Israel Tour: Journal Day 8

The Empty Tomb!

Back under the raindrops we exited our bus at our first stop at the top of the Mount of Olives. This is a great site that overlooks into Jerusalem-looking straight toward the golden Dome of the Rock, at the right the sealed opening of the Golden Gate in the old city wall, and to the left steps carved out of the Mount Moriah stone leading into the old temple, with the steep valley in-between. Up to Jerusalem, what a sight! We walked down to a garden area where Pastor Gary gave a morning devotional recounting that Jesus will come again, and this place-the Mount of Olives is where He will return!

We walked down this very steep hill, a long and winding road into the valley. Some historians believe this is the road where Jesus rode the donkey on Palm Sunday, and people waved Palm branches and praised Jesus with “Hosanna, Hosanna!” As we walked I couldn’t help but think of the song and sing the words to “Hosanna in the Highest…”

At the bottom of the hill we entered the Garden of Gethsemane. This garden has a high stone fence all around it because now it’s surrounded by busy roads with people and cars rushing by-what a sobering place this was. There were very old olive trees scattered throughout and our group sat and read the story of Jesus betrayal. Here we were, in the garden, the place where Jesus was praying and was betrayed by Judas. We took time to spend some time in prayer on our own. To my surprise, with all the surrounding noises you could hear, standing quietly for a few moments silently with the Lord in prayer was very emotional. This is another place I hope I won’t forget.

We walked across the road and up, up, up the hill to enter the city walls of Jerusalem at the Lion’s Gate. We toured the area around the Pool of Bethesda. Pastor Gary reminded us of Jesus ministry of healing here-He healed only one man God told him to minister to…of all the sick people that would gather around that pool area everyday. Jesus obeyed and ministered to the one God appointed for Him. How obedient am I? Do I listen to God to know who and when to minister to people?

Also, there has been built a beautiful white church building on this site, and as we toured inside and heard the incredible acoustics, our whole group stood on the front steps and sang together the Doxology and Amazing Grace-wow! We sounded like an award winning church choir—only due to the building’s construction-it was a worship treat to our ears!

Next we walked through the city and down the Via Dolorosa-the street many believe was Jesus’ route when carrying His cross to Golgotha. We entered and toured the Roman prison house, Antonia Fortress. This is where Jesus was mocked, beaten, and tried as a criminal. We went in the basement area-street level in Jesus’ time—where you can still see the street blocks and prison floor.

 

After a salad buffet lunch at a nearby Kibbutz that overlooks into Bethlehem, we made our way back to the Garden Tomb! I had been looking forward to this all week-unfortunately when we entered and toured the garden it was raining really hard! Our group stood and heard a historian's view of the Golgotha Hill side…at once time the mountain looked like a skull face, hence the name means, “place of the skull.” Then we each took a turn entering the empty tomb where Jesus was for only 3 days. It’s a very small space, half barricaded, with a sign posted on the door, He is not here for He is risen. 

Afterward we gathered in a nearby chapel room and had a communion service remembering what happened on this mountain and in this garden tomb!

I am grateful for my Jesus today because…

He came to Earth-in Bethlehem

He died for my sins-on Golgotha

He was raised from the grave-from the tomb

He lives today- in heaven

He is coming again- on the Mount of Olives

Reminds me of the old hymn...

Because He lives…I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives….all fear is gone,

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives

Israel Tour: Journal Day 2

In the sun on the Sea!

Praise the Lord! I opened the curtains to a sunlit Sea of Galilee! And sure enough, just after our salad buffet breakfast our group walked down the road a couple blocks and loaded aboard a wooden boat to set sail! While we sailed North our group mingled and snapped photos. Pastor Gary gave a morning devotional and we sang a few worship songs.

Our boat docked near the town of Magnala, the town of Mary Magdalene. We toured a small museum with an excavated boat exhibit.  Years ago a small fishing boat was found in the muddy sea shore and was carefully removed. Scientists studied the wood and have found 13 different kinds of wood/tree branches were used in its construction. This is a common fishing boat that would have been used in Jesus' time.

