The Jesus Boat Blog

Rosh Hashanah: The Feast of Trumpets

September 5, 2010 | 0 Comments

On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. (Lev. 23:24)

On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets. (Num. 29:1)

Rosh Hashanah, literally the “head of the year”, was ordained by God and given as a gift to Israel at Mt. Sinai. Rosh Hashanah–the 1st of Tishrei–is Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets, when the shofar is blown in the synagogue to stir the heart and move listeners to repent and return to God.

Rosh Hashanah celebrates the creation of the world, the sovereignty of God, the forgiveness of sin, and the hope for a good and sweet new year. Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the ten Days of Awe: an intense period of prayer, self-examination, and repentance with the desire to have one’s name inscribed in the Book of Life for the next year.

On the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah it is traditional go to a fish-bearing body of water for a ceremony called Tashlich, which means “casting away.” Small stones, or pieces of bread, are thrown into the waters, representing sins that are cast away in keeping with God’s promise in Micah 7:18-19, “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives transgressions…(You) hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”

For believers in Yeshua the High Holy Days hold special meaning because they find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Rosh Hashanah reminds us that God is King of the Universe. It reminds us of Jesus’ lordship and pictures his return, when the great shofar will sound and the dead in Christ will rise. (1 Thes. 4:16) Rosh Hashanah reminds us of our need to repent and believe the good news. (Mark 1:15) The High Holy Days remind not to take God’s precious gift of grace for granted; for our names are inscribed in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 13:8)

L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu!

(May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year!)

P.S.
If the Jewish Holy days interest you, and you would like to learn more about them, we warmly recommend the “Enter his gates to your Jewish roots”

Published on September 5, 2010.

Jesus, Our Breakthrough

September 2, 2010 | 0 Comments

When we face a crisis and see no way of overcoming it, what do we do? As Christians, we turn to Jesus to deliver us from what we deem to be an impossible situation. After all, is it not truth that with God all things are possible?

Imagine being in the situation faced by the Israelites who were caught between Pharoah’s advancing army and the Red Sea. With no time to build defenses and nowhere to escape, the Israelites had to depend on Moses who depended on God to deliver them out of harm’s way.

Surely, the rabble would have vented their anger on Moses for leading them to a dead-end (even though it was obvious that it was the pillar of cloud that had done that). How often do we blame others for our circumstances?

Surely, the crowd would have demanded that God send a big boat so that they could sail beyond the reach of Pharoah’s chariots. How often do we think that we ought to dictate to God?

Many a time, we expect the LORD to solve our predicaments our way. Do you see how we limit God by our limited imaginations? His ways are higher than ours and so are His thoughts! (Isaiah 55:9)

Now, we know from the scriptures that God didn’t give the Israelites a boat. He did the simplest thing in His estimation – He parted the sea! By doing so, He gave the Israelites a breakthrough which no man could boast and lay claim to its doing.

God’s breakthrough saved the Israelites from death at the hands of Pharoah and made a way for them to reach the other side, so they could journey to the land flowing with milk and honey which God Himself had set apart for them. When Jesus died on the cross, His death was a breakthrough, too. It opened the way for us to enjoy life on the other side, in God’s presence, where righteousness, forgiveness of sins, healings, provisions, protections and blessings abound.

Don’t limit God by trying to help Him to help you. Instead, just believe that God will part the seas on your situation so you can receive your breakthrough. The shed blood of Jesus Christ at the cross has paid for you to have it!

Published on September 2, 2010.

Elul: the good news of repentance

August 30, 2010 | 0 Comments

“The time has come.” Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.” (Mark 1:14-15)

The Jewish calendar is currently turned to the month of Elul = אלול–the 6th month. According to tradition, on the 1st of Elul, Moses ascended Mt. Sinai to plead for forgiveness for the Israelites after they worshipped the Golden Calf. God forgave Israel and, 40 days later (on the 10th of Tishrei = תשרי or Yom Kippur = יום כיפור), Moses returned to the people with a new set of stone tablets.

