Of course it’s true that seeing a biblical site helps you to understand and “brings the Bible to life.” This reality is a big part of why I do what I do in teaching at IBEX. I’m usually not on the other end of that, as I have been this week, traveling in southern Italy.
One thing I’ve realized is that it’s not just that seeing a biblical site helps you to understand the Bible, but it helps you to know that there was such a site at all, and then to remember the story that happened there. And not just the story, but the dynamics.
A month ago I probably didn’t know that there was a place named Puteoli. I certainly couldn’t have told you where it was or why it was important. Now I can see Paul landing there on the ship, with chains around his wrists, being greeted by friends who invited him to stay with them for 7 days. These friends likely had never met him before, but knew him from his ministry of the gospel to others (who had shared it with them). I can see the harbor and understand why it was the main disembarkation point for travelers to Rome, and I can understand the long trek by foot that was needed from this point. It’s obvious too that Paul and his friends were in the minority, surrounded by a world that loved to indulge the flesh and to create gods who were like them. Thus a verse in the Bible (in Acts 28) becomes a whole story to me. And that was just one stop today. Yesterday I was at Syracuse and Rhegium and tomorrow (by God’s grace) at Three Taverns and the Forum of Appius.
God has answered many prayers on this trip in very specific ways that make it clear that He loves us. He has given us (small) trials too, but every trial is met with more than sufficient grace. It’s been long and hard so far (the last two nights we were driving until after 11 p.m.), but amazing too. There is much more worth saying, but I must rest.
Off topic: Todd, have you heard anything about plans for a government sanctioned Christian theme park in Galilee (100 + acres)?
Jonathan – yes, I have heard, but I think it’s more of an “evangelical tourist center” than a theme park. Whether it will ever happen or not is another question. The idea is by giving evangelicals their own “base” that more would come to Israel (and spend their money). The location is in the Plain of Genessaret near Magdala.