Destination Spotlight: Caesarea Philippi, a favorite place

“Here indeed is a dramatic picture. Here is a homeless, penniless Galilean carpenter, with twelve very ordinary men around him. At the moment the orthodox are actually plotting and planning to destroy him as a dangerous heretic.

He stands in an area littered with the temples of the Syrian gods; in a place where the ancient Greek gods looked down; in a place where the history of Israel crowded in upon the minds of men; where the white marble splendor of the home of Caesar–worship dominated the landscape and compelled the eye.

And there–of all places–this amazing carpenter stands and asks men who they believe him to be, and expects the answer, The Son of God. It is as if Jesus deliberately set himself against the background of the world’s religions in all their history and their splendor, and demanded to be compared with them and to have the verdict given in his favor. There are few scenes where Jesus’ consciousness of his own divinity shines out with a more dazzling light.”

Being there and seeing but a few of the remains of those temples and realizing this is where Jesus asked that question is powerful beyond words. This is just an example of how being in the very places where Jesus walked draws us into those very moments of his ministry in a new and powerful way. We say it brings the Bible from black and white to color and 3 dimensional.

Harry’s story explains but one experience of how throughout Israel we draw upon scriptures to add meaning to each site we visit. Not only does that occur in a powerful way at the moment of visiting those sites but also it will occur for the rest of our lives. Every time we study scripture at home; hear sermons; or reflect on our faith we will think back to the experience of visiting the Holyland.

Of course, our feelings about a place have a lot to do with our experiences there and how we connect. For some, it comes from a boat trip on the Sea of Galilee or baptism in the Jordan River. Others connect with Cana, the site of Jesus’ first miracle. Jerusalem is certainly moving for all who pass through its gates. Many walk the Via Dolorosa, visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, pray in the Garden Tomb. In all of these places, the Bible comes alive to us.

Not all we encounter is thousands of years old. Israel is one of the most modern and progressive countries in the world. This tiny country is a leader in the world in medical science. They have transformed deserts into farms, vineyards, and citrus groves, growing organic fruits and vegetables to a point where Israel is a major exporter of food. You can stay in modern hotels and travel on modern highways and railway systems. It is certainly a land of contrasts: ancient and modern.