Doubt Busters

I’m visiting Israel at the end of October 2022 with a church tour group. I am meditating on the cities we’re going to so I can grasp something of the history of the place. We are starting at Joppa, next to Tel Aviv, and making a circuit counterclockwise around the land, ending at Jerusalem. Here is one meditation.

CAPERNAUM became Jesus’s new home after Nazareth. After His baptism in the Jordan by John and His testing in the wilderness (Matt. 4:13), He was led by the Spirit to His main ministry around the Sea of Galilee. He left the obscurity of Nazareth and made His home at Capernaum, on the northern shore of the Sea. 

I’m visiting Israel at the end of October 2022 with a church tour group. I am meditating on the cities we’re going to so I can grasp something of the history of the place. We are starting at Joppa, next to Tel Aviv, and making a circuit counterclockwise around the land, ending at Jerusalem. Here is one meditation.

NAZARETH was the obscure hometown of Mary the mother of Jesus, and Joseph’s city (Luke 2:39). Jesus grew up there (Luke 4:16). Though far out in the boondocks, it was not hidden from God. To this small town came an angel to young Mary to bring unusual tidings of a virgin birth (Matthew 1, Luke 1). 

I’m visiting Israel at the end of October 2022 with a church tour group. I am meditating on the cities we’re going to so I can grasp something of the history of the place. We are starting at Joppa, next to Tel Aviv, and making a circuit counterclockwise around the land, ending at Jerusalem. Here is one meditation.

If you were from Gadara in Israel, you were a Gadarene. If from Nazareth, a Nazarene. And from Magdala, a Magdalene. 

One woman noted for her devotion to Jesus was Mary Magdalene. Under circumstances of which we are not told, Jesus had cast seven demons out of her, healing her and others at the time. 

I’m visiting Israel at the end of October 2022 with a church tour group. I am meditating on the cities we’re going to so I can grasp something of the history of the place. We are starting at Joppa, next to Tel Aviv, and making a circuit counterclockwise around the land, ending at Jerusalem. Here is one meditation.

MOUNT CARMEL was the scene of two striking choices. Elijah challenged wicked King Ahab in 1 Kings 18 to gather 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah to the mountain. “How long will you hesitate between two opinions?” Elijah told them. 

I’m visiting Israel at the end of October 2022 with a church tour group. I am meditating on the cities we’re going to so I can grasp something of the history of the place. We are starting at Joppa, next to Tel Aviv, and making a circuit counterclockwise around the land, ending at Jerusalem. Here is one meditation.

CAESAREA was the setting for presenting the gospel to two different classes of Gentiles, the military and the nobles. Peter went to Cornelius the centurion in Acts 10, and Saul/Paul to King Agrippa and Bernice in Acts 23-25. 

I’m visiting Israel at the end of October 2022 with a church tour group. I am meditating on the cities we’re going to so I can grasp something of the history of the place. We are starting at Joppa, next to Tel Aviv, and making a circuit counterclockwise around the land, ending at Jerusalem. Here is one meditation.

JOPPA was a port city. Things and people arrived and departed. Among the things that came were cedar logs from Tyre for building the house of the Lord (Ezra 3:7).