I recently went on my second pilgrimage to the Promised Land. My first pilgrimage was about 10 years ago.

I urge everyone to make this pilgrimage at least once in their life.

The words that come to my mind are “Come and see.”

These words appear again and again in Scriptures.

For example, at the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus, John the Baptist saw Jesus passing by and said: “Look, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36).

When two of the disciples of John the Baptist “heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, ‘What do you want?’”(John 1:37-38).

“They said, ‘Rabbi’ (which means ‘Teacher’), ‘Where are you staying?’” (John 1:38).

“‘Come,’ [Jesus] replied, ‘and you will see.’” (John 1:39).

What was the result of coming and seeing where Jesus was staying?

After staying with Jesus for the afternoon, Andrew, the brother of Peter, found him and told him, “We have found the Messiah”: the Christ, the Anointed One, the Chosen One. (John 1:42).

Have you heard good things about Jesus? Nevertheless, you still need to come and see for yourself where he is “staying”.

For example, Andrew had heard John the Baptist describe Jesus in glowing terms.  He said that Jesus was “the Lamb of God.”

The day before, John the Baptist had been teaching about “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). He “‘will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I have seen and testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” (John 1:33-34).

Nevertheless, Andrew still needed to come and see for himself where Jesus was staying. Andrew still needed to spend an afternoon staying with Jesus.

A pilgrimage is a perfect opportunity to come and see where Jesus stayed.

A perfect opportunity to experience for the first time—or for the thousandth time—that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The  Messiah. The Christ. The Anointed One. The Chosen One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

During our pilgrimage, we saw again and again where Jesus stayed:

—where Jesus was born in Bethlehem:  a birth heralded by angels as good news of great joy to all people because a Savior had been born to us, the Messiah, bringing peace on earth. (Luke 2:10-11

—where Jesus grew up in Nazareth:  growing and becoming strong; filled with wisdom and the grace of God. (Luke 2:39-40).

—where Jesus preached in the synagogue at Nazareth, declaring:

the Spirit of the Lord is on me,

     because he has anointed me

     to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

     and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

(Luke 4:18-19, quoting Isaiah 61:1,2 and Isaiah 58:6)

—where Jesus preached his Sermon on the Mount:  teaching us how to light the world with good deeds that glorify our Father in Heaven, fulfilling the Law of Moses and the Prophets. (Matthew 5:14-17).

—where Jesus re-assured messengers from John the Baptist that Jesus indeed is the Lamb of God, the Chosen One.

What re-assured John the Baptist?

People who came and stayed with Jesus could see and hear that:

The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. (Matthew 11:4-5).

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT

Why did John the Baptist first believe that Jesus was the Lamb of God? What did he mean?

Why did you first believe that Jesus is the Lamb of God? What did you mean?

What re-assured John the Baptist that Jesus is the Lamb of God?

What has re-assured you that Jesus is the Lamb of God?

READ MORE

For related thoughts, please read my blogs, “Jesus Embodies Hesed—The Vision of Isaiah”, “Jesus Embodies Hesed—Fulfilling the Law of Moses and the Prophets”, “Jesus Embodies Hesed—Sowing the Ideals of the Law of Moses and the Prophets”, and “Jesus Embodies Hesed—Saving Lost Sheep, Lost Coins, and Lost Sons”.