New Hope Counseling Ministry Special Seminar
November 14 & 15,
2007
William Gaultiere, Ph.D.
INTRODUCTION
“Walking Where Jesus Walked” is the fruit
of my meditations from my first pilgrimage to Israel that
I took with my wife Kristi. I’ll be sharing pictures,
poems, prayers, and Scripture meditations, to help you
make a virtual visit to the Holy Land and walk more closely
with Jesus in your life today.
When
you visit the Holy Land as I did you see sacred places
and buildings – you
get to walk in the land that Jesus walked, to sail on the
sea that he sailed, to pray in the ruins of buildings where
he prayed. These places carry a memory of Jesus and also
of the millions of spiritual seekers and disciples who
have visited these same spots with great hopes and prayers.
God uses these cites to connect us with the Gospel stories
and to empower us with the Holy Spirit.
Some call pilgrimage to Israel a fifth Gospel! It makes
the Gospels three-dimensional.
I brought
to my pilgrimage great hopes. I went looking for a deeper
intimacy with Jesus and for fresh insights on the Gospel.
I went looking for God. I found that God was looking for
me! Jesus taught us, “You did not
choose me, but I chose you!”
My part in meeting God was to let Jesus come to me, to
let go of my expectations, to make space in my heart, to
listen, to open myself to whatever God had for me.
In the Holy Land I was continually reminding the people
on our bus that we were pilgrims and not tourists. This
was difficult for me and for all of us. Everything worked
against this: crowds everywhere, overwhelming amounts of
information, too many places to visit, being herded like
cattle, being in a hurry, souvenirs to buy, pickpockets,
and, worst of all, our own defendedness.
We all
need to ask ourselves, “Do I really want
to get close to the Lord? Am I will to commit myself to
him wholeheartedly? To give my whole life to him?”
Maybe
we’d
rather just learn interesting information, buy a trinket,
and have a nice chat over coffee?
Do we
want just to eat fresh “zata” bread,
the traditional Jewish pita bread seasoned with zata herb,
hyssop, olive oil, and maybe cheese? I ate some. It was
tastey, but I wanted something more. I’m hungry to
eat the Word of God, fresh baked for me, heavenly manna,
Jesus! How about you?
In this
seminar I’m going to invite you to eat the
heavenly manna with me. I’m going to give you some
spaces to meet with Jesus in meditation and prayer. This
might be uncomfortable for some of you. For others it’ll
kindle holy fires of devotion to the Lord.
Our theme is walking where Jesus walked and doing it
with Jesus! Jesus walked the land of Israel 2,000
years ago and he still walks it today. He’s also
walking our land in Orange County today. And in the person
of the Holy Spirit he’s right here with us in this
room now.
I spent
weeks in study and prayer to prepare for this trip of a
lifetime – what
shall I share with you? How do I condense 10 days into
two hours? Of the hundreds of pictures what are the few
dozen that might leave an imprint in your heart? I met
the risen Christ in his land in ways that changed me – how do I help you to
meet him now? Do you want to meet him now?
Pray with me that right now, right here we will meet
with the risen Christ and follow him as his disciples
forever. He is our Teacher. He is our Lord and Friend.
I am simply here to guide us to Jesus…
WALKING
WITH JESUS IN…. PILGRIMAGE
The writer
to Hebrews tells us that Jesus “learned” to
live an obedient life (Hebrews 5:8). It’s a mystery
how our sinless Savior grew and developed spiritually,
but we know there is truth to this. Jesus followed in the
tradition of Abraham and other great heroes of our faith
mentioned in Hebrews who were pilgrims seeking a better
country, a heavenly city (Hebrews 11:16). Jesus showed
us this better country that he called “the kingdom
of the heavens.” He showed us the way of living in
this world, but not being of this world – of being
a pilgrim.
Jesus’ whole
life was a spiritual pilgrimage. He progressed through
key formational stages that represent the spiritual journey
that we all need to make. This journey includes a number
of distinct and yet related spiritual pathways or movements
that are essential parts of our own spiritual formation.
I traveled
7,576 miles from Los Angeles, CA to Jerusalem, Israel.
That’s a long ways, but you know it’s
not as far as the journey from our head to our heart!
Our pilgrimage
today is one seeking a closer relationship with the Lord.
This kind of pilgrimage begins with prayer and progresses
with prayer. Connecting with God is how we come to life
and it’s how we follow Jesus day-by-day.
In the time of Jesus the Jews celebrated three great feasts
in that coincided with harvests in the spring, summer,
and fall: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Jews would
walk from their hometowns to Jerusalem to celebrate these
feasts, especially Passover. This was part of their Rhythm
of Life as a community before the Lord. Jesus made this
pilgrimage, probably once a year or more.
For Jesus
and his family to walk from Nazareth to Jerusalem would’ve taken them a few days. (It is 64 miles and
the elevation gain is 2,500 feet.) It was a big deal for
them to leave their jobs and their homes and go to the
Holy City. It gave them lots of time to be together and
with God in creation – walking, talking, reminiscing,
celebrating, and, most of all, praying. And to help them
pray they’d pray the Psalms.
For thousands
of years God’s people have used the
Psalms as their prayer books. Orthodox Jews still do. Monastic
communities and other devout Christians pray through all
150 Psalms every month, year after year. The Psalms have
been written by David and other great prayer masters. They
teach us how to pray in all the situations of life: seasons
of trial or blessing, times to wait and times to worship,
when we’re at peace and when we’re anxious,
when we’re angry and when we’re elated, when
God seems close and when he seems far. Whatever is going
on there is a Psalm to teach you how to practice the presence
of God and rely on him.
- Praying
the “Pilgrim
Psalms.” The
Psalms include 15 psalms known as “the Pilgrim Psalms” or “Songs
of Ascent” (Psalm 120-134) because communities of
pilgrims would recite these as they walked up to the holy
mountain of Jerusalem. Mile after mile, psalm after psalm,
the pilgrim’s anticipation of being in Jerusalem
builds.
Imagine
yourself as a pilgrim leaving home and work behind, and
walking mile after mile through the desert and up the mountain
with your family and friends as you excitedly make your
way toward the glorious Holy City to meet with God. And
as you walk you sing Psalms to one another like these…
“I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help
come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven
and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2).
