_edited.jpg)
In this blog, I will combine a couple of experiences. First, was a visit to Nazareth where Jesus grew up. Here Jesus was rejected after He stood among His own on the Sabbath, in the synagogue, and read
“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” Luke 4: 18,19
After being rejected, and with an attempt to throw Him off a cliff, Jesus left the only home He had known. He never returned, and spent the rest of His life ministering and traveling. This picture represents Jesus.
Jesus traveled to Capernaum and stayed for the next three years. It was the place of His ministry. Daily He delivered them and gave them hope, as He does for us today. It is now known as the “Town of Jesus”.
Here I had another spiritual encounter as I viewed the home where Jesus stayed, ( the home of Peter’s mother in law) and the synagogue in which He taught. Here Jesus would drive out a demon. Here is where Jesus would heal the mother-in-law of Peter. It was the site of His greatest number of miracles. Here Jesus taught Peter, the disciples and all of us today the powerful message of forgiveness-
Matthew 18:21,22
“Peter asked Jesus: Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven”
Jesus was very intentional and purposeful as He taught about the kingdom. He made every second count.
Do YOU need to forgive someone? May God give you the grace right now to forgive in the name of Jesus.
Can you imagine sitting around with Jesus in the home pictured below being a witness to His miracles?
I could sense His very presence there as if He was inviting me to come on in. He was talking with me, teaching me.
Here I am standing by the Sea of Galilee behind the home Jesus stayed in. When Jesus felt it was time to leave the people didn’t want him to go they tried to keep him there, but He said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also , because that is why I was sent” Luke 4: 43,44.
His love and compassion for all wrecks me. He wants no one to be lost, not one.
One of my last favorite memories of this site is when Jesus asked his disciples, “who do the people say the Son of Man is? They replied, some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets. What about you He asked, who do you say I am? And Simon son of Jonah answered , you are the Son of the living God. Jesus replied, blessed are you for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood but my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16: 13-19
This statue of Peter stands very close by the home of Peters mother in law where Jesus stayed. Notice the fish, scripture, rod, and the key to the kingdom he holds. This scripture has never came so alive to me as it did standing here today.
Peter would go on to be one of the greatest disciples of Jesus even after denying Him three times, but the greatest part of Peters story is yet to come…it’s a story that ministers and gives hope and promise to all of us today!