And We Went Up to Jerusalem

* Another post in a series on my trip to the Holy Land.

There are numerous references in the scriptures that mention going up

to Jerusalem.  I didn't really understand that Jerusalem sits at a higher
elevation than the surrounding countryside and anyone traveling to
Jerusalem would literally have to go "up" to get there.  As we approached
the city, I could see it in a distance, sitting on a rise that looked out over the
valley.  I thought of all the people who have made this journey over
thousands of years and I became completely overwhelmed with the
opportunity that lay before me.  I was in Jerusalem and for the next four
days, I would walk in what I consider to be one of the holiest places on
earth.  As we had our first view of the city, I was glad to have my dark
sunglasses to hide the tears that would not stop.

One of the things you notice right away is the presence of three major
world religions.  I enjoyed looking out over the city and seeing evidence of
these religions all around me.

To Jews, it is their spiritual home.  It is the place where Abraham went to
sacrifice Isaac, the site of David's glory and Solomon's Temple and the
capital of the Jewish people. Synagogues like this one are seen throughout
the city.

To Christians, it is where Jesus spent his last days on earth, the site of the
Last Supper, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.  Notice the cross on
this beautiful Church of Mary Magdalene as seen from the Mount of Olives.

To Muslims, it is the holy place where Mohammed is said to have ascended

to Heaven.  It is Islam's third holiest city after Mecca and Medina and the

site of the Dome of the Rock.

We spent our first morning on the Temple Mount. 

The muslim women gather to study and read .

From the Temple Mount, we looked down on the Golden Gate.  There 

are seven gates around the old city, each with it's own story to tell.  This

gate would have been where Jesus entered the city on palm Sunday.  It

was also called Gate Beautiful.  Remember this story found in Acts 3?

A lame man was laid here at the gate of the temple, to ask alms of those

that entered the temple.  When Peter and John went up to the temple to

pray, the man asked for alms and Peter's response was:

" Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee:

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."

And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up:

and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

And he leaping up stood and walked, and entered with them

into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God."

Acts 3: 6-8 

This gate is now sealed.  According to Ezekiel, God's spirit left the city through

the gate, but will return after the Messiah returns through it.

At one time, Solomon's temple stood on this mount, where now the Dome

of the Rock resides (not in the exact location).   We went to see a model of

ancient Jerusalem that helped me better understand what this looked like

during the time of Christ.  In this photo you can see the temple mount and 

Solomon's temple in the middle.  This model was so amazing and after 

spending days in the city, I wished we could have gone back and looked 

at it again. It helped me get my directional bearings and to see the big picture.

But of course, there was no time to return.

This Church of Saint Anne(the mother of Mary) was built in 1112

and is the best preserved Crusader church in the entire Holy Land.

With help from Kathy and Jeannee (the choir directors in the group),

we sang "Nearer My God to Thee" in this incredible structure.  The 

way our voices sounded against the stone walls and ceilings...well,

let's just say I don't think the Tabernacle Choir would have sounded 

sweeter to me.  It was deeply moving. 

The Pools of Bethesda are located next to this church and this is one 

of those "no doubt about it" locations . It is certain that these pools were

the same spoken of in John 5, where Jesus cured the lame man.  Today 

there's no water in the pools, but you can see where the water ran through

this area at one time. 

The Western Wall

The Western Wall is the only fragment of the the Great Temple to

survive the Roman destruction and the Jewish people feel the Divine

Presence has never departed from this place. 

It is the most sacred structure to the Jewish people.

Here's a little history lesson for you - Long before the Temple stood 

on this mount,  Abraham came here to sacrifice his son, Isaac, and Jacob 

slept here as he dreamed of the ladder to heaven.  At that time, this place 

was called Mount Moriah.   It was here that Solomon built the temple

on the land his father King David purchased 3000 years ago.   History

teaches us that the temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC, 

was rebuilt seventy years later and restored to it's original glory by Herod,

2000 years ago.  In 68 AD, Herod's temple was destroyed by the Romans, 

burning to the ground everything but the Western Wall.  Now you might

understand the importance of this wall.

People come here from all over the world , to see, feel and pray,

and to wedge notes, requests and pleas between it's stones.

The wall is divided into sections for men and women.

Men must wear appropriate head coverings and women must be

modestly dressed.  Even in our conservative group, some of the 

women had to wear scarves around their arms.  Immodest clothing

offends both the holiness of the site and those who pray there.

Notes wedged between the stones.

I've touched the Western Wall.  Amazing.

This little girl stood in front of me saying

her prayers with her prayer book.   I loved 

this demonstration of faith at such a young age.

We learned that it is respectful to back away

from the wall as you leave, rather than turning

your back towards the wall.  I was inspired by

their level of reverence to God.  

 

Isn't this a beautiful family?

Children will be children - playing in the fountain.