“I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let
us go to the house of the LORD’” (Psalm 122:1).
“I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is
in heaven” (Psalm 123:1).
“When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with
laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said
among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things
for them’” (Psalm 126:1-2).
“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his
word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than
watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait
for the morning” (Psalm 130:5-6).
“It’s enough to keep my soul tranquil and
quiet, like a child with it’s mother, content as
child that has been weaned” (Psalm 131:2, JB Phillips)
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live
together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).
WALKING
WITH JESUS IN… NEW BIRTH FROM GOD
Annunciation to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
In Nazareth
is a holy site known as Mary’s well.
Today it is located inside a Catholic Church called “the
Basilica of the Annunciation.” The church is built
over the remains of Mary’s house and the well, which
still has water in it today, is located down some stairs.
This is where the angel Gabriel visited Mary and gave her
the extraordinary greeting and most blessed affirmation: “You
are beautiful with God’s beauty; beautiful inside
and out” (Luke 1:28, MSG).
These
are words that every person – especially
every girl and every woman – longs to hear!
-
Affirmation: Smile and say to the person
next to you, “You are beautiful with God’s
beauty; beautiful inside and out.”
After he blessed her, Gabriel announced to Mary that she
would give birth to the long-awaited Messiah by the power
of the Holy Spirit!
The annunciation
represents the need for all of us to be “born again”,
to receive an additional birth from above, to accept into
our souls the abundant and eternal life of God, to welcome
into our bodies the Holy Spirit so that our bodies become
his temple.
This
is what it means to be saved. It means to be delivered
from death into life. It’s not just forgiveness.
It’s bigger than that – it’s coming alive!
The spiritual
life is one of continual dependence on God’s
presence and power. There is no spiritual pilgrimage without
relying on the Holy Spirit.
Mary’s response to the amazing angelic announcement
is to be submissive and trusting, hospitable to God’s
will and Christ’s indwelling life. Her prayer is, “Let
it be to me according to your Word.” And later she
sings in delighted praise to the Lord, “the Magnificat” (Luke
1:46-55).
Mary’s response to the Gospel is the model for our
faith. We need to learn how to live with Mary’s attitude
of trust and rejoicing in God.
- Prayer of Submission: Offer
Mary’s
holy prayer: “Let it be to me according to your
Word”… Submit yourself and the issues
of your life to God. Listen… What does God want
to announce to me?
Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-21)
The birth
Jesus heralds the Gospel of inversion: the lost are found,
the last shall be first, the humble will be exalted, and
the child-like are truly great. Sinners, the poor, the
broken-hearted, societal cast-offs, and all who are thought
to be unblessable are indeed blessed in Jesus’ kingdom
of the heavens.
We see
this message in the Old Testament Messianic prophesies
of the suffering servant (e.g., Isaiah 53). Throughout
his life Jesus not only taught this inversion, but he lived
it. Right from the start we see this in Jesus’ birth:
the King of Kings, God’s Royal Son is born in a dirty,
smelly, cold, damp stable!
And if we are to meet him and to receive him as our Lord
and Savior we must bow down low. This is portrayed in the
small entrance to the Basilica of the Nativity, where even
short visitors need to stoop way down to get inside!
The life
of God is for anyone and everyone who will stoop down low.
Most commonly we realize this by accepting our problems
in the light of God’s kingdom. This is the
message of Jesus’ beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12, Luke
6:20-26).
-
Humble yourself: Stoop down low to receive
the Beatitudes of Jesus (Luke 6:20-26)
Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom
of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you
and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of
the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because
great is your reward in heaven.
It is
certainly not a blessing to be poor, hungry, weeping, or
mistreated! What is the blessing? That in any situation – even
the worst of situations – you can enjoy the loving
rule of Jesus in your life now and forever.
Consider
some problems that you have and write your own beatitudes – a personal word of blessing from God
that even in this trial you can rejoice in God’s
caring presence and under his good rule. How do you need
to fill in the blank below? Are you struggling with your
health, finances, job, or in a relationship?
Blessed are you with ______________ for yours is the kingdom
of God!
Blessed are you with ______________ for yours is the kingdom
of God!
Blessed are you with ______________ for yours is the kingdom
of God!
Making Room for the Birth of Jesus in a Bethlehem
Cave (Luke 2:1-21)
The cave
or grotto that Jesus was born in is underneath a Catholic
church called “the Basilica of the Nativity.
A star marks the spot of his birth and a manger the spot
where he was laid – holy places that pilgrims can
touch!
“There
was no room for Jesus in the Inn.” No
place for Jesus to be born – except outside in a
cave. You and I must admit that sometimes there isn’t
room for Jesus in our hearts and our schedule. To receive
Jesus we need to confess our sins, to cry out in our need
for him.
-
Confession: Recently,
have you left Jesus out of your schedule or conversations?
Your heart’s
desires, your thoughts? Consider that Jesus is always near
and he says to us: “Here I am! I stand at the
door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the
door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation
3:20).
WALKING
WITH JESUS IN… DELIGHTING IN THE
LAW
Jesus’ training
in Childhood
Jesus
grew up in the town of Nazareth. Back then there were maybe
200 people who lived there, about forty families, and half
of the town were probably Jesus’ kinfolk
who helped to look after him. This rural town in an out
of the way place up in the hills was a village where everybody
knew everyone’s name. But today Nazareth is a bustling,
overcrowded city of 85,000 people!
What
was Jesus’ childhood
in Nazareth like? Luke gives us this summary:
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the
Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own
town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong;
he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon
him (Luke 2:39-40).
Jesus’ parents raised him according to God’s
Law. We can be sure that like other Jewish boys he studied
the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) and prayed
the Psalms and memorized large portions of the Scriptures.
He became the Psalm 1 Man who delighted in the Law and
planted himself by the stream of living water.
When
Jesus was 12 years old he went with his parents on pilgrimage
to the Temple for Passover, as they did every year. This
may have been a “coming of age” as
a student proficient in the use of God’s Law. In
Jerusalem Jesus left his parents to go to the temple and
he had discussions with the rabbi’s that left them
amazed with his wisdom and devotion to God.