Therefore, Elul begins a 40-day period of spiritual preparation. Elul is the month of teshuvah–repentance–in which Jews practice intense self-reflection, turning back (shuv) to God. Prayer intensifies; Psalm 27 is read daily; relationships are mended; forgiveness is granted.

For believers in Yeshua–Jesus Christ–Elul can be a meaningful season, a time to examine ourselves and our faith (2 Cor. 13:5), a season to confess our sins to each other and pray for each other (James 5:16). Elul is a time for reconciliation. Jesus said, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matt. 5:23-24)

The four Hebrew letters of the word Elul are also the first letters for the words Ani l’dodi v’dodi lee= אני לדודי ודודי לי,”I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (Song of Solomon 6:3 KJV). This illustrates the beautiful relationship we have with God, through our savior Jesus Christ. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

During Elul, it is customary to blow the shofar = שופר, or ram’s horn, after morning prayers (except for the Sabbath). This alerts the soul: “Wake up you sleepers from your sleep and you slumberers from your slumber. Search your deeds and return in penitence.” (Mainmonides, Mishneh Torah) Perhaps Paul was thinking of the shofar’s call when he wrote, “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:11) and “This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’” (Eph. 5:14)

Wake up! Repent and believe the good news. The time has come.

Published on August 30, 2010.

The Sea of Galilee

August 25, 2010 | 1 Comment

“The Lord has created seven seas, but the Sea of Gennesaret (Galilee) is His delight.”

So said the ancient rabbis.

The Sea of Galilee–also known as Yam Kinneret, Lake Gennesaret, and the Sea of Tiberias–is, technically, a lake: 13 miles long and 7 miles wide. She gets her name from her distinct shape: Kinneret comes from the Hebrew word “kinnor” (כינור) meaning “harp.”

She was once a bustling center of Jewish commercial, religious, and social life: location of Capernaum, Bethsaida, Gennesaret, Magdala, and ancient Tiberias as well as the site of the Decapolis town of Hippus and the village of Kursi (Luke 8:26-39). The land surrounding her is fertile: Josephus called it, “wonderful in its characteristics and in its beauty” and “the ambition of nature.”

God delights in the Sea of Galilee and her shores witnessed much of Jesus’ earthly ministry:

Jesus called to Peter, Andrew, James, and John, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt. 4:18-22)
Jesus asked his disciples to ready a small boat, from which he taught the multitudes who sat along on the shore. (Mark 3:7-12)
The Sea once yielded a miraculous catch of fish: Jesus demonstrating the astounding ministry that his disciples would accomplish. (Luke 5:4-11)
Jesus calmed the wind and waves of a violent storm, demonstrating his power over creation (Luke 8:22-25)
Jesus healed a demon-possessed man, sending a herd of pigs rushing into the lake. (Luke 8:26-39)
Jesus walked across the water to join his disciples in their boat. (Mark 6:47-52)
After his resurrection, Jesus revealed himself to Peter and the other disciples through a second miraculous catch of fish. (John 21:1-14)

Today, replica “Pilgrim Boats” ply the waters of the Sea of Galilee, as they have done for years, offering visitors an opportunity to view the countryside and hear these Gospel stories afresh.

In 1986, the Sea of Galilee yielded up one more miracle–a 2,000 year old fishing boat, the Jesus Boat–preserved in the mud, awaiting the perfect time for discovery, reminding us that God is ever-present and that Jesus’ call to be fishers of men continues today. (To learn more about this Amazing miracle get the Jesus Boat Revealed DVD).

God delights in the Galilee once again.

Join us next week as we embark on a joyful journey through the High Holy Days.

**This beautiful picture was taken by Mr. Amoruso

Published on August 25, 2010.

Jesus, The Door to Days of Heaven

August 23, 2010 | 0 Comments

You heard the Good News of Jesus the Messiah. You experienced in your heart a
yearning to be in communion in Him; in right standing with God. You went forward
when the altar call was given. You made Jesus Christ, your Saviour and Sovereign
Lord. At that point, something happened in the heavenlies. The shofars announced your
citizenship in the eternal Kingdom of God. Because you believed God (John 3:16), your
faith was accounted for righteousness (Galatians 3:6) and name was entered into the
Book of Life (Revelation 3:5).

