Sierra Pacific Synod’s Holy Land Solidarity Pilgrimage - Day 2

Thursday, January 22, 2026

We continued in our pilgrimage spending more time in Galilee, especially along the shore of the lake where much of Jesus’ ministry in the gospels takes place. The exception to that required a longer drive as we climbed up into the area now referred to as the Golan Heights, Syrian territory that has been occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967. There we visited Caesarea Philippi.

Jesus’ journey with the disciples to Caesarea Philippi required significant effort; probably a two-day walk. But arriving in that region, they would have seen the awesome power and attraction of the Roman Empire, in this place ruled by the client-king, Herod Philip. It would have dazzled with the imposing temples to the god Pan and to Caesar and to other gods.

It was here, perhaps while looking at the bright and shiny temples to Pan, Caesar, and other gods, that Peter confessed, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Hooray Peter (meaning Rocky), you got it right! But it was also here where Jesus told his disciples about his coming suffering and death. Peter rebuked Jesus and then Jesus rebuked Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance (literally a stumbling stone) to me.” A rock and a stumbling stone: probably true for all of us.

When Jesus said, “On this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it,” Jesus promised his disciples that the church would indeed overcome the power of the Roman empire, but not through violence or military victory. Hundreds of years later, it would come to pass. Not in Jesus’ or Peter’s lifetime.

Sadly, the end of the Roman Empire did not mean the end of empire or the false religions of empire. When Israel conquered the Golan Heights, it bulldozed over 200 villages. To this day, the area is very sparsely populated, and the occupation continues there and in the West Bank. For the United States, empire-building seems to be our current goal and false religions glorifying power and violence are mainstream.

As we came back down to the shore of Lake Galilee, we visited the site of the feeding of the 5000, and the archeological site of Capernaum (where Jesus lived, perhaps at Peter’s house) and Magdala (the city of Mary Magdalene). We saw the places of Jesus’ teaching and healing, and we heard Jesus’ promise come through: “On this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Jesus is still building the church with living stones, and we know the power of empire will fall. So, we continue in our pilgrimage of life.

— Pastor Clark Brown