His parents
left Jerusalem without Jesus, thinking he was somewhere
in their caravan. When they couldn’t
find him, they became very worried and went back to look
for him and finally found him in the temple in deep conversation
with the rabbis. Mary told Jesus how upset she was and
Jesus replied, “Didn’t you know that I had
to be in my Father’s house” (Luke 2:41-50).
What
was Mary’s response to seeing Jesus dialogue
with learned rabbis and to hearing him refer to the temple
as “my Father’s house”?
His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And
Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God
and men (Luke 2:51-52).
-
Selah: Mary “treasured all these things
[about Jesus] in her heart.”
Oh, if
only you and I would look at Jesus’ life,
listen to his teaching and “treasure all these things
in [our] heart!” Then we too would grow with Jesus
in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people.
Let’s pause on this point for a minute of quiet
reflection on Jesus. Bobby Schuller does this in the middle
of his sermons. He calls it a “selah.”
Maybe
as you’ve read the Psalms you’ve noticed
the word “Selah” (“Say-lah”). It
is used 71 times in the Psalter as an interlude, probably
meaning, “pause to reflect and pray.” Jesus
would’ve practiced “Selah” as he prayed
the Psalms.
Treasure
Jesus in your heart. Selah…
The Mezuzah
One important
and ancient symbol of the Jew’s devotion
to God is the Mezuzah, which devout Jews put on the doorposts
of their homes to this day. The mezuzah contains a parchment
scroll with words from the Torah, including the sacred
Shema and the blessings of obeying the law versus the curses
of disobeying it.
Listen
to a portion of the words that would’ve been
hung on the doorposts of Jesus’ childhood home and
which Jesus would’ve memorized:
Hear, 0 Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One.
You shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your might. And these
words which I command you today shall be upon your heart.
You shall teach them thoroughly to your children, and you
shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when
you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise.
You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they
shall be for a reminder between your eyes. And you shall
write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your
gates (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
And it
will be, if you will diligently obey My commandments which
I enjoin upon you this day, to love the L-rd Your G-d and
to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,
I will give rain for your land at the proper time… Take
care lest your heart be lured away, and you turn astray
and Worship alien gods and bow down to them… (Deuteronomy
11:13-21).
The foundational
belief of Judaism is that “The
Lord is our God” and “the Lord is One.” And
he is so holy that the Jews revere his name by not daring
to even write it out unless they omit the vowel. The unifying
command of the Ten Commandments is to love God and so this
is emphasized and it is to be taught in the family context,
from parent to child. Those who learn to obey the Lord’s
commandments are blessed with rain at the proper time for
their harvests.
There
are exactly 713 letters on the mezuzah scroll. A proper
mezuzah is written by a devout and specially trained scribe
called a “sofer” who handwrites in beautiful
calligraphy each Hebrew letter of the mezuzah. The sofer
uses a quill pen and black ink on a parchment from a kosher
animal and does so according to very specific requirements
that muss pass inspection. In fact, each letter must be
written in accordance with all of the laws and so the writing
requires intensive concentration on the part of the sofer.
The Jews believe that each mezuzah needs to be perfectly
transcribed by the sofer and properly blessed by a rabbi
in order for it to be valid.
The words
of the Shema that were contained in the Mezuzah were so
much a part of Jesus that as an adult in his public ministry
he altered the Shema and made it into his “Greatest
Commandment.” He added the dimension of loving God
with our minds (as well as our heart, soul, and strength)
and attached the Leviticus 19:18 commandment to love our
neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:29-31).
Also,
it’s important to note that Jesus taught that
the blessings of God’s Law were not about the external
appearances of mezuzah’s or our own self, but in
meditating upon the Law and relying on God’s grace
to help us learn to obey it from our hearts.
WALKING
WITH JESUS IN… HIDDENESS:
The Son of God Served as a Common Laborer for
Most of his Life
Joseph
and Mary may have settled in Nazareth (a small town of
about 200 people, half of which were probably Jesus’ kinfolk)
in part because of it’s proximity to Sephoris, which
was a large city on a trade route and would have had much
work. Sephoris was the Roman capital of Galilee and seat
of the Sanhedrin. Powerful and wealthy people had elaborate
homes there, including beautiful and exquisitely detailed
small tile mosaics. Sephoris also featured a 4,000 seat
outdoor theatre made of stone where plays were performed.
Today Nazareth is the bustling large city and Sephoris
is an archeological site containing the ruins from the
ancient city, in particular, homes and the theatre.
Jesus
took the term “hypocrite” from the theatre,
which meant “play actor”, and he used it to
describe the Pharisees who made a show of their religion
that belied their unconfessed sin and their hardened hearts
before God.
The Greek
word for “carpenter” (“tekton”)
can also be translated “stonecutter.” There
is an abundance of stone in Israel and very little wood,
except what was imported. It may be that Jesus and his
father were stonecutters rather than carpenters. Or, perhaps,
they did both. In either case, it’s probable that
they worked in Sephoris.
As I
sat in the ancient theater of Sephoris I thought about
the hidden and silent years in Jesus’ life
as a young man. From age 12 to 30, most of Jesus’ life
on earth we know nothing except what tradition has passed
on to us, that he worked as a carpenter, providing for
Mary and his family after Joseph died, serving customers, “growing
in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man” (Luke
2:52).
I wrote
a prayer poem about my reflections of Jesus’ hidden
years:
A Rock Once Hidden
William Gaultiere ©2007
A rock once hidden, now in my hand it means so much;
It’s made holy by the thought of Jesus’ touch.
Picked up in the ruins of Sephoris where Jesus surely
visited,
It is a piece of the ancient stone theatre where “hypocrites” performed.
From Nazareth he would’ve walked only four miles
to get here –
But why did a poor Jew visit a wealthy Roman world with
much to fear?
For a bustling city why leave the comforts of kinfolk
and friends behind?
Why should he stay among Roman lords and Sanhedrin elite,
many unkind?
Here in Jesus’ hidden years is a secret wisdom
and yet
These quiet formative years of preparation we easily
neglect.
A rock once hidden, now in my hand it means so much;
It’s made holy by the thought of the Stonecutter’s
touch.
His hands, strong and soft, were given for common labor,
To provide for mother and family, without father.
Day after day serving customers – quick to mock
and hard to please.
The Son of God spent most of his incarnate life as “the
least of these.”
Praying as he worked and helping all in compassion,
Loaning tools not to be returned, blessing those who
cursed him again.
