Our last day in Israel was as full of walking, visiting sites and teaching as the others. We focused on the last days of Jesus in Jerusalem – his suffering, death and resurrection. We all knew that this day was coming, that we would get there, that we’d get to those important things, the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus.

All through the trip the group was faced with daunting tasks – Masada, Gamla, Hezekiah’s Tunnel to name a few. If what I was going to have to do had been fully disclosed ahead of time, I might have had second thoughts. However, at some point in the trip it came to me that our leaders would not take us any place that would be too much for us. True, we had some incredibly difficult climbs and descents. We were in some dark, tight places. It was hot! But I had confidence because our leaders had done all of this stuff before and survived! I knew we would get through it.

Throughout the trip we were reminded that in or lives Jesus walks beside us. When we face difficult times, he’s there. He’s been there. Even when facing death, our own or someone we love, even in death he has gone before us. He’s faced death head on and won! That’s the confidence and hope that I have. That’s the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus.

“Jesus said… I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even though they die; whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” John 11:25, 26

I’m home from Israel now. This little blog has been fun to put together, but it may be time to put it to rest. Maybe not. We’ll see…