Near the Banias, remnants of the pagan temple of Pan, located near Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights, we stood where it is claimed Peter declared, You are the Christ the Son of the living God in one breath, and in another he insisted that Jesus must not take the Calvary road. Lord, help me to see that the cross is not to be shunned but to be accepted with a Not my will, but Yours be done”. This was in December 2013. Wonderful memories.
The weather got better by the time we reached Capernaum, and our energy inched up despite the overnight flight from Singapore. This hometown of Peter and Andrew, and James and John, was a small fishing village on the northern edge of the Galilee lake. It became the staging area for Jesus’ ministry in that province. Many mighty miracles were done here but people were resistant.
I was looking at some old photos of the holy land trip I led in December of 2013. It was unforgettable. It was unexpectedly cold. One of the coldest in the recent history of Israel. It snowed heavily in Jerusalem. And here in Caesarea by the Sea I faced the forebodings of a freeze. I worried that the itinerary would be curtailed.