Here in the Stonecutter’s hidden years is a secret
wisdom and yet
These quiet formative years of preparation we easily
neglect.
A rock once hidden, now in my hand it means so much;
It’s made holy by the thought of the Risen Christ’s
touch.
“The Lord is my Rock,” I re-focus my thoughts
continually,
His hands forming my soul as I hold my sacred rock and
secretly pray:
Humble me so I never perform for applause like the religious “hypocrite”.
Remind me each day to join you and care for my family
first.
Strengthen me to serve you in ordinary work, quietly
and faithfully.
Help me to grow in your grace even for those who are
mean to me.
Here in the Risen Christ’s hidden years is a secret
wisdom and yet
These quiet formative years of preparation I will not
neglect.
- Meditation: Imagine
Jesus as a Common Laborer – serving
complaining customers, sweating for the rich who treat
him like low life, loaning out his tools and not getting
them back, working long hours to bring home food and goods
for his mother and younger siblings. The Son of God who
is to be the Savior of world “wastes” most
of his adult life (from the world’s perspective)
doing menial work, hard work, boring work. Nobody knows
who he is…
Let Jesus’ hidden years shed new light on your daily
chores and ordinary tasks. Pray that the Lord would help
you to see the significance of doing your work with him
and for him, seeking to bless him and other people, including
those who don’t appreciate you or are unkind.
WALKING
WITH JESUS IN… BAPTISM
Jesus’ Baptism
was his Initiation (Matthew
3:13-17)
Jesus went to John the Baptist to be baptized in the Jordan
River that runs through Israel. The Jordan flows from the
snow melt off Mount Hermon in the north, into the Sea of
Galilee, and down into the Dead Sea, which is below sea
level. It swells in spring with the snowmelt from Mount
Hermon and is at its low at the end of the hot, dry summer.
Israel lives off the Jordan for its drinking water, agriculture,
and Dead Sea mineral products.
The Jordan
not only flows through Israel’s geography,
but also its history. The Israelites crossed this river
to enter into the Promised Land and took from it 12 stones
to set a memorial altar. Naaman, the commander of the Syrian
army, was healed of his leprosy in these waters when he
followed Elisha’s directive.
John’s baptism was for the repentance and forgiveness
of sins. Jesus was without sin, but his life mission was
to take on our sin. His baptism was for us, for our cleansing
and to set an example for us. And his baptism was an initiation
for him. For 18 years as a young adult Jesus served the
Father quietly, living out his faith and God’s righteousness
and love in the context of his family and village and as
a common laborer. Now it was time to go public.
In these
life-giving waters of promise and healing, the same waters
that Jesus was baptized in, followers of Christ have been
going to for baptisms and “renewal of baptisms” for
2,000 years. And at least since the 4th Century
pilgrims have traveled to this river to get bottles of
holy water to bring back home for baptisms and spiritual
blessing.
Baptism
is “the defining moment at the formal beginning
of Christian pilgrimage” (The Way of the Lord, p.
30). We can be forever defined by this identification with
Jesus! It’s the common beginning for all the people
of God – we are made new creatures in Christ!
What
an honor to be baptized in the same waters that Jesus was
baptized in – to identify with Jesus in his death
and resurrection, to be cleansed of sin and renewed in
spiritual vigor! To see that the heavens that opened at
Jesus’ baptism are still open to us (Matthew 3:16)!
God is present and immediately accessible to us! And then
what joy to bring this holy water back home to share with
others.
Most
Jordan River baptisms are performed at a kibbutz in Yardenit,
which is close to the southern end of the Sea of Galilee
and may have been the spot where Jesus was baptized. An
archaelogical “tel” has been discovered
here that is believed to be the site of ancient “Bethabara,” which
the disciple John names (John 1:28-34). Many scholars believe
that the actual site of Jesus’ baptism was farther
south towards Jerusalem at Kasr El Yehud in Palestine.
Kristi and I renewed our baptisms in the Jordan River
and we imagined the heavens affirmed one another with the
words that Jesus heard at his baptism:
In Christ
and by the Spirit the Father says to you: “You
are my beloved son/daughter and in you I am well pleased” (Matthew
3:17).
-
Blessing: Follow
in the steps of Jesus into holy water and the Father’s blessing: “In
Christ and by the Spirit the Father says to you: ‘You
are my beloved son/daughter and in you I am well pleased’” (Matthew
3:17). And pray this affirmation for others…
WALKING
WITH JESUS IN… DESERT
Jesus’ Desert
Retreat (Matthew 4:1-11)
After
Jesus was baptized the Spirit led him into the solitude
of the desert for 40 days of prayer and fasting. It is
believed that Jesus’ time in the desert was spent
at the “Mount of Temptations” near Jericho,
south of Jerusalem and west of the Dead Sea.
Our tendency
is to feel sorry for Jesus in the desert – it
was hot and he went without food for so long and surely
he was bored and then he had to deal with Satan. We are
badly mistaken. Jesus was on a spiritual retreat. (Including
his baptism and travel time walking his personal retreat
was probably about 50 days.) He abstained from food and
people and noise and activity in order to pray and commune
with his Father. He was being spiritually strengthened!
He was preparing for his public ministry.
Dusty,
arid desert land is all over Israel and from the holy city
of Jerusalem the desert is just over the hill. It seems
that God planned it that way because the space and simplicity
of the desert beckons us to go and meet alone with him.
The barren and dry “wasteland” reflects
the emptiness of our souls and helps us to form prayers
of longing for what really matters in life: knowing God.
Like Jesus many of the great leaders of the Bible spent
considerable time in the desert seeking God: Abraham, Jacob,
Moses, David, and Paul, to name a few.
Longing for God is the point of pilgrimage. It was surely
on my mind as I went off for a time of solitude and prayer
in the desert. I found myself turning to Psalm 63, while
holding a desert prayer rock I found. It was easy for me
to imagine Jesus walking the desert, sleeping in one of
the many caves in the hills, and praying the Psalms, like
these words that David wrote in the same desert:
O God,
you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for
you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where
there is no water… I spread out my hands to
you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land (Psalm
63:1, 143:6).
-
Self-Examination: Do
you long for more of God? Are you thirsty for God’s presence? Imagine
your soul as a desert. Just as the dry land is parched
for lack of water so your soul thirsts for more of God’s
presence then you’ve yet been able to experience….