Something happened in the depths of your natural body, too. You burst into life, infused
with the eternal Spirit of God. (Genesis 2:7) Who instantaneously created in you, a portal
between Heaven and Earth. The name of this heavenly door is Jesus (John 10:9) who says
that if any man enters in by Him (Luke 23:43), he is saved, and is free to go in and out,
and find pasture.

What is pasture but everything to a sheep! When you accept Jesus as your Good
Shepherd (John 10:14) you lack nothing! (Psalm 23:1) What is this wonderful pasture?
It is the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15). Jesus is the door to this secret garden, that
hiding place in you (Isaiah 32:2) where you spend quality time with your Father, Abba.

This garden is the completed work of God, planted by Him to freely serve your every
need (Genesis 2:15); the dominion, restored to you by Jesus (John 19:30) at the cross.
Need healing? ‘Eat’ from the tree of life (Revelation 2:7; 22:2). Got worries? Rest in
Him (Matthew 11:28). Need a breakthrough? Draw from the abundant living waters of
the Holy Spirit (Genesis 2:10-14). Feeling alone? Find fellowship in the Helper, the Holy
Spirit. (Genesis 2:18) Need security? Nothing gets past the cherubim (genesis 3:24)!

The LORD is the same; He never changes (Malachi 3:6) and He only commands
that you do not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17) here.

What do you look like to God? God made man in His image (Genesis 1:26). God is Spirit
(John 4:24), therefore we resemble His Spirit. The LORD clothes Himself with light
(Psalm 104:2). However, Genesis 2:25 says that we are naked! If we are in His image,
how then can we be naked?

Be blessed by this revelation: We are clothed with nakedness – the nakedness of Jesus
Christ at the cross. In Him is life and His life is our light (John 1:4). And His death on the
cross has opened the door for us to enjoy days of Heaven upon the earth. (Deuteronomy
11:21)

Published on August 23, 2010.

Capernaum: the home of Simon Peter

August 17, 2010 | 0 Comments

What happens when you invite Jesus into your home?

A man named Levi found out.

After leaving the town of Nazareth, Jesus based his Galilean ministry in Capernaum, the town Scripture calls Jesus’ own town (Matthew 9:1, Mark 2:1).

One day Jesus passed by the local tax office in Capernaum and stopped to speak with a man named Levi (Matthew). Levi not only became Jesus’ disciple, he invited Jesus, the other disciples, and more than a few of his friends and co-workers to his home for dinner–to the chagrin of a group of local Pharisees (Mark 2:13-17). Jesus changed lives that night.

What happens when you invite Jesus into your home?

A man named Simon found out.

Simon, whom Jesus named Peter, lived in the home of his mother-in-law, along with his wife and his brother, Andrew (Mark 1:29). Peter’s home was just 100 ft (30 meters) from Capernaum’s synagogue.

Peter watched in awe while Jesus, who had just rebuked a demon that interrupted the synagogue service, came home to gently heal Peter’s beloved mother-in-law (Luke 4:31-41).

Peter, sitting at Jesus’ feet, looked up to see the roof of his home being opened by four men, who lowered a pallet into the room. “Jesus! We know you can heal our friend,” they cried (Mark 2:1-12).

Did Peter ever imagine that, by inviting the Son of God into his home, he was inviting the entire world to his doorstep?

Even after Jesus’ death and resurrection, people came to Peter’s home. “Tell us about Jesus again,” they pleaded at their weekly gatherings.

People still gather at Peter’s home, in the Church of the House of St. Peter in Capernaum, above the ruins of an octagonal 5th century church, surrounding the black, basalt ruins of Peter’s own home, where Jesus lived, and where a house church continued to meet even after Peter’s death.

As always, pilgrims come to Peter’s home, eager to learn about Jesus, eager to hear the good news of the Gospel and to take that good news to the very ends of the earth.

What happens when you invite Jesus into your home?

Next week we’ll continue our visit to Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee.

P.S.
If you are looking for a good educational book about the life of Jesus, we recommend: Daily life at the time of Jesus, http://www.jesusboatshop.com/collections/books/products/daily-life-at-the-time-of-jesus

**We would like to thank Rob Hartley for his great photo!

Published on August 17, 2010.