Next we drove up the Mount of Beatitudes-a high ridge area-and sat overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Pastor Andy read the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5. As we sat and gazed at the Sea below us, and read through the Beatitudes…we were instructed Jesus was once here teaching his followers. He would stand near the lower end of the hill and speak looking up the hill as people would sit looking down. They would be able to hear his voice clearly as the hills and valley create a natural voice amplifier. That would have been cool to hear Jesus teach!

Back in the bus we were on our way down to the Sea of Galilee shores. That’s right we walked down to the rocky beach area filled with rocks and lapping waves. What a bright beautiful day it was. Here, we gathered and heard Pastor Gary remind us of the story from John 21, where Jesus makes a fish breakfast on the beach for his disciple Peter and asks him three times if he loves him.

Back on the road we drove to Jesus’ boyhood town, Capernaum. We walked through the town and saw the house ruins of Peter, a carved picture of the Ark of the Covenant being moved, and sat in the town synagogue ruins. What a place this was-at one time, Jesus was here. He would heal people, teach groups, and challenge them to change their lives and live for Him.

Finally it was time to eat, so we drove to a nearby Kibbutz and devoured a fresh fish and pita bread lunch!

We finished our day tour by driving around to the southern side of the Sea of Galilee where the Jordan River flows South. There is a baptism park here where groups can gather and perform ceremonial baptisms. Several from our group wanted to follow in Jesus’ example-and despite the extremely cold water-this was an experience I won’t forget!

On our way back to the hotel we had to stop by a nearby Starbucks rival, Café Aroma for some much needed warm coffee.  Mmm, well timed, well made and well appreciated!

Not only was this entire day bright and warmed by the sun, but the reoccurring theme from our teachings and tour sites was “let your light shine.”

How many Hula-Hoops can you hold?

We all know that life is a balancing act of time management between jobs, relationships, hobbies, eating, sleeping, church, exercise and entertainment… and whatever else may be on your priority list.  If you were to compare each of these to Hula Hoops, how many hoops could you hold and swivel on your body at once? Now there’s funny mental picture!

This month my life’s seemed extra busy preparing student report cards, planning parent conferences, working extra hours at the church café, preparing a staff devotional, planning for a week long substitute, packing my luggage and preparing my mind to leave on a 10 day tour in Israel, as well as, start thinking about a school chapel to present of my Holyland trip upon my return. Whew! Several times within the past week, I’ve silently prayed, “Lord, I don’t think there’s enough time each day to get this all done!”

Thankfully, God has supplied me with many friends who pray for me; and, he’s given me sufficient time to organize, plan, prepare, and still have time to participate in a couple leisure activities-even write this blog!

In preparing to give my testimony and short devotional with my coworkers I found this excerpt to read about wisely prioritizing our time between work and worship. From the highly recommended book Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World, Joanna Weaver writes…

“Life is filled with Hula-Hoops. We all have responsibilities, important things that need our attention. If we’re not careful, however, our hearts and minds can be consume with the task of keeping them in the air. Rather than centering ourselves in Christ and letting the other elements of our lives take their rightful place around that center, we end up shifting our attention from one important to-do item to another, frantically trying to keep them all in motion.

It’s easy to forget that while there is a time to work, there is also a time to worship-and it’s worship, the time we spend with God, that provides the serene center to a busy, complex life.

Mary, from Bethany, did not fall for that. She knew the difference between work and worship. Martha did not. That is why she nearly missed the better part.

I can almost see Martha as she greeted Jesus on his way through Bethany. I don’t suppose the Hula-Hoops were actually visible as she came out to meet him, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a slight movement around Martha’s hips. “Come in! Come in!” she probably said “Mi casa, su casa! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to check the soup.”

I, too, have been guilty of giving my Lord a breathless hello and a quick hug. I’ve welcomed him into y life and gotten him situated, but then moved on like Martha, frantically moving on to other duties.

Mary did not do that. She dropped her Hula-Hoops and sat at his feet. Who has time for recess games when you’re in the presence of the wisest Teacher who ever lived?

Stereotypes keep us from embracing truth. The story of Mary and Martha was never meant to be a psychological profile or a role play in which we choose the character with whom we most identify. This is a story of two different responses to one singular occasion. In it, we should find not our personality type, but the kind of heart Christ longs for us to have.

A heart centered in him alone.”

Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God…”