Turkey, Greece, Rome trip summary, part 7

Rome. St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls Church (where the remains of Paul's body awaits the resurrection).

It has taken far longer than I anticipated to complete our trip summary. Here is the final installment. Those shouts of joy are not only yours but mine as well. Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 21; Rome (Churches)

We saw the Vatican Museum but we didn’t see the Pope. The history of the painting of the Sistine Chapel is more about political maneuvering rather than Biblical doctrine. A new addition to St. Peter’s Basilica is the display of Pope John XXIII’s remains. We learned the Pope does not speak “ex-cathedra” here. We visited the church building called St. Paul’s Outside the Walls (which was the largest church in the world until St. Peter’s was built). There we saw the Pope (well, we saw all of the Popes) on ornate mosaic medallions. This is where Paul’s bodily remains are buried (but not on display). The church called “Three Fountains” is where Paul was executed. The legend says when his head was severed it bounced three times. At each spot where it touched the ground “a spring of water broke forth.” More believable than the legend was the delicious Trappisti chocolate we bought and ate.

Thursday, January 22; Rome (Ancient)

We had a half-day to tour the Flavian Amphitheater (Colosseum), the Roman Forum, and the Mamertine Prison. The architectural wonder of the Colosseum is that it is free-standing instead of against a hill. The Romans’ use of the arch makes this possible. The Arch of Titus, on the edge of the Roman Forum, was erected to commemorate Rome’s victory and capture of Jerusalem. A relief in the Arch depicts the menorah, trumpets, and possibly the Table of Showbread plundered from the Jerusalem Temple. In the afternoon everyone went to sites that especially interested them. Some locations included shopping, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and McDonalds. In the evening we met together for our Final Farewell, to give thanks to the Lord for our adventure together.

Friday, January 23; Farewell Tour

What seemed like the longest day of our entire tour began with a short leisurely morning and a white-knuckle landing in Paris. After a few tense moments prior to our departure due to a lack of necessary international documents, our long flight to Los Angeles was routine and uneventful. We were instructed how to use the seatbelt, the location of the exits, and forbidden to smoke in the lavatory. However, there were no signs or verbal warnings about getting too close to the edge. The day “officially” ended thirty-six hours later with hearty greetings from immigration officers and custom agents.

. . .

At the abrupt end of Luke’s second volume we are given one final insight about the way Paul chose to live as a bond-servant of Jesus Christ. Eugene Peterson summarizes the thought, “He welcomed everyone who came to visit. He urgently presented all matters of the kingdom of God. He explained everything about Jesus Christ. His door was always open.” Good teachers tell and show.