Israel, Day 5-6

We've been up in the Galilee region for two days now. We've seen Bethsaida, the town of Peter, Andrew and Philip. We've seen Capernaum, Jesus home town and later Peter's. We visited Kursi and Corazin where Jesus did ministry. We crossed the Sea of Galilee to "the other side" in the region of the Ganesarenes where Jesus met the demoniac and sent Legion into a herd of pigs. We had lunch in Tiberias, Galilee's largest city. We passed by where Catholics believe Jesus reinstated Peter and where Jesus delivered the sermon on the mount. Tomorrow we drive north to visit the land that Philip, the son of Herod the Great, built up and controlled.
Of all that we've done here in Galilee I think two things stand out most. First, I've been challenged by the reinstatement of Peter in John 21 after Peter's denial. I struggle to see this as just a reinstatement. I think for Jesus, his words were more of a special great commission for Peter to return to Jerusalem to reach "his sheep," the Jews. This was far more consistent with Jesus teaching and Peter's trajectory.
Secondly, I've been challenge by the person of Mary of Magdalene. She was from a village called Magdal that sat on the valley exactly one day's journey between Nazareth and Capernaum. It sits just off the Lake of Galilee and would have been the obvious spot to rest after a long day of walking. Mary's house might have sat closest to the road and thus had many visitors. The OT commands Jews to offer hospitality to strangers and travelers and Mary was being an obedient Jew by taking in Jesus and the disciples as they passed through. In fact, Mary may have had so many visitors that she has been accused throughout history of being a prostitute. However, if she was placed in such a strategic place with such a strong gift of hospitality, there would no doubt be opposition. In fact, Luke 8:2 tells us that she was also the object of spiritual opposition; Jesus drove seven demons out of her. Thinking through the person of Mary of Magdalene really helps me understand how mission critical each person is in God's plan. Mary seems like a small figure in the Gospels but in reality, she is the person that made Jesus travels and mission trips all possible.
Anyway, these are just a few of my thoughts as I'm here in Galilee. This place is amazing. I could stay in Galilee for a month and not run out of things to see and places to go.

Grace,
Pete