Jesus, The Aleph Tav

August 12, 2010 | 0 Comments

When Jesus, after His death and resurrection, met two disciples on the road to the village of Emmaus, “He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). They were mystified by the recent events and were reasoning between themselves.

It would have been so easy for Jesus to say, “See my pierced hands and my pierced side? That would certainly have gotten their attention!

Instead, Jesus gave them a revelation of Himself through an authoritative source – the scriptures. These scriptures are what Christians call ‘the Old Testament’. Jews would know it as the Tanakh. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew. The New Testament, which did not exist at the time, would be written in Greek. You need to know this because you are going to discover some things concerning Jesus which appear in the original tongues of the Scriptures!

Now, the New Testament book of Revelation records Jesus’ appearance to the Apostle John in a vision, declaring Himself as “the Alpha and the Omega” (Revelation 1: 8 & 11; 21:6; 22:13). ‘Alpha and Omega’ are letters of the Greek alphabet. Alpha is the first letter. Omega is the last letter. But, Jesus didn’t speak in Greek to John; He spoke in the language of the Jews – Hebrew – because the apostle John was a Jew.

Therefore, Jesus would have said “I am Aleph Tav”, Aleph (א) being the first letter of the Hebrew alephbet and Tav (ת), the last Hebrew words read from right to left. Therefore, Aleph Tav would appear as את

Why is this important? It is because you will find the letters Aleph Tav (את) in many places in the original Hebrew Old Testament. An interesting point about Aleph Tav is that these letters can be pronounced but unless you have a revelation of Jesus, they are a mystery!

Once more, who is Aleph Tav? Jesus Christ. Now let’s go to the beginning of the bible – Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

See the Hebrew below (For easier sub-linear reading, the format has been changed left-to-right although each word is still composed from right-to-left). See the את? Who is Elohim?

With this revelation, fellow believers, you will see familiar bible verses in a new light! Here are more instances (there are many). את may appear more than once in each. Click each bible reference, scroll to the verse, find את and see Jesus afresh!

Zechariah 12:10 Malachi 3:10 Deuteronomy 8:18

Published on August 12, 2010.

Capernaum: the town of Jesus

August 11, 2010 | 0 Comments

Though now in ruins, Capernaum was once a busy, working class town, home to fishermen, farmers, artisans, and merchants. Because of its location near the Via Maris, the trade route between Damascus and the Mediterranean, the Romans stationed a garrison there. Its proximity to the border between the territories of Herod Antipas and his brother, Philip, made Capernaum the ideal location for a customs house. Despite all this, there was nothing particularly extraordinary about Capernaum.

Except that Jesus lived there.

Archaeologists excavated a magnificent, white limestone synagogue here. The White Synagogue was built after Jesus’ time, but has its foundation on an older synagogue, constructed of local black basalt. There’s nothing particularly extraordinary about that synagogue.

Except that Jesus taught there.

The ancient synagogue is the one that Jesus attended, where people were amazed when he taught with authority (Mark 1:22), where Jesus confronted a demon who had identified him as the “Holy One of God” (Mark 1:24), where Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath (Luke 6:6-11). In this synagogue Jesus taught that he was the “bread of life” (John 6:35-59).

A Roman centurion built the basalt synagogue, earning the respect and admiration of Capernaum’s elders (Luke 7:1-10). When his servant became ill, the centurion called on Jesus, but did not consider his own home worthy for Jesus to enter: “Just say the word and my servant will be healed.”

Jesus called the centurion’s faith extraordinary.

Capernaum’s ruined streets once witnessed miracles. Jairus, a leader of the synagogue, begged Jesus to heal his dying daughter. Jesus raised her from the dead. A desperate woman dove into the crowd for a chance to touch the fringe of Jesus’ cloak. Jesus healed her and praised her faith.

Yet, despite the miracles, his teaching, and the witness of Jew and Gentile alike, many of Capernaum’s residents refused to repent, earning Capernaum the distinction of being one of three towns that Jesus denounced (Matthew 11:23).

