Day 7 – Wednesday
As we left the hotel this morning, we left reading Psalm 122. Verse 2 reads: “we are standing in your gates O Jerusalem.” Certainly true of us today. But the Psalm goes on to exhort us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. As we travel the need for those prayers is evident everywhere. In fact, we closed the day in a Bethlehem Olive Wood shop where the owner, an Arab Christian, before trying to sell us anything, asked us to pray for the peace of this area.
We had the opportunity to visit several overlooks of the old city. At the first, there was a first century tomb, which gave Mickey the chance to explain the Jewish burial customs of the first century. From there just a few minutes to the Mount of Olives. Pastor Wayne shared from several verses pointing out that when the Lord returns this mount will separate and water form the Temple Mount will flow to the Dead Sea and to the Mediterranean. (Zech 14:4) In waiting for that day, many Jews have chosen to be buried on the Mount of Olives, their faith in their scriptures being displayed in their end of life choices.
After a stop at the Garden of Gethsemane and some more sharing by Ron Higley, we traveled on t o the Western Wall. Getting into this area is like going through airport security. There’s that peace thing again. Mickey had arranged for us to get a tour of the Rabbi’s tunnel. This is an area going along the western wall of the Temple Mount. We were able to see some of the construction methods used by Herod and half way along the wall there was an impromptu synagogue. They meet at that place because it is the close to where the Holy of Holies had been. Going through these tunnels, it makes you wonder what might be on the other side of the wall. Certainly plenty of room to store the Tabernacle of even the Ark of the Covenant.
The tunnel ended just past the Ecce Homo Arch (more on that tomorrow). We left the city via the Lions Gate aka St. Stephen’s Gate, and went to a local kibbutz for lunch. Then on to Bethlehem. That sounds easy. But to get there we had to get off the bus, go through another check point – sort of like checking into prison – then we were picked up by an Arab guide for our tour of the Church of the Nativity and shopping. The church of the Nativity is divided up between the Orthodox, Roman and Armenian Catholics. They don’t get along for all kinds of historical reasons which seems to taint the atmosphere. The Prince of Peace was born in a cave owned by three groups of his followers which constantly fight in a city which is constantly fighting with its neighbors. Somehow it looses something.
As we left the hotel this morning, we left reading Psalm 122. Verse 2 reads: “we are standing in your gates O Jerusalem.” Certainly true of us today. But the Psalm goes on to exhort us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. As we travel the need for those prayers is evident everywhere. In fact, we closed the day in a Bethlehem Olive Wood shop where the owner, an Arab Christian, before trying to sell us anything, asked us to pray for the peace of this area.
We had the opportunity to visit several overlooks of the old city. At the first, there was a first century tomb, which gave Mickey the chance to explain the Jewish burial customs of the first century. From there just a few minutes to the Mount of Olives. Pastor Wayne shared from several verses pointing out that when the Lord returns this mount will separate and water form the Temple Mount will flow to the Dead Sea and to the Mediterranean. (Zech 14:4) In waiting for that day, many Jews have chosen to be buried on the Mount of Olives, their faith in their scriptures being displayed in their end of life choices.
After a stop at the Garden of Gethsemane and some more sharing by Ron Higley, we traveled on t o the Western Wall. Getting into this area is like going through airport security. There’s that peace thing again. Mickey had arranged for us to get a tour of the Rabbi’s tunnel. This is an area going along the western wall of the Temple Mount. We were able to see some of the construction methods used by Herod and half way along the wall there was an impromptu synagogue. They meet at that place because it is the close to where the Holy of Holies had been. Going through these tunnels, it makes you wonder what might be on the other side of the wall. Certainly plenty of room to store the Tabernacle of even the Ark of the Covenant.
The tunnel ended just past the Ecce Homo Arch (more on that tomorrow). We left the city via the Lions Gate aka St. Stephen’s Gate, and went to a local kibbutz for lunch. Then on to Bethlehem. That sounds easy. But to get there we had to get off the bus, go through another check point – sort of like checking into prison – then we were picked up by an Arab guide for our tour of the Church of the Nativity and shopping. The church of the Nativity is divided up between the Orthodox, Roman and Armenian Catholics. They don’t get along for all kinds of historical reasons which seems to taint the atmosphere. The Prince of Peace was born in a cave owned by three groups of his followers which constantly fight in a city which is constantly fighting with its neighbors. Somehow it looses something.
1 comment:
Hello, Bob! Great postings over the last few days and I've been meaning to follow up on what you've said. However, I wanted to first make sure that you were all aware of some late breaking news here in Berks County. Greg Irvin was involved in a bad motorcycle accident today. I do not have all of the details, but he is stable and ok other than he is in the hospital with broken ankles and a broken leg. Please pray for him and his family.
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