Where Jesus Prayed: Israel, Day Three

Day Three began on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, one of the world’s greatest locations of beauty.

I can almost imagine during creation how God scooped out this tranquil sea with His pinky finger, thinking of how the Son would enjoy three years of ministry along it’s shores.

MOUNT ARBEL

Jesus pursued a robust, daily communion with the Father: 

  “Jesus went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone...” (Matthew 14:23)

 ” One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”   (Luke 6:12)

The geography of Galilee has not changed in the past two thousand years.  With certainty, scholars have identified Mount Arbel as Jesus’ secret prayer location.  

Standing where Jesus had so often spent time with the Father was deeply moving.

From the top of Mount Arbel, Jesus could survey His entire mission field. Capernaum, Magdala, the Sea of Galilee... They are all right there. 

In the photo above you can see a man-made dome. On just the other side is the location where Jesus fed the 5,000.

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PETER’S PRIMACY

Jesus always humbled Himself.  He would leave the high places to reach people in the low places.  

Jesus demonstrated this every time He came down Mount Arbel.  He also showed His love for others after His resurrection outside Jerusalem, when Jesus travelled north to pursue Peter.

After famously denying Christ three times at Jesus’ darkest moments, Peter must have thought he had blown it.  

When Jesus’ friends failed Him, He didn’t shame or lecture them.   Jesus cooked them breakfast! 

 “Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee...

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore...”  (John 21)

“As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”  So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.”

(John 21:7-14)

THE DEAD SEA

Finally we began the southern journey toward the Dead Sea and Jerusalem.  

In the photo below, you can see the ancient cliff where Jesus drove a herd of demon-possessed swine into the sea (Mark 5:13, Luke 8:33).

The Dead Sea was amazing.  

After being warned not to swallow the water (it could be deadly due to the richness of the think minerals), we all jumped in.   

You literally float due to the heaviness of the mineral-rich waters. It is hard to describe what it feels like! 

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ABOUT JONATHAN HERRON

I am the founding pastor of Life Church, recognized in 2019 as the fastest-growing church in Michigan and 11th fastest-growing church in America. 

I am focused on strategic leadership and engaging teaching, all fueled by a gnawing passion for reaching people far from God. 

My unique ministry approach has been featured online in Time Magazine, USA Today, The Detroit News, MLive and The Washington Times. 

Married twenty-three years to my high school sweetheart, I have five children plus a wiener dog with a nervous bladder.

The Gates of Hell + Homebase for Jesus: Israel, Day Two

CAESAREA PHILIPPI

In Matthew 16, Jesus of Nazareth led His disciples on a 3 day journey (on foot) to the far northern border of Israel.

Caesarea Philippi was a Roman center of Pagan worship. Imagine Daytona Beach Spring Break in college mashed with New Year’s Eve in Times Square and throw in sex acts with goats and infant burnings. That’s Caesarea Philippi in the days of Jesus.

When you read the Scriptures, geography matters. Jewish rabbis liked to point to things as object lessons in their teachings. That is what Jesus was doing in Matthew 16.

When He brought His followers to this cave (which has remained virtually untouched over the past 2,000 years), He pointed out this very spot that was nicknamed by the locals: the Gates of Hell.

Now when you read Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:18, you can see how it all takes on a deeper meaning: If Jesus starts something, He WILL complete it (Philippians 1:6)!

This is view Jesus and the disciples saw as they looked out from the Gates of Hell.

Why Here?

Why did Jesus begin this movement called the Church here?

Why not in Jerusalem?

Because in Matthew 16, Jesus is essentially telling us: “I’m not building Church for Church People; I’m doing it for THEM — the Romans engaged in wicked pagan worship. The local church is the PERFECT place for IMPERFECT people!”

Later in Matthew 17, Jesus journeys further north to Mount Hermon where Jesus is transfigured. The high place of Mount Hermon is capped in snow, which Hebrews understand to represent the holiness of God. God says, “I’ll come DOWN to YOU.”