Jesus’ Testing
in the Desert
The wilderness
is often used as a Biblical symbol of spiritual testing,
as in the 40 years that the Israelites wandered in the
wilderness, depending on God for water from the Rock and
manna and quail from heaven. Jesus identified with us and
faced our temptations and trials in his 40 days in the
wilderness and throughout his life. At the end of Jesus’ time in the desert Satan tested him
and Jesus defeated him by putting his temptations in the
light of God’s Word. He left the desert with greater
focus and strength about his identity and mission.
We all
experience wilderness times of testing, whether in the
form of spiritual dryness, emptiness, dullness, confusion,
temptation, suffering, or persecution. The book of Job
is every person’s
life story, at least to some degree. Repeatedly, the Bible
teaches us that our trials can be opportunities for great
spiritual growth if we accept them. If we accept our desert
trials rather than complain about them, deny them, or try
to escape them then we grow to trust God more deeply and
gain strength in godly character.
The great
challenge in the wilderness, as Jesus himself experienced,
is that there are so many voices coming at us: doubts,
criticisms, and fears and also ideas for the future and
hopes of relief… Who
is speaking? Is it my own thoughts, the memory of a significant
other, or Satan? Or is it God? And in the midst of the
voices we must discern our answer to three essential questions:
Who is God? Who am I? What is the purpose of my life?
But all the questions in our Job testings boil down to one: Will
I continue to love and seek God from my heart even though
I am not feeling his blessings? Will I rely only on God
and his grace for my identity and life calling?
In many
of the Psalms, David and the other Psalmists cry out to
God in the midst of a desert time with words like, “Why
do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?” (Psalm
44:24).
In reality
God doesn’t abandon us in these “dark
nights of the soul”: our good Lord is always right
with us loving us, but he may temporarily withdraw our
feeling of his presence. He does this in order to help
us grow such that even when God isn’t answering our
prayers as we’d like that we’d say with David: “My
heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face
Lord I will seek” (Psalm 27:8).
-
Praying the Psalms: The Psalms teach us
to pray and are especially helpful in these times when
we feel lost, dry, or discouraged and God seems distant.
David’s Psalm 13 is just the prayer we need at these
times. If you don’t need this prayer right now then
pray it for someone who does:
How long,
O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you
hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my
thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long
will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O
LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in
death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and
my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices
in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has
been good to me.
WALKING
WITH JESUS IN… DISCIPLESHIP
Jesus turned Water into Wine at a Cana Wedding
Cana
(Kefr Kenna) is five miles due north of Nazareth. It is
here that Jesus did his first miracle, turning water into
wine to bring joy to a wedding party! Could we have any
doubt that God likes to celebrate? John refers to this
and all of Jesus’ miracles as “signs” because
they reveal Jesus’ identity as Messiah and Son of
God to his disciples (John 2:1-12).
Jesus
turned the water into wine in response to Mary’s
words to the servants, “Do whatever [Jesus] tells
you.” To obey whatever Jesus says is the test
of discipleship. Indeed, Jesus used the obedience of the
servants to show that his “new wine” of grace
superseded the “old water” of Judaism’s
traditions.
The small
Franciscan Wedding Chapel in Cana claims to be the very
spot where Jesus performed this miracle. Indeed there was
discovered there a mosaic with ancient Aramaic writing
indicating that the site housed a Jewish-Christian synagogue
which is displayed in the chapel’s narthex.
And beneath the present chapel is a grotto (which the Franciscan’s
claim is the exact spot) with an enormous stone water jar
like one of the jars Jesus used.
This
is a special place for marriages and the renewal of marriage
vows. In fact, Kristi and I spontaneously did this! And
we did it on the day that the Jews say is the best day
for marriages: Tuesday. This is the “twice
blessed day”, so named because when God created the
earth the third day (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday) was the only
one in the Genesis record to record two times: “And
God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:9-13). Also,
as Christians we call the third day “resurrection
day” in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection.
-
Centering Prayer: “Taste and
see that the Lord is good”. Thank the Lord
for his goodness to you. Christ’s grace is the
new wine that our souls thirst for. He is the Bridegroom
of our Souls! Maybe he has shown you his love in a special
way through your spouse, family member, or friend. Smile
and thank him!
Jesus Called Nathaniel to be his disciple at Cana
In Cana
Jesus saw into Nathanael’s heart as he was
sitting in alone in prayer under a fig tree and called
him to follow him as his disciple. Nathanael confessed
Jesus to be the Son of God and Messiah (John 1:45-51).
-
Confession of Faith: Make Nathaniel’s
exuberant confession of faith in Jesus to Jesus, present
right here, right now: “Rabbi, you are the Son
of God; you are the King of Israel” (John 1:49).
- Intercession: Pray for someone you know
who needs to trust in Jesus
Jesus Called Matthew (and me!) to be his Disciple
at the Sea of Galilee
It was
love at first sight! I was sitting at the shore of the
Sea of Galilee waiting for the sun to rise. I looked into
the glassy surface of the same waters that Jesus calmed
2,000 years ago and I saw Jesus in a new way. It all started
with my meditation on the Gospel account of Jesus choosing
Matthew to be his disciple (Matthew 9:9-12)…
Matthew
worked as a tax collector at a booth on the trade route
in Capernaum. Here was a man who collected taxes from his
Jewish countrymen for the oppressive Roman government and,
if that wasn’t bad enough, then he extorted
as much extra money as he could to stuff into his own pockets.
He was a “sinner” and a “traitor.” He
was hated.
But Jesus
saw Matthew. “Follow me”, he invited.
And Matthew “got up and followed him”. He just
stood up and followed Jesus – for the rest of his
life! Think about it. As soon as Jesus called him he simply
walked away from his job at the toll both so he could live
with Jesus and learn from him. And then he invited his
friends – other tax collectors and sinners – to
a party with Jesus at his home.
I’m like Matthew. Nobody special. A sinner. It’s
hard to believe that Jesus would choose me to be his disciple
and close companion. But Jesus did choose Matthew! Maybe
he’d choose me too! And you!
But here’s
the critical question that emerged for me as I wanted for
the sunrise at the Sea of Galilee: How
much do I want to be Jesus’ disciple? When I listen
to Jesus’ words does my heart yearn for more of him?
Am I eagerly waiting for him to look my way, call my name,
and say, “Follow me.”
Matthew
longed for more of Jesus – more of his words
and his compassion that he’d seen time and again
when Jesus ministered in Capernaum. Matthew was longing
to be apprenticed to this rabbi and that’s why he immediately jumped
up and left everything to follow Jesus as soon as he was
invited.
This became clear to me at the Sea of Galilee. And now
my heart keeps crying out to Jesus, “Choose me!”
Choose Me!
William
Gaultiere ©2007
Up before dawn at the Sea of Galilee
I join many who are anticipating the Sunrise:
There is a lonely dog standing on a dock barking,
A man from Galilee swimming in the cold,
A stray cat cuddled in the dark hollow of a rock,
Birds sitting in trees and waiting to take the wings of
the morning,
A group of tourists on the pavilion with cameras in hand,
And a
man who blurts out, “I saw a man strip naked
to swim!”
But I
am sitting alone in prayer on a large rock at the sea’s
edge,
Waves gently lapping near my feet,
I too am eager, but for a Sonrise:
For the
Son’s
light to rise over the Mountains,
For a glimpse of heaven to shine on me,
For the voice of wisdom that gives life,
For the Man
from Galilee to walk across the water to me…
Oh, dear Lord, come to me! Choose me!
Finally I see the Son rising in the horizon:
His warm smile shines across the waters
And his words, like rays, beam forth,
“Come,
follow me! I will make you a fisher of souls.”
Immediately my
heart leaps –
It’s Jesus and he’s
choosing me to
be his disciple!
Jesus is all I see and all that matters to me
So I stand up, put the world behind me, and follow him.
-
Self-Examination: Have
you ever made commitment to be Jesus’ disciple?
I’m not talking about becoming a “Christian” as
we’ve come to understand that today. Have you ever
told Jesus in earnest that you want nothing more in this
life than to be his apprentice? Have you ever decided to
organize your whole life – your daily schedule and
all your priorities – around a holy and wholly dedication
to be Jesus’ student in order to learn from him how
to live your life as he would live it if he were you?
It’s the most important decision you’ll ever
make. I did this almost five years ago. It changed my life – little-by-little
I am learning from the Master how to do all that I do
with him and for him. Together we are advancing his
kingdom of the heavens in our midst. Would you like to
join us?
Mount of Beatitudes
The Mount
of Beatitudes is on a hilltop two miles west of Capernaum.
It is here that Jesus gave his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew
5-7), the greatest single sermon ever preached! And thousands
of people at once heard Jesus’ teaching
without microphones because of the incredible acoustics
in this natural cove! (This has been tested and proven!)
- Bible Reading: Read
the Sermon on the Mount in The Message or another fresh
translation. As you read ask God to direct you to one teaching
of Jesus’ that
you need to learn how to obey with his help.
Sailing on Stormy Seas at the Sea of Galilee
The Sea
of Galilee is the one place in Israel that is pretty much
like it was when Jesus was there. It’s
the same body of water, the northern and eastern sides
remain pastoral, and the same mountains form the lake’s
backdrop.
Sea of
Galilee means, “Sea of the Harp.” When
you visit it is easy to understand the lake’s name,
looking at its harp shape, listening to its serene harp-like
music, and just enjoying its beauty. When we sailed from
Tiberias to Gennasaret I kept thinking about how it was
on these very waters Jesus sailed with his disciples. The
lake was calm and serene that morning, but I’ve heard
the stories about how the wind could whip up and descend
from the mountains with a storm in a flash.
The disciples
found this out first hand, one spooky night in particular
when they were sailing in a storm toward the “other side” of
the lake, to a demon-infested cemetery in Gentile territory!
The waves were nearly swamping their boat and Jesus was
fast asleep!
-
Meditation (Visio Divina): Mark 4:34-51. Picture
being a part of this story from the Gospel. See yourself
in the boat with Jesus and the disciples on the Sea of
Galilee. Pray with me…
That
day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let
us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind,
they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There
were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up,
and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly
swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.
The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't
you care if we drown?"
He got
up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet!
Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely
calm.
He said
to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you
still have no faith?"
They
were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this?
Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
Imagine
us in the boat with Jesus and the disciples and a terrible
storm soaks us, thrashes the boat, and nearly swamps us… Jesus is sleeping! Consider a stress
in your life today? Perhaps a problem in your health, finances,
or a relationship… In the midst of this storm can
you entrust your life to Jesus and his Father and be at
peace as he is?
Walking on Water at the Sea of Galilee
The other story I reflected on as I sailed on the Sea
of Galilee was another time that the disciples were sailing
in a storm. This time they were without Jesus. He had gone
up into the hills to pray. They were alone to face the
wind and waves. Suddenly Jesus came out to them walking
on the water!
-
Meditation (Visio Divina): Matthew 14:22-33
Put yourself
into this Gospel story as well…
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat
and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed
the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a
mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he
was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable
distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind
was against it.
During
the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking
on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the
lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they
said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus
immediately said to them: "Take courage! It
is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell
me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he
said.
Then
Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and
came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid
and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately
Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You
of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
And when
they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those
who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly
you are the Son of God."
[John
6:21] …and
immediately the boat reached the shore where they were
heading.
In prayer
imagine… You’re on a boat in a
storm at the Sea of Galilee. The rain pelting down is blinding… Suddenly
you see something walking on the water! It’s a ghost!
Or is it Jesus? Often in the storms of our lives it’s
hard to see. When faced with a big decision we often don’t
know how the Lord is leading us…. Join Peter and
pray for courage, “Lord, if it is you tell me to
come to you on the water!”
What
is a struggle that you need Jesus’ help and
guidance with? What old boat have you been relying on for
your comfort zone in the storm?
Turn
your attention from the stormy waters to Jesus… Look
into his face and make eye contact with him… See
his smile and his open arms as he stands on the waters
before you… Hear him say to you, “Come
to me” (Matthew 11:28)… “Come
to me… Come to me…” Go ahead. Step
out of the boat, out of your comfort zone, and onto the
water. Keep your eyes on Jesus, only on Jesus, and walk
toward his embrace…
WALKING
WITH JESUS IN… RETREAT
Jesus
practiced a rhythm of life which included regular times
for personal retreat. Observing this about Jesus and following
his example is essential. In his gospel Mark highlights
again and again how Jesus’ times of withdrawal
to be alone with the Father in prayer or to go on retreat
with his disciples gave him focus and power for his ministry.
