Hotel terrace and Sea of Galilee

My camera started “acting up” the night before when I tried to take a photo of the Sea of Galilee, as seen from the pool terrace of our hotel in Tiberias.  The images came out all white, except this one (out of 7) which came out normal.

Next day we started with a visit to Capernaum, where Jesus lived (in Peter’s mother-in-law’s house) during most of his three year ministry.  It was early morning, the sun still low in the sky, but contrary to the other days, which had rich blue skies, today the sky appeared brilliant white.  There was a bright white light everywhere.  We started in the synagogue where Jesus once taught.  The light reflecting off the white marble was so intense, the columns around the perimeter of the building seemed without shadows.  In fact, nothing and no one had shadows, though there was shade under the trees.  My camera would barely capture any image that had sky in it, but those taken indoors, or in the shade came out fine.

The synagogue where Jesus taught; a day without shadows

Then, by the time I’d walked to the edge of the sea and taken a photo over the water, and even facing away from the sun, there was a huge white blaze of light over the water, I started to realise something strange was happening.

Soon we were back on the bus, en route to the Mount of the Beatitudes.  A church surrounded by beautiful gardens now covers the area, and after a brief look around, we

Light on the Mount

had a half hour for private reflection before moving on. I was snapping photo after photo; but again, the bright light made it almost impossible.  I was getting frustrated, trying over and over to get at least some images to turn out well…

I didn’t hear a voice per se, but I was told clearly, “Put away the camera.”  I obeyed, then found a nice spot in the shade, where I sat down to read chapters 5-7 of Matthew.

How many times in my life have I read or heard the Sermon on the Mount?  Dozens?  A hundred?  This day, on The Mount, His Sermon came to life; as I read Jesus’ words, it was as though I heard Him speaking them to me, hearing them for the first time.  It was as if Jesus was standing at my side with His hand on my shoulder, as He said…

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”

“…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Had I never heard these words before??  I began to weep in an unconscious, uncontrollable way.  As the torrent of tears spilled from my eyes, these years of mourning, uncertainty and inquietude were lifted from me.  I felt weightless, at peace, forgiven; truly happy and content with where I am in my life right now.  I couldn’t stop the tears.  They flowed until they were spent.  Words are inadequate to express the comfort I was feeling.  All at once, everything was right.  I received His assurance that my present situation is exactly where He wants me now.  It was pure joy.

It was later that evening, alone in my quiet room, sorting through photos and events of the day, that I realised this was God, revealing His Glory… to me!   This was my Shekinah moment, in His Land!  And I almost missed it.  I saw God’s pure light shining over Galilee.  Indeed, it shines perpetually over all this earth; the secret lies in being ready, and willing, to see it when He chooses to reveal it to us.

While writing this, I have remembered I was reading these exact words in Matthew at the age of 17, when I experienced my first ‘a huge weight was lifted from me’  moment.  How great a distance I have traveled in these 40 years (!!) since then; literally and figuratively, near and far, desert and paradise.  How great and glorious is our Lord.  Hallelujah!

 *In the Targums “shekinah,” “glory of God,” and “word of God” are used synonymously. Shekinah became a comprehensive term for any form of the presence of God; it could be used as a designation for God or as a circumlocution for references to the face or hand of God. Only in the later rabbinic sources does the Shekinah become a separate entity created by God as an intermediary between God and man.

The NT frequently alludes to the concept of the Shekinah, even though the term itself is not used. God’s presence in the NT is frequently associated with light and glory…Paul also identifies Christ as the Shekinah of God. (Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988).Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.)