Jesus then journeys DOWN Mount Hermon to Capernaum, which in Hebrew means, “Comforter.” Jesus took the path south that eventually leads down to the Dead Sea.

In everything Jesus said and did, the Son of God humbled Himself. The rest of the gospels show Christ saying, “Now that I have declared the Church, I will go and DIE for her.”

Israelis planted these trees in Galilee over the spot where Jesus fed the 5,000.

THE TOWN OF JESUS

The headquarters for Jesus during His earthly ministry was this tiny sea-side town, where Jesus preached in the local synagogue and stayed in the home of Peter. It is remarkable and powerful to walk along the very streets where Jesus Christ walked.

Ancient Synagogue where Jesus of Nazareth preached.

Capernaum rests at the northern edge of the Sea of Galilee.

These are the very shores where Jesus walked and called Peter, James, and John to leave EVERYTHING and follow Him.

This is where Jesus stood in Matthew 4:18-22.

PETER’S HOUSE

Jesus spent a lot of time in these ruins — the ancient remains of Peter’s house.

A futuristic Catholic Church that looks like something out of The Jetsons rest above Peter’s house, with a glass floor that rests directly above where Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law.

This is where Matthew 8:14-15 happened in world history.

CAPERNAUM’S SYNAGOGUE

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:35-38)

SEA OF GALILEE

Day Two of our journey through the Holy Land ended with a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee.

It gave me goosebumps as I saw what Jesus saw while He was walking on these very waters.

This is where Jesus walked on water in Matthew 14:22-33.

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ABOUT JONATHAN HERRON

I am the founding pastor of Life Church, recognized in 2019 as the fastest-growing church in Michigan and 11th fastest-growing church in America. 

I am focused on strategic leadership and engaging teaching, all fueled by a gnawing passion for reaching people far from God. 

My unique ministry approach has been featured online in Time Magazine, USA Today, The Detroit News, MLive and The Washington Times. 

Married twenty-three years to my high school sweetheart, I have five children plus a wiener dog with a nervous bladder.

Where Jesus Walked: Israel, Day One

Seven years ago today, I began a life-changing journey through the Holy Lands.

Walking where Jesus walked and exploring historical archaelogical sites throughout Israel transformed my faith from mere head-knowledge to 3-D, concrete reality.

Before Israel my Scriptures were black-and-white words.
After Israel my Bible is a full spectrum of vivid colors and imagery.

Now when I read a Bible story, I can picture in my mind the geography, remember the smells, and feel a deeper connection to ancient history.

I’ve always meant to blog about my journey, but every time I’ve started to in the past, I’ve always gotten distracted (cursed ADHD!) and never finished.

With my five children growing up before my eyes, I feel a strong responsibility to document my travels in the Holy Lands for my children. I want them to know that Jesus is God, the Bible is true, Hell is hot and Forever is a long time.

Discovering that Christianity is rooted in physically-verifiable science and archaeology was a game changer for me, and I hope these daily blog posts provide a springboard for their faith journeys… and yours.

Joining me on my journey seven years ago today were my best friends at the time, Luke and Dan:

Luke was one of the first people to get behind my dream of launching Life Church Michigan from scratch and his signature is one of three on our legal incorporation papers! Luke is a jokester who continues to be one of my buddies to this day.

Dan was my best friend. I discovered him in 2010 while hiring for an open worship position at my previous church and we quickly hit it off. In 2014, Dan uprooted his family to join our team again. We opened a church together in a former golf center, our families were close, and I provided the funding for Dan to produce his first radio single.

HEROD’S AQUEDUCTS

First stop in Israel were the ancient aqueducts built by King Herod.

Yes, THAT King Herod.

Still standing to this day, these aqueducts line the Mediterranean Sea and brought fresh water 13 miles (!) from Mount Carmel.

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CAESAREA MARITIME

Next we traveled north to Caesarea Maritime, built by 8,000 people under the direction of King Herod. Over the centuries the site has been destroyed and rebuilt by Muslims and Crusaders.

