Israel and Layers of Time

Time and again, I experienced Israel and layers of time in fall 2022.

I walked, rode, and sailed that narrow land in three different dimensions–and realized it even at the time.

THIS was the place where Jesus actually lived (prior to taking up residence in our hearts, of course).

THIS is where events took place that I knew so well.

Jesus walked these streets–and that lake.

He saw those hills.

Amazing.

He breathed that air in the past. I was there in the present.

Today I’m writing in what was then the future.

Curious.

Layers of Time (and ruins) in Capernaum

We’d been in Israel nearly a week before we wandered into Capernaum.

When Roman Emperor Constantine’s mother Helena visited the Holy land, she planted churches on sacred sites.

One such place was over St. Peter’s home near the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Frankly, the rebuilt church looks like a space ship.

I glanced at the ruins believed to be his home, then turned around.

And gasped.

Here was the synagogue where Jesus began His ministry.

We know this was the place.

Of course, the “current” synagogue ruins were built in the Second century.

This was not the exact spot.

Except, archaeologists dug down–and found the walls of the synagogue where Jesus spoke.

I had to sit down, slightly overcome.

 Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.  And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

Luke 4:14 ESV

Wait! THE Sea of Galilee?

Later that day, we climbed aboard a boat on the Sea of Galilee.

You know. The water Jesus walked on–more than once!

Indeed, Peter did, too.

From the boat, where we sang, I surveyed the surrounding hills.

He knew those hills. Jesus sailed, walked, and napped on that lake.

Yes. I lifted my eyes to those hills from whence came my Lord.

I thought of Jesus. We sang (not rowing) on that boat headed to shore.

I waded in the water.

And I wondered how I would describe it in my writing–especially when we ate a St. Peter’s Fish lunch!

Layers of Time in Jerusalem

Oh, my. Down the Via dela Rosa–the way of suffering?

Except, it wasn’t really.

The Romans burned, crushed, destroyed, and leveled everything in Jerusalem in AD 70.

They didn’t want to have to deal with these Jews.

Control and power, right?

But the walls feel ancient. Signs mark significant events along the way, and it felt exotic.

(It also was easy to miss a step and fall. Just saying.)

I could picture Jesus carrying that cross so long ago. In 2022, with the shops just returning from COVID shutdown, I sensed a different marketplace from mine back home in the US.

And how would I described it to you?

With many different nationalities and motorscooters coming through, it’s the main thoroughfare of an ancient city only one kilometer square in size.

It’s a colorful bazaar of shops, narrow walks, mosaic walls, and spices.

Until you get to the holiest parts of the city.

The Temple Mount

I’m thankful we started in the north, traveling through the rolling Galilean hill country, before climbing the hills of ascent to Jerusalem.

Layers of time are everywhere!

The city on the hill is the site of the Temple Mount–the home of the temple–whether Solomon’s or Herod’s.

Only a few people are allowed on the the Temple Mount now. We had to stand in line and go through a metal detector. We were careful about what we wore–long skirts for the women.

From the level mesa, we surveyed the Mount of Olives–where so much happened.

We stood before the Eastern Gate. Jesus entered the area through that gate long ago.

Nothing of Jesus’ era remains other than the views.

The Western Wall

Many people in the west know about the Wailing Wall where Jewish people stand to pray. They slip prayer requests between the massive stones. (I also saw prayer slips between the stones at the Capernaum synagogue).

I, however, didn’t know the Israelis dug out the rest of the western wall–under the old buildings running north of the Wailing Wall.

We toured there late at night, conscious the Temple Mount of Jesus’ time was long gone.

But here were stones laid by Solomon 2500 years ago. Massive, bigger than any I’d seen before.

 At the king’s command they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones. 

1 Kings 5:17 ESV

And there, at one spot, was the closest anyone could get to the site of the Holy of Holies from 500 BC.

Many people stopped to pray–at that spot on the wall

Shocking.

Awe-filled.

Humbling.

The Scriptures are eternal. In that time and place, even that day and now, I remember:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
    a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.”

1 Peter 2:6-7 ESV

He was Risen.

He is Risen.

Alleluia.

He is Risen, indeed.

His presence overflowed the layers of time in Israel: 2000 years ago, six months ago, today.

Thanks be to God.

Tweetables

Israel: living through layers of time. Click to Tweet

Time operates differently in Israel! Click to Tweet

Overflowing Faith: Lettie Cowman and Streams in the Desert, a biography comes out June 6.

On pre-sale now, $2.99 as an Ebook; $9.99 for paperback. (audio book, read by me, coming soon).