by National House of Prayer
Sleeping Where Jesus (may have) Slept! I went camping/hiking up by the Sea of Galilee this past weekend. We camped next to the Jordan River, which was less spectacular than it’s purported to be. If you’ve ever visited the Kitchener-Waterloo area, think the Grand River. Let’s just say that I’d think twice before being baptized in the Jordan… All the more kudos to John the Baptist!
I slept outside – under the stars. It was beautiful to fall asleep staring up at the “heavens”, with the sound of the Jordan in the background. One of the thoughts I had while falling asleep was,”This is possibly where Jesus slept, surrounded by his disciples”, which got me thinking about the community that Jesus chose to live in.
Have you ever thought about that? Why did he choose those 12 men to walk & talk with? The disciples weren’t avid learners. If anything they were hardheaded. When Jesus faced persecution, they fled, abandoning him to his death. Yet, Jesus chose to live in close community with each of them, even the man who would eventually betray him. The question is why?
I think the answer is this, as a Christian I don’t have the choice in who I love. I’m called to love whoever God calls me to love. If I’m in Israel, I’m called to love the Jews & Arabs living here. In my apartment I’m called to love the guys I live with. We may be called to love those who don’t love us back, but that is part & parcel of being a Christian. Wherever I am, whoever I’m with; those are the people I’m called to love. I have no choice in the matter.
“The Kingdom is to be in the midst of your enemies. And he who will not suffer this does not want to be of the Kingdom of Christ; he wants to be among friends, to sit among roses and lilies, not with the bad people but the devout people. O you blasphemers and betrayers of Christ! If Christ had done what you are doing who would ever have been spared?” ~ Martin Luther
Read more of Jeremiah’s blogging at The Worthwhile Journey.