And what of us, a tour group standing amid these stones with our Bibles open? There’s nothing particularly extraordinary about us either.

Except that Jesus still lives, no longer among the streets of Capernaum, but within our hearts.

Extraordinary.

Next week we will continue our visit to Capernaum: the town of Jesus.

Published on August 11, 2010.

Mount of Beatitudes

August 3, 2010 | 0 Comments

Beautiful. Standing atop Mount Nahum, you can survey much of the northern portion of the Sea of Galilee. The Gospel stories come alive as you look down toward the region of Tabgha where Jesus called his first disciples. Capernaum, “the town of Jesus” is but a short distance away. The Sea of Galilee, or Lake Kinneret, where Jesus walked upon the water and calmed the wind and waves, lies below you. You can scarce take it all in.

When you gaze at the beauty surrounding you, you realize why the Son of God, who was present at creation, chose this location to deliver the Sermon on the Mount. Mount Nahum, the Mount of Beatitudes, called the Mount of Happiness in Hebrew, is simply beautiful.

The church atop the Mount of Beatitudes was completed in 1938, but pilgrims have visited this hillside since the 4th century. The land next to the church slopes gently downward into a natural amphitheater. One can easily imagine great crowds gathering to hear Jesus speak, the disciples sitting at his feet:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matt. 5:3-4 NIV)

The architect, Antonio Barluzzi, designed the chapel in an octagonal shape–eight sides for eight beatitudes. The chapel windows invite worshippers to look outside and observe the beauty of the surrounding land and lake. These same windows invite those outside to look in and see the beauty of Christianity.

Worship occurs here naturally as groups gather once again to listen to the sermon recorded in Matthew 5-7 and Luke 6. Worshipers congregate on the steps overlooking the hillside, singing hymns and praise songs. They walk among the quiet arbors reflecting on the text of Matthew 5. They laugh. They snap pictures for friends back home. They pull out their maps and take their bearings from the landmarks around them.

The Mount of Beatitudes is a place of joy, truly the Mount of Happiness, where Jesus said, “Do not worry…but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…” (Matt. 6:31-33).

Blessed are those who walk here.

Join us next week as we journey to Capernaum.

Published on August 3, 2010.

Tabgha: Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes

July 27, 2010 | 0 Comments

The church’s entrance whispers, “Silence.” A quiet pew invites prayer and contemplation. A nearby courtyard and garden beckons visitors to rest and meditate on Scripture. Be still, for you are standing on holy ground.

Jesus visited tranquil Tabgha–a short walk from nearby Capernaum–when he needed a quiet place to talk with the Father and listen to His voice.

Jesus even brought his disciples out to this lonely place so that they could rest. (Matt. 14:13; Mark 6:31) But the crowds followed; people so eager to see Jesus that they ran to Tabgha from the surrounding towns.

Dinnertime approached and the disciples worried about feeding the multitude.

“Send them away. There’s not enough to eat.”

“It would take a year’s wages to buy enough food.”

“Here’s a boy with five loaves and two fish–but it’s not enough.”

Not enough? In Jesus’ hands the simple meal was more than enough. It took twelve baskets to hold the leftovers after more than 5,000 were fed that day, an awesome display of God’s providence.

On a distant Judean mountain, God revealed himself to Abraham as Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord Will Provide”. Here, in the Galilee, the Church of the Multiplication is built upon a site where Jesus revealed himself as our Provider, able to meet our needs when we trust in him.

In the center of the Church’s chancel, under the altar, stands an untrimmed stone: the traditional site where Jesus offered the loaves and fish to heaven, thanking God for His provision. The modern church is built upon the foundations of chapels that have existed here since the 4th century. Pilgrims journey to this location to be near the place where Jesus provided this miraculous meal.

A mosaic in front of the altar depicts a basket of bread flanked by two fish. But the basket only holds four loaves. Where is the fifth loaf? We find it in the bread of the eucharist, placed on the altar during worship and communion. We find it in Jesus’ own words, the day after he multiplied the loaves and fishes.

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35)

Join us next time when we visit a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee: the Mount of Beatitudes.