fbpx

I stood under the showerhead on the beach and washed myself clean of the mud from the Dead Sea.

Not far from the Dead Sea are the remains of ritual baths in Qumran, used by a community of people called the Essenes. The name means “pious ones.” These baths were used as part of their purification ceremonies, where they washed themselves clean numerous times a day.

Qumran ritual bath

However, Lysa TerKeurst shared a better picture of how to become clean. It is an image drawn from the layout of the land of Israel.
It begins north of the Sea of Galilee, and barely visible in the distance, with Mount Hermon. The pure white snow and rain on Mount Hermon is vital for Israel’s water supply.  map (1)

Here the Jordan River begins from three sources which lead to the northern Jordan River gushing into the Sea of Galilee.

galilee

 

 

Likewise, our source of life is God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit.

The flowing Jordan and heart-shaped Sea of Galilee are important sources of water for Israel’s people and agriculture. In the same way, Galilee, two thousand years ago, was at the heart of Jesus’ life and ministry and these are an important source of living water for us.

From the southern end of the Sea of Galilee, the River Jordan continues down the eastern border of Israel. It passes close by Jericho and the Mount of Temptation. This is the location where it is believed Jesus spent forty days in the Judean Desert being tempted.

Nearby, you can get down to the river. In the murky brown slow-flowing river, we witnessed the baptism of six members of our group, some who made a commitment to make Jesus their Lord for the first time.

Baptism Jordan

From here, the muddy river flows into the Dead Sea. So it is in death that Jesus took our dirt. However, it is because of an empty tomb that a new fresh start becomes a reality.

Garden tomb

Traveling the land of Israel draws to our attention that we cannot cleanse ourselves of what we have done wrong. Instead, it brings to life how we need to be bold and make a decision today to acknowledge Jesus as Lord.

[tagline_box link=”http://rachelbritton.wpengine.com/holy-land-adventure/” button=”Holy Land Adventure” title=”My Holy Land Adventure” description=”This post is part of a series written as I travel with Lysa TerKeurst and Proverbs 31 Ministries in the Holy Land.  Click here to see all of the posts in this series”][/tagline_box]

Linking up with Susan Mead at #DanceWithJesus, Kelly Balarie at #RaRaLinkup, Holly Barrett at #TestimonyTuesday and Holley Gerth at #CoffeeForYourHeart

  • What amazing pictures and what an amazing experience for you! We are thrilled for you {and secretly jealous}. Stumbled upon you through #DanceWithJesusFridays {and stumbled upon THAT through #CoffeeandConversation}. Funny how our Jesus works! Now following you. Have a wonderfully blessed day!

    XOXO,

    Carrie & Chanda

  • So enjoy being given a tour of the Holy Land, and imaging Jesus walking the same places. How profound so many centuries later you walk in His footsteps, both with your feet and in your heart! Beautiful post. Visiting from #raralinkup today!

  • Rachel,
    This description drew me into the biblical stories I have read, but never visited. Thanks for bringing me into the journey. The photography is powerful!
    Blessings on your day!
    Pam

    • Pam, glad you enjoyed the photographs because I’m not much of a photographer. I wished I’d had my daughter with me because she does take amazing pictures. Next time!

  • Wow! What an incredible experience. Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us. I can’t even imagine being baptized there or even watching others come to Christ in such an important setting. Many blessings to you and your traveling companions!

  • Rachel, this is so beautifully written. Thank you for sharing! I missed some of Lysa’s words…and here they are. Captured for lessons of life to flow.

    Hugs! Susan

  • Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I’m thrilled for you to have had this experience! So glad I clicked over from Susan B. Mead’s link up this morning!

  • {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

    60-SECOND POWER PRAYERS FOR 60 days

    Sign up to get your free e-book

    >