The site is first mentioned in Acts chapter 10 and boasts the remains of one of Herod’s summer castles along the sea plus an ancient Olympic stadium. Gold medals used to be the only award at the Olympics; it was King Herod who first introduced the Silver and Bronze medals at Caesarea.

In Acts 12:19, Herod Jr. came to Caesarea where he was struck down by an angel and eaten by worms. If you ask me, that’s a pretty bad way to go.

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RUN YOUR RACE

In Acts 25, the Apostle Paul is arrested and brought here.

Outside Paul’s prison cell was Herod’s Olympic track where he heard athletes practicing hard.

The inspiration for “races” in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 12:1-3, Philippians 3:13-14, and 2 Timothy 4:7 in Paul’s writings came from this jail cell (which I am standing above in this next photo).

Remains of King Herod’s summer castle on the edge of the Mediteranean Sea (note the ancient remains of a private swimming pool Herod had installed).

Exploring the Olympic Stadium outside Paul’s prison with Jeff Kapusta.

In Acts 25-26, Paul is brought before the Roman audience to plead his case.

Dan and I stood in the exact spot where Paul did. Acts 26:1 finally made sense; Paul “motioned with his hand” to quiet the crowd because he was facing an audience in-the-round!

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LEADERSHIP LESSONS

Two big ideas rang out to me standing where Paul stood in his chains:

1. Don’t define your leadership by what you see RIGHT NOW. Paul had NO IDEA his impact… in chains! When you experience new challenges and struggles, you are growing! The leadership you are providing your church now will outlast you… just look at Paul!
   

2. Paul was in prison. That’s tough. Yet Paul did not quit. He fought, finished, and kept the faith. Paul used his current struggles to write Scripture. There is always a struggle before a breakthrough!

Luke and I discovered a Sycamore Tree… the kind that Zacchaeus climbed in Luke 19.

MOUNT CARMEL

Next we travelled to Mount Carmel, the famous site where the prophet Elijah called down fire from heaven in 1 Kings 18.

It struck me that rain is rare in the desert. How does the sparse vegetation grow?

The morning dew, early in the morning, sustains life.

You will discover your sustenance if you will rise early for the dew.

The danger for leaders is when we focus on the rain (ministry out of memory) and forget the dew (fresh revelation every single morning).

This is the spot where Elijah called down fire from heaven.

Mount Carmel gives you a view of the entire landscape. Nazareth (a place of hope) is slightly north of Armageddon (the place of death).

The overpass marks where the false prophets of Baal were slaughtered in 1 Kings 18.

The prophet towers over entry to this famous mountain in northern Israel.

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SEA OF GALILEE

Finally we wrapped Day One where Jesus walked on water.

I tried walking on the same water:

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ABOUT JONATHAN HERRON

I am the founding pastor of Life Church, recognized in 2019 as the fastest-growing church in Michigan and 11th fastest-growing church in America. 

I am focused on strategic leadership and engaging teaching, all fueled by a gnawing passion for reaching people far from God. 

My unique ministry approach has been featured online in Time Magazine, USA Today, The Detroit News, MLive and The Washington Times. 

Married twenty-three years to my high school sweetheart, I have five children plus a wiener dog with a nervous bladder.

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10 Years Ago Today

10 years ago today I became the church planter of Life Church.

We had no people, no money, no facility, and no clue!

It was just me and my wife Amber Herron plus official-looking incorporation paperwork from the IRS saying we were a “real church.”

So much has happened during these first 10 years:

• hundreds of salvations

• hundreds of baptisms

• lots of weddings + baby dedications

• four adoptions in our family

• two additional Life Church campus launches

• COVID campus closures

• new friendships

• loss of friendships

• ten Ministry Interns

• welcoming special guests to our Mainstage including Bob Goff, Perry Noble, and Blessid Union of Souls

• partnering with Converge MidAmerica and The Timothy Initiative to plant more churches

• indirectly helping launch two new churches in our region (!)

