The Rabbi and The Roman

Greetings everyone!

Well, it has been a nice 2 week break from any trips, and we've been hitting the books hard here at JUC. We did have a break this week as it was Rosh Hoshana, or New Year's Day. Kind of exciting that I get to celebrate the New Year twice this year, once in Israel, and again when I'm home in December.

This weekend we are leaving for a 4 day study tour in Galilee where we will be doing an in-depth study of the life of Jesus. Jesus spent the majority of his time in the region known as the Galilee. This will be my second trip to Gaililee in the past 2 years, so I'm very excited!

I wanted to share a story with you that I first heard when I was in Galilee last year with Ray Vanderlaan (www.followtherabbi.com). It has to do with a 2nd temple period Rabbi that lived in Galilee shortly after the life of Jesus.

There is a passage in the book of Isaiah that reads, "I, even I, am the Lord. Apart from me there is no Savior. I have revealed, redeemed, and proclaimed. I have, and not some pagan god among you. You are my witnesses, declares the LORD, that I am God."

There was a Rabbi named Akiva, who was walking along the dusty trail along the sea of Galilee. He was reciting the portion of the day from Isaiah. It was getting dark and in his passionate focus on the text he was so preoccupied that he turned right instead of left at a fork in the road. Instead of finding himself in front of the gate to Capernaum, where he lived; he found himself in front of the gate of a Roman fortress. He was surprised, he didn't expect to be there. He was trying to figure out where he was when the guard on the wall shouted, "Who are you, what are you doing here?!?!

Akiva said, "What?"

The soldier shouted again, "Who are you, what are you doing here?"

Akiva said, "What do you get paid for asking me these questions?"

The soldier responded, "3 denarii a week, Jew, why?"

Akiva said, "I'll give you double if you stand outside my house each morning, and ask me those questions before I leave each day."

Who are you? What are you doing here? To me these are 2 of the most profound questions I've ever heard and wrestled with. To address these questions is central to life with Jesus. I'm trying more and more to focus on these questions, and hopefully discover who I am, and what I'm doing here. There is a purpose to each life, and hopefully we can all discover our purpose here on earth.