Mark Twain, who visited the land of Israel in 1867, DESCRIBED ISRAEL as a “…desolate country, given over wholly to weeds—a silent mournful expanse… We never saw a human being on the whole route… There was hardly a tree or a shrub anywhere.” The Ottoman Empire put a tax on the NUMBER OF TREES someone owned causing the owners TO CUT MANY DOWN which completed the destruction. The Holy Land was a BARREN, DEPRESSING SIGHT to travelers and pilgrims.
Isaiah prophecies of Christs miraculous time of visitation here on earth, “…the desert shall REJOICE AND BLOSSOM as the rose…They shall see THE GLORY OF THE LORD, The excellency of our God…the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then THE LAME SHALL LEAP LIKE A DEER, And the tongue of the dumb sing…” (Isaiah 35:2-6)
Here is the actual prophecy being fulfilled, “Now Peter and John went up together to the temple…a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried…to ask alms from those who entered the temple, who, seeing Peter and John… asked for alms. Peter said, “LOOK AT US.” So, he gave them his attention…Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but WHAT I DO HAVE I GIVE YOU: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, RISE UP AND WALK.” And…IMMEDIATELY his feet and ankle bones received strength. So, he, LEAPING up, STOOD and WALKED and entered the temple with them—WALKING, LEAPING, and PRAISING GOD.” (Acts 3:1-8)
Look at the result of this miracle, “And all the people SAW HIM walking and praising God. Then THEY KNEW that it was HE WHO SAT BEGGING alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were FILLED WITH WONDER AND AMAZEMENT at what had happened to him.” (Acts 3:9-10)
This is Christ’s prayer for us today, “that they ALL MAY BE ONE, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also MAY BE ONE IN US, that THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have GIVEN THEM, that THEY MAY BE ONE JUST AS WE ARE ONE: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be MADE PERFECT IN ONE, and that THE WORLD MAY KNOW that You have sent Me, and have LOVED THEM as YOU HAVE LOVED ME.” (John 17:21-23)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham