Retracing the Steps of Jesus
This morning, we are going to continue a message series “Retracing the Steps of Jesus” as I have the opportunity to share some insights from my recent pilgrimage to Israel. Last week, we looked at a panoramic view from the Arbel Cliff as we looked out over the Sea of Galilee. To help you get your geographical bearings, you can either look at a map at the back of your Bible and/or look at the map/diagram below:
As I shared last week, our hotel was on the Sea of Galilee and we stayed in the city of Tiberius, which was a Roman City in Jesus Day that very few Jews would have lived. And last week, I shared that we went to the Arbel Cliff (See below) and viewed in one panoramic view many of the towns and villages.
This morning, we want to look at the “Humble Beginnings” of Jesus and his earthly parents. Let’s first review … Where were Mary and Joseph from originally? Or possibly better put, what was the … Home Town of Mary and Joseph
Now from the Christmas Story, we know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but … Was that home town of Mary and Joseph? No … we learn that their home town was in the small village of Nazareth.
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Luke 1:26-28 NLT
In fact in the City of Nazareth, there are two churches that claim to be built on the site of this angelic message from the angel Gabriel to Mary in the city of Nazareth. Now the truth is we don’t know for sure which site in Nazareth Mary received this message, and yet there are some interesting clues of where it could have been.
One possible site is under a Greek Orthodox Church in Nazareth.
Picture of St. Gabriel
(And by the way, one of the things that I had to initially deal with and yet grew to appreciate while in Israel, were some of these elaborate/ornate churches built on top of these significant historic sites.) What are leaders and guides helped us realize … if it were not for some of these churches that some of them were initially built in the 3rd – 5th centuries, there would be no clear way to know where these significant historic events took place.
The Greek Orthodox Church in Nazareth is called Saint Gabriel or the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation. (Annunciation is a big word to say the angel announced to Mary at this spot.) One reason, it is believed to be in this spot, is that this is the location of the only spring in Nazareth. Outside the church there is a crypt that probably dates from the Crusader Period and we actually were able to touch water trickling from this water spout that has as its source the spring under the church building next door and reflect that Jesus would have drank water from this spring.
Our guide said that she had never seen water flowing from the spout before (show water flowing) … just another example of God smiling on our trip. The “modern church” we visited was constructed in 1750, and as we walked in the church, we walked down in the basement and we were able to visit the actual spring of Nazareth. It was cool to realize that since this was the only main water supply to this village, then it would have been a place visited by Mary, Joseph and Jesus as he grew up.
And our next passage listed in the message notes clearly states that Nazareth was the village that Jesus grew up.
Jesus’ Childhood Home - NazarethWhen Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him. Luke 2:39-40 NLT
One of the realizations that dawned on me while visiting Jerusalem, was what a challenge it would have been for this poor family to travel to Jerusalem for the …
Annual Pilgrimage of Jesus Parents - Nazareth to JerusalemEvery year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. Luke 2:41-42 NLT
The distance from Nazareth to Jerusalem is approximately 60 miles. For a family to travel that distance by foot it would have taken from 7 to 8 days to travel. So for the faithful Jewish family of Jesus day to observe the Passover Celebration in Jerusalem every year this would have been a 3 week ordeal. One week to travel there, one week to observe the Passover, one week to travel back home.
Now back to Nazareth … another possible site for the annunciation would have been in Mary’s home believed to be the spot that the Huge Roman Catholic Church building called the Basilica of the Annunciation stands.
Although it was cool to think that this very well could be the home of Mary, the mother of Jesus grew up, it was also difficult to get a feel from our view what that home would have looked like.
So I was grateful that we had the opportunity outside the Basilica to see a house from Jesus day that had been excavated. (See pictures of the Nazareth Home below). It was amazing that these homes were in reality dwellings in caves. The entrance to the home would have included some steps, and then there was an upper area that the family of 6 or 7 would have slept, a middle section that the family would have fixed their food and probably ate, and then there was a lower section (that you can see behind the pillars) which would have been where they would have kept their animals.
