“For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain,” Philippians 1:21.

 Recently, I had an opportunity to go on a tour, “The Footsteps of Paul and John.” It was a fantastic trip full of many “ah-ha” moments as I put Bible verses together with places visited.  The ruins at Ephesus were incredible.  What an advanced civilization the people had! I saw the amazing  Acropolis in Athens, one of the “wonders of the world.”  But ultimately, it was the little things that touched my heart and the Christians we met from many parts of the world that made the trip memorable.

The ruins of Corinth weren’t nearly as magnificent as some, but knowing the Apostle Paul walked in many identifiable spots was significant.  Our tour guide was a young woman who became a believer at a church camp she was invited to attend in high school.  With enthusiasm, she took us to her favorite places where Paul walked and taught the people. Trudging down the steps into a lower excavation, we found a roadway with the inscription, “Erastus, in return for his position, paved it at his own expense.”  He was the city treasurer, but Paul called him “a servant to many.”  An important position, but he was willing to serve Paul, not considering his social status.  It was customary for government officials to give a gift to the city, so Erastus built a road.

The Corinthians believed in worshipping many different gods.  If you wanted to believe in Jesus and worship him, the governor didn’t care as long as you worshipped Caesar as well.  If a believer was brought to the temple and wouldn’t say “Caesar is Lord,” they would be put to death. Hence the verse, “no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3.  We repeat that phrase so blithely, but it was costly to those early Christians.

The Corinthian church had to be taught about love.  Their ideas of love developed as part of the temple “worship” where every kind of immorality was prevalent, including selling children as slaves. 1 Corinthians 11, the love chapter, was written to remind those early believers how they were to love each other.

The “Bema” or judgment seat was another touching spot.  Acts 18 tells us the Jews made a united attack against Paul because many people believed and were being baptized including Crispus, the synagogue ruler.  Paul was charged with persuading the people to worship God contrary to the law.  However, in this case, Gallio, the proconsul, was not interested, ejected Paul’s enemies from the court and beat Sosthenes the ringleader instead.  The post where he was likely beaten is still there.

On top of the Bema is a stone with this inscription, “For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory, beyond all comparision.”  2 Cor. 4:17.  God appeared to Paul in a dream and told him to remain there, so he stayed in Corinth 18 months and taught the people.

After a full day of sightseeing, with aching back and swollen feet, I found one more spot that touched my heart.  There in a small museum was an alabaster jar!  I thought of the woman in Mark 14 who broke her alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over Jesus’ head and feet.  Alabaster comes in many colors, white only one of them.  In ancient times, a thin layer could be cut and used for a colored window.  Very beautiful!

Your friend, Jean