• experiencing 2 Timothy 4

• praying for Acts 2

• hosting two church leadership training events

• becoming 2019’s 11th fastest-growing church in America according to Outreach Magazine

• discovering new friends and new adventures together

Church planting is extremely hard work. Amber and I couldn’t dream of a better labor of love to invest our lives into.

Thankful for our Lifers and thankful that in Christ, the best is always YET to come! (Ephesians 3:20)

“Who is Apollos, really? Or who is Paul? Aren’t we both just servants through whom you believed our message? Aren’t each of us doing the ministry the Lord has assigned to us?

I planted the church, and Apollos came and cared for it, but it was God who caused it to grow.

This means the one who plants is not anybody special, nor the one who waters, for God is the one who brings the supernatural growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-7, TPT)

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ABOUT

I am the founding pastor of Life Church, recognized in 2019 as the fastest-growing church in Michigan and 11th fastest-growing church in America. 

I am focused on strategic leadership and engaging teaching, all fueled by a gnawing passion for reaching people far from God. 

My unique ministry approach has been featured online in Time Magazine, USA Today, The Detroit News, MLive and The Washington Times. 

Married twenty-three years to my high school sweetheart, I have five children plus a wiener dog with a nervous bladder.

Photo Essay: Life at Life Church

It’s been a September to remember at the church I love…

Love The Team You Lead

Passion. Integrity. Grit.

Just some of the reasons I love this crew from the church that I love.

Over the past eight years of this church planting adventure in the High Five State, we’ve been privileged to work alongside some wonderful talent.

But I’ll take passion, integrity and grit over talent any day.

Amber and I have sacrificed everything + poured our lives into this labor of love — Life Church — and we are HONORED to have this team on board!

C’mon gang, let’s go storm the gates of hell with water pistols!

“Be faithful to guard the sweet harmony of the Holy Spirit among you in the bonds of peace, being one body and one spirit…” (Ephesians 4:3)

3 Principles I Learned While at The White House

Don’t freak out everyone -- this isn’t going to be a big political message.

In 2020, I was invited to The White House for a Special Briefing for Leaders of Faith. Here’s 3 principles I learned while at The White House…

1. Life Church is Apolitical

We’re a big tent -- we welcome everybody here!  That means we fight for our unity: no gossip, no griping, we just don’t have time for that:

But the one who slanders you behind your back

proves that he’s a fool, never to be trusted. If you keep talking, it won’t be long

before you’re saying something really wrong.” (Proverbs 10:18-19)

Words that bring delight pour from the lips of the godly,

but the words of the wicked are duplicitous.” (Proverbs 10:32)

When you act with presumption,

convinced that you’re right,

don’t be surprised if you fall flat on your face!

But walking in humility helps you to make wise decisions.” (Proverbs 11:2)

I love our church because we’re in this together -- We follow God, we trust our spiritual leaders, and we roll up our sleeves to make a difference for time and eternity. 

We want to unite as many people as possible as quickly as possible under the Jesus Flag through our Midland and Saginaw Campuses.

A life lived loving God bears lasting fruit,

for the one who is truly wise wins souls.” (Proverbs 11:30)

Security at The White House was TIGHT -- Secret Service was everywhere!

I discovered that it is very hard to get access to the Most Powerful Person on Earth.

Not so with God -- We have 24/7 access with no K-9’s and no Secret Service!

2. We Have Instant Access to the Most Powerful Person in Existence

The one who walks in integrity

will experience a fearless confidence in life.” (Proverbs 10:9)

Wow, aren’t those words great? 

Don’t we all just want a fearless confidence in our everyday life? 

Spending time with God fuels up our faith and trust in Him!

Lovers of truth follow the right path

because of their wonderment and worship of God.” (Proverbs 14:2-4)

“The words of the wise

will become a shield of protection around them.

The only clean stable is an empty stable.

