After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain. -Mt 17:1
Among the many benefits of being followers of Christ is that of expanding our vocabularly with glorious words like transfiguration. While most of us know what this means, it’s worth setting down the Oxford definition: “a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state.”
I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. –Mt 16:18
Follow the Jordan River north from Galilee up to the Golan Heights and you’ll come to the river’s source (one of three) at a place called Banias at the foot of Mount Hermon.
The Jews picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?” –John 31:2
The word stone, like rock, can be both a noun and a verb. The practice of stoning, or lapidation, as a method of execution was commanded by God in the Law of Moses for a range of crimes including blasphemy, idolotry, and adultery.
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had driven seven demons. –Mk 16:9
In Jesus’ day the city of Magdala was located about five miles south of Capernaum on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. With a population of 40,000, it was the principal city on the lake until the founding of Tiberias in 19 AD.
“Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.” –Luke 17:2
As Jesus pronounced these words, He may have been looking at this very millstone pictured in the photograph.
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. –John 8:12
On the same day Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law, He went on to heal many others “that evening after sunset” (Mk 1:32). As night falls quickly in Israel, we can imagine the dark street dotted with dozens of oil lamps as “the whole town gathered at the door” (v 33).
When Jesus came into Peter’s house, He saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. –Mt 8:14
The Christian church began in houses. To this day there are house church movements, especially in countries where Christianity is banned from public expression.
He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. -John 6:59
A husband and wife who could not agree on where to go for their vacation finally settled on a compromise. The first year they would go mountain climbing in Austria—the husband’s choice—and the following year they would fulfill the wife’s desire to visit the Holy Land.
Leaving Nazareth, He went to live in Capernaum. –Mt 4:13
The ancient village of Capernaum (which means town of Nahum) was located on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, some three miles west of where the upper Jordan River flows into the lake from the northern mountains.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. -Mt 14:19
If Jesus were stuck out in the wilderness with a multitude today, a little boy might bring Him, not five loaves and two fish, but maybe a bag of jalapino chips and a couple of Mars bars.