February 2024
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS
A Lenten Journey
“The soil of the Holy Land as the scene of the events centering
around the person of Jesus can be understood as a Fifth Gospel…
Whoever has learnt to read and peruse this book of biblical landscape will
experience the message of the four gospels with a new and greater clarity.”
-Bargil Pixner
In his study guide for the video series “In the Footsteps of the Savior,” Max Lucado shares: “There’s something significant about knowing the location where an important event took place. Just think about when a friend tells you a riveting story. What do you want to know? You want to know where it happened. You want to know what the surroundings were like. You want to be able to picture yourself there so you can better understand what actually happened.
“It’s the same with stories you read in the Bible. When you know where Jesus’ miracles, sermons, and interactions actually took place you can put yourself there. You can see what Jesus saw. You can feel what he felt. You can hear what he heard. You can better understand what was happening in the world of his day…which can help you better understand why Jesus did what he did and said what he said. The location adds context.”
During the Lenten season this year we will have the opportunity to visit places in Israel where many of the stories about Jesus took place. Locations such as Capernaum, The Sea of Galilee, the Mount of Beatitudes, the temple steps in Jerusalem, and the Garden Tomb. By traveling there through video we will get a better picture of the world Jesus inhabited in first century Palestine, and so get a better understanding of why he came.
The itinerary for our journey is as follows:
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
ASH WEDNESDAY
Wednesday, February, 21, 2024
“Capernaum: Following Jesus When You Doubt”
Wednesday, February, 28, 2024
“Sea of Galilee: Following Jesus in Your Storms”
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
“Mount of Beatitudes: Following Jesus When You Worry”
Wednesday, March, 13, 2024
“Temple Steps: Following Jesus…And Only Jesus”
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
“Garden Tomb: Following Jesus When You Need Hope”
Having been to the Holy Land on multiple occasions I can tell you that being there where Jesus was born, preached, performed miracles, and ultimately rose from the dead can have an exhilarating impact on how you interpret the scriptures. So grab your imaginary passport and come prepared to be transported to another part of the globe. In the next few weeks we’ll visit locations that played a prominent role in the life and ministry of Jesus. We will be on location, so to speak, taking in the sights and sounds. As you go through this study, you will see what these places look like today and hear a story from the Bible about what happened there. It’s my hope as your pastor that seeing them will help you better experience the people and places that shaped Jesus’ life.
Your Fellow Pilgrim On the Journey,
Pastor Greg