Now these were not squatter homes, these were their permanent homes. Nazareth would have been a very small village in Jesus day of only 200 to 400 residents. Now some past historical accounts will say that the modern city of Nazareth which is now a city of 75,000 people (the largest Arab City in Northern Israel, would have been as possibly as large as 1,000-1,500 people, but from recent archeology and research the prevalent view now is that it would probably have only been 200 to 400 people in Nazareth. Which means that there is a good likelihood that Jesus would have been in the cave home that we looked at is it probably belonged to a relative or neighbor.
Now it would be easy to think that all of the homes of Jesus day in Israel were built in a cave. But the truth is that this was not the case. While in Israel, we had the opportunity to visit a contemporary city of Nazareth in that same area of Galilee. The amazing city (See Pictures Below)we visited was the city of Sepphoris (or Zippori). Although not mentioned in the Bible, we know that it was the capital city of Galilee and it was only 4 miles from Nazareth. The amazing thing about this city, which we had visited earlier in the day prior to our visit to Nazareth, was that it was a beautifully constructed Roman city with shops, mosaic flooring and drawings in the remains of these homes, a community that had a 4,000 seat amphitheatre with an amazing road system. In one of my pictures you can still see the ruts in the road from the Roman Chariots.
As we compare the homes of Sepphoris to the homes of Nazareth, we see a stark contrast. Our guide went on to share with us that the village of Nazareth in comparison to other towns and cities in the Galilee area would have been looked down on. And yet Jesus identified with this small poor village.
Jesus Identified with Nazareth.
Following Jesus baptism in the Jordan River and his subsequent temptation, we learn in the Bible that …
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. Luke 4:14-16 NIV
And he was commonly referred to as “Jesus of Nazareth.” In fact that description is used 17 times in the Bible of Jesus. And interestingly enough it was that self description that he used to address Saul of Tarsus, who would later be known as the Apostle Paul upon his conversion.
“Who are you, Lord?” I asked.
“I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. Acts 22:8 NIV
So as we reflect on the insignificant, poor village that Jesus came from it is not surprising that when his first followers were first introduced to him, that they would respond the way that Nathanael responded …
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip. John 1:45-46 NIV
You see … Jesus Identified with Nazareth and the Poor
The realization of Jesus humble, peasant beginning was striking to our group of pilgrims. As we reflected on the two very different groupings of home that we had visited on this particular day of our travels it really dawned on us, that Jesus not only identified with the village of Nazareth, by wearing the name “Jesus of Nazareth,” but he also identified with the poor.
One of our guides shared with us that to really grasp the significance of Jesus coming from Nazareth, would be to realize that the equivalent for many of our communities, would be that of a trailer park or possibly for larger cities the projects of an inner city. Now if you grew up in a trailer park or the project area of an inner city, please don’t be offended by these comments, but instead identify with Jesus. But I do think it is very significant that Jesus left the glory of heaven to grow up in the Israel equivalent of a trailer park. And yet instead of being ashamed of that upbringing, clearly stated, “I am Jesus of Nazareth.”
And although it would have been the prevalent view that “nothing good can come from Nazareth,” this is the small poor village that Jesus identified and the other peasants who would have lived there. It dawned on me while in Israel in the village of Nazareth, that if I wanted to identify with Jesus of Nazareth, that I must be willing to identify with the poor.
How are we doing in this area as a church? I am encouraged by our work with the local food pantries like Franklin Food Pantry and SCAC (we had a group of folks yesterday help volunteer at the Springboro Community Assistance Center). I am grateful that we have a number of people going on a mission trip next month to Appalachia to help some of the poorest people in our country. I am encouraged to know that we have just started financially supporting a new church plant, Pathways Christian Church led by Darryll Davis which is designed to be a multiracial church in South West Chester that will reach out to Lincoln Heights (one of the poorer sections of Northern Cincinnati as a service area). And yet, I think that we are just scratching the surface of what we can do as a church to identify with the poor.
Let’s make sure that we don’t make the same mistake as many people in Jesus home town that neither accepted Jesus or His Mission … Jesus and His Mission Not Accepted
He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.
Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”
“Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.
Luke 4:16-24 NIV
Let’s continue to look for ways that we can further Jesus’ mission of proclaiming good news to the poor!. It was truly encouraging to see how many people from this church, participated in our garage sale yesterday. If you didn’t get a chance to see our setup here at the Y yesterday … then you really missed an amazing site to see this entire gym filled with bicycles, washers, dryers, lawn mowers, workout equipment, toys, clothes, etc. We want to especially thank Amy Phillips and Scott LeBlanc who organized this event and all who sacrificed of their possessions and time to help this be a great success. And it was amazing to learn that we raised more than $4,000 for our future sound and light equipment in our Worship and Community Center being built next door.
Now here is a thought that hit me this week as I was working on this message and contemplating Jesus stated mission for his ministry and asking myself are we (and am I) proclaiming good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners and oppressed, and recovery of sight for the blind. What if next year, we made this same effort but instead of the proceeds going toward a construction effort, what if we gave the proceeds to help provide good news for the poor, or resources for the oppressed, or relief for those who are hurting from some physical suffering? Would we have the same response as we did for an effort that we will receive a benefit? What if we made the same sacrifice and gave it all away toward some mission effort?
Let’s make sure that we don’t miss (like many of the people of Nazareth did) an opportunity to identify with Jesus and the poor. Well after Jesus was rejected in Nazareth, he moved on to Capernaum (or Kaphernaum). For some reason, prior to my Israel Pilgrimage, I didn’t realize that Jesus of Nazareth actually moved to another city and lived there for an extended period of time.
Jesus’ New Home Town - Capernaum
Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— Matthew 4:13 NIV
Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town.
Matthew 9:1 NLT
Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. Luke 4:31 NLT
So it was a bit surprising to see the sign that greeted us in the village of Capernaum.
And yet with further reflection of the Scriptures we can see that Jesus made this Coastal village of the Sea of Galilee as his home base. It was in this fishing village that Jesus met a resident there by the name of Simon Peter and also a tax collector named Matthew. It was in this village that Jesus taught regularly in the Sabbath, healed people, and performed other miracles.
While we were in Capernaum (Kaphernaum), we visited the remains of a fifth century Synagogue (See Picture Below) and we got a glimpse of an even older synagogue (See Picture), possibly the one that Jesus taught while he lived in Capernaum.
And right next door to the Synagogue were a cluster of houses (See Picture). These houses were much more sophisticated than the homes we had seen in Nazareth, because it was a more prominent city or village in Jesus Day.
As we viewed these cluster of houses, we noticed that these homes larger than the homes in Nazareth shared walls with the home next to them, and then they would have common courtyards between the homes (See Picture).
We couldn’t help but think that it was while here that Jesus formed community with his first followers (Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew, and others). It was cool to think about that we were possibly looking at the home that Jesus lived, or that Matthew lived. In fact it is believed from tradition and historical record that Peter’s house is under this “space ship” looking church building. Here is the exterior view of the modern church building, and here is a photo of me looking through the glass floor at what is believed to be the home that Peter lived in and that Jesus would have healed his mother-in-law. And actually outside the church building you can see a clearer view of the remains of Peter’s home.
In Nazareth, we get a glimpse of the humility of Jesus by his willingness to come to earth and live as a peasant in a “cave-like” home and how that he intentionally identified with the poor. And yet in Capernaum, we get a glimpse of how Jesus built community with his first followers and how that close-nit network of relationships continued in the life of the early church as they met from home to home.
Sometimes, I am concerned that the modern church has become too much like an institution or organization rather than a community. It is too easy to simply attend a church regularly, but not really get involved in community life. How are we doing as a church in building community? How are you doing as an individual in experiencing community with others?
Here is another challenge for the summer: Why not intentionally develop community with others by inviting someone into your home or to a cookout at a park. We emphasize small groups here at Southwest Church and I am encouraged by how many have got involved in small groups, but this summer while many of our small groups are not meeting for the summer, then let’s make intentional efforts to build community with others.
Let’s Pray!
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