Receiving Shabbat

Returning to Israel is always a joyful occasion as we get to see our “extended” family. It was so wonderful to see Meir, Erez, Roby, his daughter, Sharon, her husband and that brand new baby! So many hugs and handshakes all around. We are so blessed to have them. I was telling one of our first-time travelers that unlike the airlines who order us around, we have an advocate for our comforts, and needs while we are in Israel.

We loaded on the bus and drove along the border between Israel and the West Bank. This is the only toll road in Israel. Many of you are thinking of the booths you stop at, like on the West Virginia Turnpike, but Israel loves to do it better any time they can. Apparently there are traffic cameras strategically placed along the route that take pictures of your license plate. Your distance is recorded by how many times your picture is taken and they send you the bill. You don’t have to stop and fiddle with exact shekels.

We stopped at Caesarea Maritime, aka Caesarea by the Sea just as Shabbat was being received. The sky was ablaze with a glorious sunset over the Mediterranean.  There was a cool steady breeze that was refreshing us with the salty sea air Meir explained to us that this was Israel’s largest port for many centuries. In fact, during the days of Rome, after they had destroyed Rome this became Israel’s capital. It was a city built over water. The ruins boast marble columns and luxurious streets. You who have been to Israel will remember the amphitheater that has a backdrop of the ocean. Sadly this coliseum hosted gladiatorial games where many perished before a cheering crowd.

Later on, the Crusaders would use it as their port fortress as they were bombarding the Holy Land in their quest to reclaim the holy sites.

We walked up to the precipice and watched as the waves crashed over the ruins further out at sea. The area we were at had been renovated with a Boardwalk complete with cafés and coffee shops. Many families were enjoying the park and flying kites.

There are some famous figures associated with this city. That Old Meshuggener Herod came from this city. Pilate’s seat of governance was here at the port city. He only went to Jerusalem when he had to, like when there was a big stir over a man named Jesus. He had to subdue the crowds by doing as they wished and sentenced Him to death by crucifixion.

We stepped up to the grand view and Pastor began to share with us:

(Pastor Joe and Pastor Thomas both believe that God testified that we were in the right place at the right time because of the timing of the sunset and the coolness of the day.)

A pilgrimage is when you make a journey for spiritual significance. That is the purpose of the journey is that you are expecting to meet with God along the way. I am a little shocked how beautiful it is tonight because I felt the Holy Spirit led us here tonight so I could share something wonderful with you. We are going to peruse over Acts 10.

“There was a certain man of Caesarea” Right in this city. “named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. Verse 2-4

Now, Rome did not have to be the enemies of Israel, but they were the conquerors of Israel. Unfortunately, with the difference in lifestyles of the Jewish people, life was just difficult between the two peoples.

Here is a man who came to this land and found God. We know he did because it loosened up his pocketbook. There is not one of you here today that didn’t sacrifice in some way to be here, specifically financially. I know we all have. I want you to know God is looking at our prayer and our gifts. These prayers and the alms that he was willing to give and invest for opened up a door for him and God that is almost unheard of.  Now, he had been an honoring person, but now he was about to move from the outside of the covenant to the new covenant on the inside.

:5-8

Cornelius received specific word and sent his servants to Joppa, which was a ways away to seek Simon the tanner. I’m sure they had to wonder around asking, “Do you know a Simon? He is a tanner.” I’m sure it was a very odd command for them to carry out.

:9-12

Peter may have been a rascal, but he was a good Jew. He ate what was he was supposed to eat, he followed the commandments and he was apart of his community. He was a small time boy and one of his values was adhering to the kosher diet. He did not eat unclean things. No bacon cheeseburgers, no shrimp salad. None of the things we casually eat that according to the Jewish dietary law are forbidden.

:13

He was shocked! I believe it was because he was trying to honor God and his law. He was shocked because God just led opposite of what he believed. He knew it was wrong to sit down with a Gentile to eat. In this vision, God said,

“What God has cleaned you must not call common.”

In a few days we will be at the place where I believe Pentecost happened, but we as Gentiles were not invited to that party. It was only Jewish people in the Upper Room.

:17-23

Last time, we talked about how the Tower of Babel confused the tongues of men, because they were going to do things united that were so ungodly. God created nations in chapter 11 in Genesis. He sent the solution in chapter 12 in the form of Abraham. He said I will make you a father of many nations and many nations will be blessed because of you. So here at the end of the story, we see the reuniting of the nations. Jesus had several Gentiles come to Him and declared that moment to be the completion of His ministry and it was now time for Him to die.

We were not invited to the party, yet at this station, this place of Caesarea, the centurion bowed down before him.

:24-35

Prejudice is one of the enemies of these last days. God is looking to bring nations together. He is bringing them together here at the mountain of the Lord. You can say, that can be anywhere God’s moving. I know where the mountain of the Lord is. I don’t need an interpretation.

:35

Then He preached the gospel to Him.

:44

I just think it is noteworthy that as we get started our pilgrimage, we are standing in the place where one man’s pilgrimage changed him and his whole household and opened a door for every nation to receive the gospel.

You can’t kick over a rock here without coming up with some Biblical perspectives. We’re going to have so many things going on in so many different ways. I just want you think that somewhere in these ruins, Gentiles received the Holy Spirit. I love seeing the seat of Pentecost at the Pilgrim Steps in Jerusalem, but here in this city Cornelius received his answer from God. Right here in this place. I don’t know that he had as pretty a sunset as we have.

Sabbath has begun…