Jerusalem
After our ministry in Tel Aviv was complete, our group traveled the short 40 minute drive to nearby Jerusalem. We spent a couple of days visiting important biblical sites and learning about the history of the city.
Caesarea
On our way to Jerusalem, we visited Caesarea. It's a town built by Herod, with tons ruins of Roman baths, aqueducts, and markets. There was also this large amphitheater that is actually one of the few archeological artifacts that can be 100% authenticated as a biblical site.
Here is the amphitheater, and the Bible verses that explain what happened here:
Acts 12: 21-23
21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
The small cutout section directly in the center (behind my head) was Herod's seat, and the exact spot where he died. Crazy!
Capernaum
From there we journeyed to Capernaum, the neighboring city to Galilee. Capernaum is where the "Mount of Beatitudes" is located, where Jesus sat down on a hill and gave the sermon of the Beatitudes, recorded in Matthew 5.
Here's me in a garden of church on the Mount of Beatitudes.
Mount Arbel
We ventured up to the top of Mount Arbel, which overlooks the Sea of Galilee.
Behind me is the city of Galilee, where Jesus performed 90% of his miracles.Right after this, I almost fell off! haha
Sea of Galilee
One of the highlights of visiting Galilee was getting to go out in a boat onto the Sea of Galilee. This is where Jesus walked on water.
John 6:16-21
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles,[b] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
Being on the Sea of Galilee was incredibly peaceful. Even though the sea (really a lake) is quite small, the mist that usually hangs over the water makes it hard to see the shore, so when you're out on the water, it kind of feels like you're in the middle of nowhere.
One thing in particular the boat operators knew tourists would like to see was a demonstration of casting a fishing net. This is the point when all the cameras came out.
Here's a really cool picture I captured from our tour bus. Dark clouds hang over a mountain as the countryside flies by. I'm sure this mountain had some significance, but I don't remember.
The Jordan River
Some of the members of our group opted to get baptized in the Jordan river. This is a significant site for Christians because this is the river in which Jesus was baptized.
Matthew 3: 13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
'The Old City' in Jerusalem
At the heart of Jerusalem is 'The Old City', some of the most hotly contested real estate in the world. Christians, Muslims, Armenians, and Jews alike claim this small walled section as a key religious site, and all four faiths were very visible and present within the city walls. The city itself dates back to biblical times, specifically the 11th century B.C., when King David had it originally constructed. It's been destroyed and rebuilt several times, but the current walls date back to the 1500's.
Here is one side of the wall
Most of the original stones that made up the walkways of the Old City are buried beneath the current walkways, but in certain places where the ground is much lower, you can still walk on the original, 11th century B.C. stones. Like here! The original stones are approximately as big as an oven.
Here I am walking around the Old City market.
The Western Wall
It used be called the 'Wailing' Wall, but apparently that isn't as 'PC' as it used to be..so..Western Wall it is.
Devout Jews come to the Western Wall to pray and place little sheets of paper with written prayers on it between the cracks of the wall. The site is of the most holiest of places for the Jewish people because on the other side, many centuries ago, is where the Ark of the Covenant rested, containing the presence of God. The Jews come here because they believe this is the closest they can get to where the Ark once rested.
Outside the city, there are several key sites important to Christians.
The Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives is recorded as the place where Jesus gave many sermons, including end-times prophecies.
In fact, in a rare shared belief between Jews and Christians, The Mount of Olives is believed to be the exact location of where the Messiah will appear one day. (Christians believe it will be Jesus returning, while Jews it will be someone else arriving for the first time.)
Both religions also believe that when the Messiah appears, there will be a resurrection of the dead. Many Jews want a front seat for the event, so the tombs and coffins on the mountain itself go for quite a high rate. The higher on the mountain, the higher the cost!
Here is the view from the Mount of Olives. Foreground: cemetery. Background: Old City of Jerusalem.
Another view of the cemetery on the Mount of Olives.
Here's one of the local funnymen!
Garden of Gethsemane
At the bottom of the Mount of Olives is the Garden of Gethsemane. This is where Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, and began his journey to the cross.
This olive tree behind me is over 1,000 years old.
Another view of the Garden of Gethsemane.
From the Garden, we followed the path that Jesus walked through the city as he carried his cross. Here is one of the roads (above the old ground level, of course) that is marked as his probable path.
Here's another look at the streets of the Old City. It goes up and down and up and down.