- Study: Consider carefully the Bible Study, “Jesus’ Rhythm
of Life”:
Caesarea Philippi
Jesus
took Peter, James, and John on a retreat to Caesaera Philippi
at the base of Mount Hermon. It’s a beautiful
spot with a river, lush vegetation, and flowers. But probably
Jesus took his disciples there to show them the temple
to the god Pan, where much idolatrous worship took place.
I saw the ruins of this ancient temple.
I can
imagine that with the man-made false god on the one side
and the towering God-made rock face on the other side,
Jesus asked them, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew
16:13-20).
Peter replied that Jesus was the Christ and the Son of
the Living God. And Jesus affirmed Peter as a Rock for
his faith.
The Transfiguration
Another retreat that Jesus took his three lead disciples
on was a hike up Mount Hermon or, possibly, the lower Mount
Tabor. Here Jesus was transfigured (Matthew 17:1-13).
The transfiguration
of Jesus revealed Jesus’ divine
glory and was the perfect expression of the image of God
in a man’s body. Here the veil between the Kingdom
of God and this world came down and Jesus’ disciples
saw Jesus consulting with Moses and Elijah about the Cross
that Jesus was to take up to fulfill the Law and the Prophets
so that any person could know God through him.
The Sea of Galilee
We sailed
on the Sea of Galilee. The sea was so peaceful and beautiful.
Looking north toward Capernaum, where we were heading,
the sea, land, hills, and mountains looked much like they
did in Jesus’ day.
As we
sailed I kept thinking about how Jesus sailed these waters,
calmed the storm here, and walked on this sea. I imagined
myself as one of Jesus’ disciples in the
boat and Jesus walking on the water toward us. And I “centered
down” in Peter’s bold prayer: “Lord,
if it’s really you then tell me to come to you.”
When we reached the other side of the lake it was lunchtime.
But I was hungry for Jesus. Really hungry. Who cares
about eating when you’re hungry for Jesus? In fact,
I’ve learned that longing for God is a good reason
not to eat for a while. So I took a walk by myself and
searched for my Lord, hoping for some way to make contact
with him… and then to hold on for dear life!
I’m so happy to tell you that I met Jesus in many
ways. One had to do with a rock. There are rocks everywhere
in Israel – also in the Bible where a rock is the
most common symbol for God. Let me tell you about what
happened…
Just a Simple Rock
William Gaultiere ©2007
Just a simple rock
Found on a solitary walk;
Yet, an answer to prayer:
Being with Jesus my only care.
This Ebenezer is shaped as the Sea of Galilee
From which it came with many a memory:
Soft and smooth as the stormy seas he made calm,
His dear presence a healing balm,
Like the sea called Gennesaret Lake
(For it’s harp-like music and shape)
Where heaven’s waves lap so sweet and gentle
As they sing the words of Jesus: “Peace. Be
Still.”
Just a simple rock
Found on a solitary walk;
A sacred stone to rub a prayer
To Jesus here, there, and everywhere.
It was pure white as my holy Lord
Until by my dirty fingers it was grayed;
With my touch of faith in Jesus
He receives my sin to give me his holiness.
Oh how I delight in the wonders of his grace
As I see the smile on his face!
Where the Gadarene demoniac was set free
I also met Jesus and offer testimony.
Just a simple rock
Found on a solitary walk.
When noisy crowds press in on the street
Following Jesus to the lake is my retreat.
What joy to walk where Jesus walks,
To keep in stride with him and talk and talk.
His yoke is light and easy –
Tied to him I always want to be.
When he walks on the water
And bids, “Come to me. Come closer,”
On Jesus alone I fix my eyes
So I too can walk on water by-and-by.
-
Let’s
pray… Dear Jesus you’re
not only at the Sea of Galilee but you’re also in
the busy streets and the lonely houses. You’re present
with me as I type out these words at my computer in Irvine,
California and you’re with each one who is reading
these words at whatever spot on this globe he or she is
sitting on. Jesus, we long for your loving kindness. We’re
desperate to overcome our blindness and get a glimpse of
your beauty. We’re so hungry for your manna from
heaven, just a Word from your heart will fill our souls.
In the midst of our stresses and struggles, our delights
and our dreams, you alone are our Rock – eternal,
strong, true, and comforting. Help us to hold onto you
in simple things like the rock you gave me at the Sea of
Galilee. Amen.
WALKING
WITH JESUS IN… WORSHIP
Jesus’ Palm
Sunday Processional
The Mount
of Olives is East of Jerusalem and offers beautiful views
of the old city and the surrounding valleys. On Palm Sunday
Jesus descended from the Mount of Olives on a donkey to
the praises of the people heralding him as their Messiah!
Jesus traveled the Sabbath Day’s journey to Jerusalem
through the Golden Gate on the East, a double arched doorway,
which has been sealed until the Messiah comes (Mark 11:1-11).
Just
a few days later when Jesus didn’t use his
power to overthrow the Romans and establish a political
Zionist kingdom the same crowd that cheered him would yell, “Crucify
him!” Jesus fulfilled the Messianic prophecies of
Zechariah 9:9-10, Isaiah 62:11, Psalm 118:26-27, and hundreds
of others, but most Jews then and still today have refused
to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. This is why countless
Jews are still waiting for what they believe is the first
coming of the Messiah and thousands of Jews have been buried
on the top of the Mount of Olives, hoping to be the first
in line when the Messiah comes.
This is why and where Jesus wept over Jerusalem, crying
out for its people:
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and
stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather
your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under
her wings, but you were not willing (Matthew 23:37).
For hundreds
of years Christ-following pilgrims have walked the Palm
Sunday Road singing praises to Jesus the Messiah and crying
out to him, “Hosanna!” (“Save
us now Lord!”) They echo the ancient words: "Hosanna!" "Blessed
is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the
coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!"
