I had little interest in touring Bible lands. I’d seen too many slideshows by those with no idea what they saw, confessing, “I ran where Jesus walked.”

I had zero desire to see old churches and hear imaginary tales. “This” — pointing to a rock indentation — “is Jesus’ footprint when He pushed off to go back to heaven,” the guide intones. How could you keep from laughing?

So I said I’d wait until the Millennium when the prices were down. That is, until a well-to-do Pennsylvania farmer offered to send my wife and me to tour Egypt, Jordan and Israel. How could I refuse?

The trip was breathtaking, not just because we climbed the pyramids, explored the rose-red city of Petra and walked the ramparts of old Jerusalem. It was the way we saw the Bible in 3D, living color, audio-visual!

Here’s an example. At age 30, Jesus announced His claim to Messiahship by reading Isaiah 61:1-2 to His townsfolk. They were puzzled.

Then He indicated that His own people would largely reject Him but Gentiles would flock to His kingdom. That made them furious!

They attempted to throw Him over a precipice into the valley below. What valley? I never asked until I stood there. It’s the Valley of Armageddon! Jesus grew up overlooking the scene of His final victory. Wow!

In 1985, I led a group of 22 eager young Bible students to see for themselves. Of course, all you need to know to live a life pleasing to the Lord is in the Bible. And I’d far rather BE where He IS than SEE where He WAS. However…

We had a tremendous time. We sang old hymns at their settings, searched and climbed and stood in awe. And dug, too. Archeologist Bernie Alpert had a program called “Dig For A Day,” where we worked in Herod’s palace at Jerusalem, just inside the Jaffa Gate.

I told the fellows that these archeologists might not have much time for our Jesus, but they appreciate hard work. So let’s show them, under the hot Judean sun in summer, what serious Christians looked like at work.

The fellows moved a mountain. No complaints. No pleading for a break. No task too menial. When the project was done, dust mingling with our honest sweat, we sang Psalm 23 to them to the old Scottish tune Crimmond, our voices echoing off the ancient walls.

With a catch in his throat, Bernie Alpert said, “In our language we would call you hasidei ummot ha’olam, righteous Gentiles.” The term, ‘righteous among the nations,’ is normally reserved for those who helped rescue Jews during the Holocaust. He was conferring on us a great honor.

But how could we be righteous? Doesn’t their own Scripture say, “There is none righteous, no, not one?”

The only truly righteous being is God Himself. So if we could be declared righteous, it must be a work of God, since their Scripture also says, “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6, NIV)

The answer is given by a well-known first-century rabbi. “The righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ [Yeshua HaMashiach], to all and on all who believe.” (Romans 3:21-22)

Only believe!

Jabe Nicholson, of Starkville, an author and publisher, loves engaging with people on life’s key issues. Reach him at [email protected] or visit www.uplook.tv