So if you want the work of an ox and to enjoy an abundant harvest,

you’ll have a mess or two to clean up!” (Proverbs 14)

God loves when we gather together -- We gather on Sundays because that’s the day Jesus rose. 

Sometimes we’re going to make messes together -- and that’s okay! 

Proverbs says that the only CLEAN stable is an EMPTY stable --- look around you, this place is not empty!

As we all fumble forward in our faith, let’s give each other a break… let’s show each other grace as we are all learning together what  it looks like to follow Christ day by day.

To worship God in wonder and awe

opens a fountain of life within you,

empowering you to escape death’s domain.” (Proverbs 14:27)

I went to a White House Briefing -- It was all “Off the Record” -- Y’know, sometimes it is Hard to get clear info from Politicians!

Book of Proverbs = God is crystal clear with wisdom that applies to everyone, everywhere!

3. God gives us wise advice whenever we look for it!

Wisdom soothes the heart of the one with living-understanding,

but the heart of the fool just stockpiles stupidity.” (Proverbs 14:33)

The Bible has a term for the person who refuses wise counsel: “fool." (Prov 12:15)    

When we refuse to listen, when we dodge the truth, when we insist on having our own way, we are fools.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Prov. 9:10) 

Wisdom begins with the recognition of who God is.
Wisdom begins when we recognize that God is God and then respond accordingly.

Lovers of God hunger after truth,

but those without understanding

feast on foolishness and don’t even realize it.” (Proverbs 15:14)

Go ahead and make all the plans you want,

but it’s the Lord who will ultimately direct your steps.

We are all in love with our own opinions,

convinced they’re correct.

But the Lord is in the midst of us,

testing and probing our every motive.

Before you do anything,

put your trust totally in God and not in yourself.

Then every plan you make will succeed.

The Lord works everything together to accomplish his purpose.” (Proverbs 16:1-5)

They Were On Fire

I’ve always been fascinated by the lives of the earliest Christians who lived two thousand years ago. 

Under the crush of Roman occupation, a new movement was birthed: men and women who worshiped the risen Messiah. 

This wave of radical acceptance and grace-filled lives swept the world and changed human history.

In 1947, J.B. Phillips wrote this description of the Christian movement: 

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“The great difference between present-day Christianity and that of which we read in these letters is that to us it is primarily a performance, to them it was a real experience. We are apt to reduce the Christian religion to a code, or at best a rule of heart and life. To these men it is quite plainly the invasion of their lives by a new quality of life altogether.

They do not hesitate to describe this as Christ ʻliving inʼ them. These early Christians were on fire with the conviction that they had become, through Christ, literally sons of God; they were pioneers of a new humanity, founders of a new Kingdom. They still speak to us across the centuries. Perhaps if we believed what they believed, we might achieve what they achieved..”

— J.B. Phillips

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The earliest followers experienced the powerful aftermath of Jesus’ empty tomb: thousands of people turning to Jesus as their Master and Forgiver, radical life-change, and rumblings throughout society about this God-man who now lives. 

In addition to keeping the Jewish Sabbath, these first followers of Christ added the observance of the first day of the week - the day that Jesus rose from death to life.  This is why most Christians worship on Sunday mornings. 

According to premiere Christian historian Justo Gonzalez, the earliest communion services did not center on Christ’s passion - they were not quiet, introspective, reflective services.  

Instead, Christians worshiped weekly in loud celebration, understanding that the tomb was empty, death could not hold Jesus, and He was ushering in a new age of victory.  Yes, every Sunday was a party for One! 

It was much later - centuries later - before the focus of Christian worship shifted towards the death of Jesus.  In the earliest Christian community, the breaking of bread took place “with glad and generous hearts” (Acts 2:46).

May we embrace this same infectious enthusiasm first demonstrated by the earliest Christ followers. 

May we worship Jesus Christ with great passion, may we love others with scandalous grace, and may we be outward-focused in our church communities. 

An empty tomb provokes nothing less.