-
Worship: Smile
and give praise to Jesus the Messiah. Bless him as your
Lord and Savior. Tell him that you want him to be your
king, that you long for him to rule your heart… Be to Jesus like the little
chic that runs for shelter under the wings of its beloved
Mother Hen… Devote your heart to Jesus and promise
not to reject him as so many Jews and Gentiles have.
Welcome Jesus, the Messiah, back to the Holy Land with
the ancient prayer of his disciples, “Maranatha!
Lord, come quickly!”
WALKING
WITH JESUS IN… TRINITARIAN COMMUNITY
The Upper Room
Strong and early legends place the Upper Room in the house
of St Mark, which is in the southwest part of the old city.
Today it is located in a Syrian Orthodox church of St Mark.
It is less than one mile on foot to the Garden of Gethsemane.
In the Upper Room Jesus shared a very intimate time with
his disciples, inviting them into Trinitarian Community.
It was
in the Upper Room that Jesus welcomed his disciples into
friendship with God the Father through him. He called them
his “friends” and
he took on the posture of a servant and washed their feet
(John 13:1-17). He offered his last words which were some
of his most important teachings and prayers, including
his Parable of the Vine and Branches (John 15), assurances
about the coming of the Holy Spirit to live in and with
his followers (John 14-16), and prayers that his disciples
would be one with him and one another, even as he is one
with the Father (John 17).
In the
Last Supper at the Upper Room Jesus offered himself – his
body and blood – to his disciples (Matthew 26:17-35).
As in his miracle feedings of thousands of people with
just a few loaves, he “took bread”, “blessed
it”, “broke it”, and “gave it” to
his followers. Then he passed around the cup of wine. We
commemorate this same process with the bread and the cup
in Holy Communion. Through participating in Christ’s
death and resurrection we share in a new life in his kingdom
of the heavens, a new covenant of grace in which all people
have direct and immediate access to God through trusting
Christ.
And after his resurrection Jesus appeared to his disciples
when they were meeting in this Upper Room with the doors
locked (John 20:19-29). And then after he ascended into
heaven he sent the promised Holy Spirit to them at Pentecost. “Peace
be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Then
he breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive
the Holy Spirit… Forgive” (John 20:21-23).
- Thanksgiving: Thank
God for God, for relationship with Father, Son, and Spirit,
Three-in-One and One-in-Three… Enjoy
the blessing of friendship with Abba Father through the
sacrifice of Jesus the Son and by the presence and power
of the Holy Spirit.
- Breath Prayer: In
both Hebrew and Greek “spirit” and “breath” are
the same word. In the 3rd Century Desert Fathers
(monks who lived in desert solitude and disciplined community)
prayed breath prayers, repeating short Scriptures as they
breathed in and out.
Jesus
was sent to us by the Father to give us the Holy Spirit
through his breath. Breathe in the Holy Spirit with Jesus’ words that express his heart and his Father’s: “Peace
be with you.” Breathe in deep… Hold your breath… Release
slowly… Breath in as you whisper God’s blessing, “Peace…” Hold
the Spirit… Release as you whisper, “Be with
you…”
Repeat this prayer for yourself and for anyone the Lord
lays on your heart to pray for.
WALKING
WITH JESUS IN… HIS VIA DOLOROSA
(During
Lent I will be sharing a separate seminar on Jesus’ Via
Dolorosa that will include pictures, meditations, and prayers
on the Garden of Gethsemane and each of the Stations of
the Cross, along the ancient road in the Old City and into
the holy sites in the Church of the Holy Sepulchur.)
When
I got to Jerusalem the first thing I wanted to do was to
walk the Via Dolorosa alone with Jesus. Via Dolorosa is
Latin for “way of suffering,” yet I was
so eager to travel the original Stations of the Cross of
Christ in the very place where Christ sacrificed his life.
I had benefited from prayer walks along the Stations of
the Cross at monasteries like the Prince of Peace Abbey,
but the 2,000-year old Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem was the
real deal! Even sleep seemed unimportant. Somehow I knew
it’d connect me with Christ and his sacrificial love.
I never could’ve imagined what I was in for…
Following His Via Dolorosa
William Gaultiere © 2007
Before dawn I rose to follow in His last steps
Awoken and compelled by His spirit
Trying to find His Via Dolorosa in the dark
As I ran into Old Jerusalem to meet with Him
In an ancient city that never sleeps
With Hebrew writing that I can’t read
On narrow and shadowy streets – where’s
the moonlight?
I pass Jews dressed in black coats and hats ready
for their prayers
A drunk staggers toward me muttering complaints
Crows pick at garbage strewn all about
Stray cats everywhere scamper and whine
Dogs howl in the distance
Israeli soldiers block my way and won’t give me
directions
I need help – where is the One I love?
I missed my turn at Via Dolorosa Street
Now I’m lost in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City
Droves of Allah’s men fill the street and walk
toward me
I must step aside or be trampled
Nearby the soldiers are armed and watching
A man is yelling in Arabic over a loud speaker
A cock crows – would I deny Him too?
I’ve waited all my life to walk in His last
sorrowful steps
And now birds sing in chorus as morning finally breaks
through
Market shops and tourist stands open
The smell of fresh bread wafts down the street
Keys jingle as a priest locks the church’s door
Tourists crowd into the street with cameras in hand
Still trying to find his way – was it like this
2,000 years ago?
I find a group of Catholic pilgrims at His 1st Station
One carries a cross like His and all chant in Latin
They know His steps on this ancient Roman stone paved
road
I don’t want to get lost again so I follow them
and pay
Station-by-station I meditate and talk to Him
Church bells ring as we enter the Church of the Holy
Sepulcher
But I’m wrongly dressed in shorts and t-shirt – will
they let me in?
I’m a stranger here in this holy place that’s
darker than night
Many religious groups live here for Him but compete for
His station privileges
Their frowning looks from all around pierce my body
I slink along His last stations to meet with Him who
welcomes me
Finally I touch my Lord’s tomb where death couldn’t
hold Him!
Doves coo from somewhere and I run home exclaiming, “He
is risen!”
Again I pass the stumbling drunk – he too is
smiling now!
WALKING
WITH JESUS IN… His Resurrection
Life
Jesus’ Gospel
is All True and He is Alive with us Here and Now!
The tomb is empty! Jesus has risen from the dead.
- Sharing the Easter Greeting: “Christ is
Risen!” Response: “He is Risen Indeed!”
