Days 4 and 5 of our tour took us up to the Gallilee region where we spent time at the traditional sights of the Sermon on the Mount and Peter's mother's house in Capernaum, finishing up with some time at Caesarea along the Mediterranean coast. I've always enjoyed the Gallilee region far from the hussle and bussle of the streets of Jerusalem, it affords one those times of contempletory thought that makes one go to the Holy Land to begin with.
Still, at this point, the most significant experience I have had took place on Day 3 at Caiaphas' House within walking distance of the temple mount in Jerusalem. They've excavated underneath his house to find several cell blocks where they are almost certain that Peter, John, and even Jesus would have been imprisoned or faced beatings.
To think that the High Priest of Israel would have his own personal jail beneath his house goes to show you just how far away from God's laws the Sanhedrin had wandered. It was only the fact that they wanted Jesus dead that they sought the public trial with Pilate. Otherwise, Caiaphas for sure would have dealt with this up start on his own.
Touching the stones of those cells deep beneath the ground I imagined the apostles contemplating, "We have been found worthy to suffer for Jesus -- in the same cells in which He was held." As you recall, Peter and John left the prison spurned on by joy in the Holy Spirit.
To suffer for the name of Christ, perhaps there can be no greater joy in this world overcoming every adversary, even death itself.
Now, we're off for Istanbul to meet with a partner church from Moldovia that is doing some excellent work rescuing children from the trafficking industry. On Sunday, I'll be preaching to a Moldavian congregation in Istanbul... please pray for God's words to be granted me for the encouragement of the saints there.
