Page 7 - Good News September 2005 paper

n unusual and important find was recently
discovered at the archaeological
Aexcavation of ancient Tiberias, which is
being carried out at a site on the shore of the
Kinneret (Sea of Galilee).
To their great surprise, a group of young people,
who were participating in the dig, discovered a
rare coin. On the front of the coin can be seen a
somewhat blurred image of Jesus, while on the
back, the words "Jesus the Messiah King of
Kings," in Greek, are engraved very clearly.
This coin is one of a series of coins that were
issued in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) in
celebration of the first millennium since Jesus's
birth. It is not uncommon to find this coin in
neighbouring countries of Israel, such as Turkey,
but this is the first time that it has ever been
discovered at an lsraeli archaeological site.
Professor Yizhar Hirschfeld, Director of this
excavation, which is sponsored by the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem and Brown University, in
association with the City of Tiberias and the Israel
Antiquities Authority, explains that this coin was
brought to Tiberias by Christian pilgrims. Tiberias
and other sites around the Sea of Galilee were
desired destinations of Christian pilgrims during
the time of Muslim rule in Israel from the 7th to 11th
centuries.
Zohar Oved, mayor of Tiberias, who stands behind
the efforts of this excavation, has stated that the
finding of the Jesus coin on the shore of the Sea of
Galilee will be a drawing point for tourists from all
over the world. - Dispatch from Jerusalem,
January/February 2005

emove the head coach, and the team flounders; break the
fuel pipe, and the car won't run; unplugged, the electrical
Rappliance has no power; without the head, the body dies.
Whether for leadership, power, or life, connections are vital!
Only by being connected with Christ through faith can anyone
have eternal life and only through a continuing connection with
Him can anyone have power for living. Christ is God incarnate
and the only way to peace with God the Father.
Because our eternal destiny is sure, heaven should fill our
thoughts, sexual impurity and other worldly lusts should not be
named among us, and truth, love and peace should mark our
lives.
Our love for Christ should also translate into love for others -
friends, fellow-believers, spouses, children, and parents.
Furthermore, we should constantly communicate with God
through prayer, and we should take every opportunity to tell
others the Good News of salvation. In Christ we have everything