Here's another view of the Western Wall
This is a common practice for Jews at the wall. According to Old Testament scripture, devout Jews bind boxes containing prayers written on paper to their arms and head. Then they say prayers at the wall.
When we were there, I caught this charming gathering
In Israel, especially in a multi-religious area like the Old City, tensions can run high between religious groups, so the Israeli army is always present. The soldiers are willing to take a picture with you, as long as you ask.
The Shepard's Field
We also visited other sites important to Christians. We ventured across the Palestinian border into Bethlehem to visit the The Shepard's Field, a valley where the three wise men are recorded as having encountered an angel who told them to follow the North Star to Jesus' birthplace.
The Garden Tomb
The Garden Tomb was our last stop in Jerusalem. This is where many people think Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again. (There are other locations that others believe to be the actual place.) After hearing the explanation at the Garden Tomb, I am inclined to believe that this is very likely the place.
Here is our tour guide, Ivan, showing a picture of Golgotha. Golgotha, or "Place of the Skull" (because it looks like a skull) is the name for the place where Jesus was crucified. Notice the black and white picture that Ivan is holding. You may notice how the holes in the mountain look like two eyes and a mouth.
I thought I'd hold the picture as well :)
And this, is Golgotha. The Bible says that Jesus was crucified in a public place where many people could see him. Modern Christian thought has been that Jesus was crucified on the top of a hill, but there's no evidence to support that. In actuality, according to our guide, Jesus would have been crucified at street level for maximum exposure to passerbys.
Today street level is a parking lot. But keep in mind, the street level of 2,000 years ago is about 20-25 feet below ground. But here it is.
Next door is the Garden Tomb. Literally next door. Like 200 feet away.
Scholars believe that Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, owned this tomb and the accompanying vineyard. Biblical accounts support this being a very probable location of Jesus' tomb.
I got to walk inside of this tomb.
Our guide Ivan explains the layout of the tomb. When you first enter, you are in the 'weeping room'. This is where family and friends sit to view the body. To the right is where the body would lay.
This is the inside of the Garden Tomb itself. Here is where the body was laid. Amazing.
Here is a skylight that was discovered carved above the place where the body would lay. The guide said every morning, the sunlight illuminates the area perfectly.
Here is the entrance to the tomb. Take a look at the ground in front of the door. Notice the large track carved into the stone that runs along the front of the wall. This track is where the large stone that blocked the entrance to the tomb would have rolled. But the stone has been rolled away!
Right after left the tomb, a mass of people descended upon it. Just in time!
The Purpose of this Mission Trip
The purpose of this mission trip was to share with the Jewish people a very special message: that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah and the Son of God, and that his forgiveness and salvation is open and available to everyone. This includes both Jewish and non-Jewish people!
We have this promise from the Bible:
Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
What is "the Gospel"? The "gospel" literally means "Good News". What good news? That God came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ to live a perfect life and die to pay the price for our sins. This is called salvation.
According to the Bible, the penalty for sin is death. Jesus died to pay the price that we should have payed. And when he rose from the grave, he conquered death to show that death no longer has a hold on us!
Jesus said if we put our faith in him and ask him to forgive our sins, he will do just that, and the price he paid on the cross will cover our sins forever. He said he's the only way, and that all you have to do is trust in him.
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father but through me." - John 14:6
Traditions are great for connecting to the past, but they do nothing to actually save us. Jesus came to do away with old religious traditions and establish a new covenant of a relationship - with Him!
Final Thoughts
The Jewish people are special. They were given a special covenant by God to be his "chosen people". It is a sacred blessing given by God that promises that His people would never perish from the earth. Despite all that has happened in ancient and modern history, the fact that the Jewish people remain is a testament to their resilience and to God's faithfulness.
It's impossible to understand God's character without understanding his love for the Jewish people. I have the utmost respect for their piety, familial bonds, and cultural heritage. I think we as American Christians could benefit from knowing more about Jewish history and traditions. The more we understand about Israel, the more we understand about God. Israel itself is an amazing place - I felt like I was at the center of the world in Jerusalem. I hope to return one day and see what kind of amazing things God is doing in the Holy Land.
Please pray for the Israel. Pray that God would reveal himself to the Jewish people, and that he would protect them and keep them safe from harm.
Thanks for reading my blog about my short-term mission trip to Israel! Thank you to all who contributed to this trip financially and prayerfully. I could not have done it without you.
