Page 40 - Holyland Magazine - 2019 Edition

A baptism in the Jordan River. Photos: Shutterstock

If Webster’s Dictionary defines a miracle as ‘an extraordinary
event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs,’ then
Israel is the Land like no other to experience it in

Miracles in the We recall and relive many of Jesus’ other
Holy Land miracles and teachings, and the journey
leaves a lasting impression on us.

Indeed, inspiration is found in the Holy Land!
Forthrightly, I had once told a friend and
senior pastor that despite all of his seminary
training, he did not know anything yet, not
until he had been to Israel. Then one day
he asked me for help getting him there. The
morning after he returned, he found me in
the local coffee shop and his first words
were: “Now I know what you meant!”

By Paul Larsen Church of the Holy Sepulchre And while we were on tour in Jerusalem
with one other particular group of spiritual
She had walked through Caesarea She responded: “Oh, you could never and educational leaders, we entered the
where many of Paul’s missionary understand. I could not have made this trip if area of the Garden Tomb with their diverse
journeys began. She had negotiated it were not for my daughter who helped me theological opinions and backgrounds.
the incline up to Mount Megiddo to finance it. I have had a hard life and scarcely The vast differences amidst them left an
overlook the Jezreel Valley where been outside the state of Nebraska and unanswered question of whether they could
many of the battles of the Old Testament never outside the country. But this trip has peaceably commune there - yet they left the
happened and where it is prophesied in been everything I ever hoped for, everything experience in unity and tears of joy in their
the Book of Revelation that the Battle I dreamed of and more.” I realized how the eyes, singing ‘Amazing Grace’ together!
of Armageddon will take place. She had Spirit of the Holy Land had touched her and
walked down Palm Sunday Way, stopping at what it meant to her. It was a divine moment, When travelers see with their own eyes the
the Garden of Gethsemane, and continued a miraculous moment. places of Biblical history, they gain a deeper
on to St. Stephen’s Gate where St. Stephen understanding of their faith and they come
was martyred. And on this particular day, I have seen and experienced these home excited to tell of how the stories and
she had walked through Jerusalem as Jesus extraordinary moments many times as knowledge they had previously only read
had walked to the Cross where He died and travelers walk in the Footsteps of Jesus. about now come so alive for them. There
then to the tomb where He rose again. This We visit the places where Jesus performed is no doubt in my mind that when a church
elderly lady had done it all with an artificial miracles such as Capernaum, the site where group travels together in Israel, it becomes a
hip, an artificial knee and nary a complaint. Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law as told in journey of faith, fellowship, learning, worship
Now as we arrived at the Church of the Holy all four Gospels. We visit the Church of the and letting the saints and history testify to
Sepulchre, she said to me: “I am just going Multiplication, recall Jesus’ first miracle at them in inspiring ways that are not always
to sit here and rest a bit. You all go inside.” Cana with renewal of wedding vows, and we possible on Sunday morning.
sail the same waters of the Galilee that Jesus
I sent the group in and said to her: “Delores, walked upon. On the Mount of Beatitudes, I have been told that pastors’ sermons
I will sit with you. I have been here many we humbly read aloud those Blessings that improve after a trip to the Holy Land -
times.” Then I asked her: “How has this trip Jesus compassionately bestows on those perhaps it is because they now have a
to the Holy Land been for you?” less fortunate who we also must truly learn profoundly invaluable visual in their mind.
to see in our own midst, through His eyes. Thanking me and our Ed-Ventures staff for
their tour, a dear pastor friend of mine stated:
“As a pastor, I found it immensely helpful to
travel with my congregation to places of
biblical significance where I could tell them
something of rich Christian history, and it has
been a faith-building experience for me, my
wife and my flock.
”Miraculous, inspiring, amazing, Israel!

The author is the president of Ed-Ventures

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