What a blessing to be in Jerusalem and 

experience this day with my sister.

*MYOF Goal #25 - Visit Israel.

O Little Town Of Bethlehem

* Another post in a series on my trip to the Middle East.  Thanks
  to Sherri for the use of many of her photos.


To be honest with you, visiting Palestine isn't really up there with
"must go" places on my travel list.  Although I don't know as much
as I would like to about the conflicts in that part of the world, I do
know it is a place of conflict.  So when our guide told us we were
going to Bethlehem, it didn't occur to me that I would be in Palestine.
I'm a little geographically challenged like that.

Entering Palestine wasn't that different than crossing the border into
Israel.  The bus pulled up to the gate; the armed soldiers came onto
the bus and looked around.  I guess we looked non threatening enough.
And then we crossed over into Palestine.  We could see the fence in
the distance that was a constant reminder of the boundaries.
Sherri and I looked at each other and said, "It's probably a good thing
Dad doesn't know where we are right now." (Our daddy wasn't too
happy about having his daughters traveling in the middle east.)
No worries, Dad.  It all turned out fine.

Since I felt pretty ignorant regarding the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, I
asked our guide if he could spend some time on this subject when he
lectured in the evening.  With a map in hand, he gave us a crash course
on some pretty complicated history.  I think I could have listened to his
lecture a number of times and still not totally understood it.  It's obvious,
I could use more study on this subject.  Like I said, it's complicated!

Bethlehem

" And Joseph also went up from Galilee,

out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea,

unto the city of David, which is called 

Bethlehem: to be be taxed with Mary

his espoused wife."

Following the road that led into Manger Square, we came to the Church of

the Nativity.

This is the oldest standing "in use" church in the world.  The original 

basilica was built in 325 BC by Emperor Constantine the Great.  

The foundation for the church is the cave which is considered

to be the place where Jesus was born.  To enter the church you have

to stoop through a small entrance.  The crusaders reduced the size of 

the door to defend the church from enemies.  

The inside of the church was lovely.

The Grotto of the Nativity was down the stairs.  

The altar featured a 12th century mosaic, but what you really notice

is a star on the floor, with words in Latin which say "Here Jesus 

Christ was born of the virgin Mary".  No, I can't read Latin. I read

that in a book.

This is a "traditional site", meaning tradition leads us to believe this

is where Christ was born.  It's not known for certain.  But if it wasn't

in this location, it was somewhere close by.

"And so it was, that, while they were there, the

days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped

him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger;

because there was no room for him in the inn."

Luke 2:6-7

St. Catherine's church is the location from where midnight mass is

broadcasted to the world on Christmas Eve.

We took a lunch break in Bethlehem and I had the best falafel of the

trip at Ruth's Restaurant.  Here's Ruth,

and here's the falafel,

and here's me devouring the falafel.  Oh, man.   Could I learn to make

falafel that tastes like this at home?  How about pita bread that tastes 

like this?

Some things taste the same, no matter where you are.

Next we went to the Shepherd's Field.  It's also called the Field of Ruth

and is believed to be the field where the angel appeared to the shepherds

to announce Christ's birth.

" And there were in the same country shepherds abiding

in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the

glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they 

were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for behold I bring you tidings of great 

joy,which shall be to all people.  For unto you is

born this day in the city of David a Saviour

which is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:8-11

We peered into the church which has been built here, but the really

interesting thing for me were the caves found throughout the fields.

This model was set up to show how the shepherds would bring their

flocks in at night and put brush at the entrance of the cave, which 

would keep them in the cave and allow the shepherds to sleep.

The popular christmas card scenes of Christ being born in a stable and 

the sheep grazing on the fields at night were being shattered.  It makes 

nice artwork for our traditional Christmas decorations, but it just wasn't

that way.  

I was a little wary of climbing through the caves, but at Sherri's

insistence I followed along.  Thanks to Andy who came to our rescue 

with his flashlight. (I've been wondering how he just happened to have

a flashlight with him.  Must be an Eagle Scout- always prepared.)

I'm so glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone...well to be honest it

was intense peer pressure, but hey, peer pressure isn't always a bad thing, right? 

Before the day was over we even had the chance to see a modern day

shepherd with his flock.  Yes, I saw a shepherd in Bethlehem.  How

cool is that?  This shepherd, as if on cue, just came walking down the

street behind our bus.   Don't you love the suit coat over his robes?

He sat down on a rock and let the sheep graze and then when he was

ready to go, he called them and they came.  I watched how unconcerned

he seemed that his sheep might wander off, or get hit by a car or a bus!

And here in Bethlehem, I couldn't help but think of the words of 

the Good Shepherd:

"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep,

and am known of mine.  My sheep hear my

voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

John 10:14, 27

*MYOF Goal #25 - Travel to Israel.