"In His Steps"

“In His Steps”

In 1896 Charles Sheldon wrote the classic In His Steps, a novel in which the main characters agreed to ask “What would Jesus do?” before acting during the following year. Many may remember that on the centennial of the book’s publication in 1996 “WWJD” bracelets became a familiar sight. After 120+ years it’s still a valid question to ponder in life situations.

This past fall Karen and I had the unique opportunity to literally walk in the steps of Jesus when we went on a tour of Israel with a group from a church in Connecticut where dear friends worship when they’re not snowbirding in Florida. As we traveled through the country we saw many of the places where our Lord ministered through teaching, healing and meeting people’s needs in other ways. As we observed these sites our Israeli guide, host pastor and members of the group read Scripture associated with the events which took place where we were standing. Biblical passages we’ve read many times came alive as we pictured our Lord’s words and actions.

I won’t attempt to provide many details here—Lord willing, I’ll do so in several future articles—but let me share the “CliffNotes” version. We began in Tel Aviv, Israel’s business center, traveled north to Caesarea then Tiberias, from which we visited Nazareth, Mount Hermon, Caesarea Philippi, Capernaum, the Mount of the Beattitudes and the Golan Heights (captured from Syria during the Six Day War in 1967 and a key part of Israel’s defense). The highlight was a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee where Karen led a time of singing God’s praises.

After being baptized in the Jordan River (as Jesus was at the beginning of His public ministry)   we went south down the Jordan Valley. At times we were literally steps from the border with Jordan. We “swam” in the Dead Sea (the lowest point on earth) and saw the caves at Qumrum where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947. Then it was on to Jerusalem via Masada, a mountain-top fortress built by Herod the Great and utilized as a place of refuge for three years by some 960 Jewish patriots (men, women and children) after the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD.

We spent three days in Jerusalem (with a side trip to Bethlehem) visiting and/or viewing the Mount of Olives, Temple Mount, Pool of Bethesda, Wailing Wall, Golgotha and the Garden Tomb (where we observed the Lord’s Supper). Just think—we were where Jesus died and rose and from which He’ll rule when He returns (Micah 4).

All Karen and I can say is (paraphrasing 2 Corinthians 9:15), “Thanks be to God for this marvelous gift.” We’ll never see Scripture or Jesus in the ways we did before. To Him be the glory!

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan