continue to be a life-changing experience not only for us, but for everyone we come in contact with as God uses us to advance His kingdom.  Thank you, Jesus!