Today we spent all day outside of the walls of Jerusalem. We covered about 6 miles on foot. We began our day at the top of the Mt. Of Olives and ended it at the Wailing Wall. ( I know the Wailing Wall is inside the Old City, but we took a tunnel from outside to get there...so I am calling it good.)
We began our day backwards. Starting at the end...so to speak. We began at the Church of the Ascension. It is a church that was built where traditionally it is said that Jesus ascended into heaven. I thought 2 things: -Jeus picked a great spot. From the Mt. of Olives you could see all of Jerusalem and the City of David! -secondly, why did they put up big walls around the church so that we could not look to see the exact view that those disciples did as they left that mountain with their new marching orders "start in the city and take the Gospel to the ends of the Earth."
Then we went on the the garden of the Lord's Prayer. It wasn't built until the 19th century, but it was on the Mt. Of Olives and since at least the 3rd century it is held that this may be the place...Anyway, you know what I thought! If I was a disciple, I would come back to tht place regularly. You could see the top of the hill where the ascension occurred, and pray "Thy kingdom come!" And really get it!
From there we walked the path that is used to celebrated Palm Sunday. Down to the Garden of Gethsemanie. Is is bigger than I thought. A small part of the olive groves is kept up by a church. This is where Jesus prayed on the night his arrest. So many things rushed through my mind, but the biggest wow moment was when I realized that we we still on the Mt.! You see Jesus was captured at the bottom, but by the end He conquered and left from the top! What a Savior we have! He turns Satan's biggest "victories" into stepping stones for His will!
We walked though the garden to the City of David. Just outside the city of Jerusalem. Here was saw remains of the palace, Nehemiah's wall, Hezekiah's tunnel, and walked through an old Canaanite tunnel that led to the water source for the city. Yes, David, himself, may have walked the same tunnel as he led his men to take the city!
Then we walked to the pool of Siloam! You know where Jesus healed man born blind! People used to cleanse themselves in the waters before entering the holy city. The old roman road that led from the pool into the city has been covered up, but we walked through the drainage system used to collect water. It was dug under the road, and the road stones were the ceiling for our Tunnel. Super cool!
We came out at the temple steps...one short, one long, over and over. It made entering the temple easier, and helped you take your time as you climbed. We ended at the Western Wall of the Temple (the Wailing walls for the Jews) it was a site. Jews believe the Holy Spirit is IN the wall and that prayers all go throu there on the way to God. So the closer they get...the quicker their prayers rise. Here as much as any other, God's Word jumped out to me. The Word says that WE are filled with the Holy Spirit, and that He is our guide. I am so grateful for such an indescribable gift, and long for the Jews to know the truth that will set them free.
There is so much more, but that will have to wait until we see you again. The Bible is coming to life and weaving a picture that is more intricate and beautiful than I could have ever thought before. Oh, how beautiful are the works of our Creator. Please continue to pray for our journeys and our kiddos!
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