The Holy Land is often described as "The Fifth Gospel". The land itself, the people and culture, the archaeology ..all help us better understand the meaning of scripture. We are in Capernaum, the town at the center of Jesus' ministry. Archaeologists have shown that one of the industries of this town was the manufacture of Basalt millstones used to crush olives for their oil. These stones have been found all over Israel. As I look at these millstones in this village nestled on the shore of the lake, I am reminded how Jesus used everyday objects to help illustrate his teachings. One of the reasons a pilgrimage to the Holy Land changes us is that we have a chance to see scripture in the context of the land itself.
In Luke 17 we read:
Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
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