Chorazin

Chorazin.

One of the towns that mark the corners of the triangle where Jesus did the
majority of His ministry. Worth noting is the fine examples of Insula that
are found here. Insula is a style of building that reflects the extended
family living together in rooms generally build off a central courtyard. The
teacher Ray Vander Laan uses this Insula as an object lesson for an
understanding of heaven.



As is most often the case, having an understanding of 1st century customs
helps us to better understand scripture the way that Jesus' listeners would
have. When a a couple was arranged to marry, the grooms family would
approach the brides family and over elaborate hospitality a bride price
would be set. When Paul refers to us as the Bride of Christ, he tells us
that we were "bought at a price"....the ultimate price of God's only son.
After the bride price had been set the son would return to his fathers
house, his Insula, and work would commence to add on rooms for the new
family, The anxious groom would ask his father "is it time yet" and the
father would say "only after the place has been prepared" When the time was
right and the work had been completed the father would say "its time" and
with celebration the groom would travel to claim his bride and bring her
back home to the Insula.

I go away to prepare a place for you....



Some Bible translations leave us wondering what kind of mansion Jesus is
going to prepare for us in Heaven. Isn't it perhaps a more lovely image to
think about Jesus adding on to his Insula to make room for us....Gathered
together around a fire in the courty
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