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Day Four: From Nazareth to Mount Tabor (February 2, 2012)

Behind me is a first century home in Nazareth. Jesus lived here or walked here.  What an honor to stand right here.
I was amazed to notice the shape of the cross in the rock formation of the wall that stands near Jesus' home! It wasn't put there on purpose by the builder, did Jesus ever notice it?

Jesus' favorite time to pray is while it is still dark!


Sunrise on Lake Galilee is a moving experience.  The light is purer here.

     Nazareth stands out among the places of Galilee that one would look for Jesus. In fact, Isaiah 9:1-2 prophesies that the light will come to Galilee. ”But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” Nazareth and Capernaum are the same geographical places for the cities to which Isaiah refers. Why was a devout Jew like Joseph living in Nazareth? It was because of this scripture in Isaiah. Sadly, the people of Nazareth who worshiped in the Synagogue to whom Jesus revealed His true identity (through Isaiah’s prophesy no less—Isaiah 61) did not believe Him and tried to throw Him off the cliff here. Jesus explained that a prophet is never accepted in His hometown (Luke 4:14-30).
     The spiritual journey always makes great strides through humility. Nazareth of Jesus’ day was known as a humble place. Mary said it (Luke 1:48, 51-52); Nathaniel said it (John 1:46). It is also a place of surrender to God’s will. Mary made her monumental statement agreeing to her part in God’s plan to turn the world right-side up! (And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke1:38). It is such a humble town and so small that I imagine, since Jesus lived here for 30 years of His life, at least one of the steps I took today was in the exact footsteps of Jesus. The spiritual journey is undertaken from the starting point of humility. This truth was reinforced in every experience I had in Nazareth.
     Waking up near the shore of Galilee is a blessing. I can't explain the wonder of going out on my balcony at Jesus favorite time to pray, just before dark then watching the world transform as the sun peaks through the clouds.  The fish jump, the birds sing.  The world stops to praise God. My Sea of Galilee experince was so full of joy.  You won't believe what happened when I walked down to the beach! I ran into a Tea Time reader who saw my name tag. What a small world and another confirmation of God's goodness to me.
     The Nazareth Village tour is so informational I got writers cramp taking notes. What moved my soul was looking at a historically accurate cross. The small size is humbling and it helped me realize the intimacy of the cross. I will never imagine the cross the same.

The Mount of Transfigeration was an amazing experience. May I be transformed to live like Him!
Dr. Deborah Newman

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