Our Pilgrimage to Israel

 

 

Often when you begin a journey, your expectations are so high, you find yourself disappointed; however, this is definitely not the case of our Pilgrimage to Israel. We looked forward to the experience with great anticipation and found it exceeded all we could possibly imagine. From the commissioning service at St. Martin’s where prayers were offered on our behalf,  to our first Sunday back when we presented Shirley with the stole we purchased in Bethlehem, God was with us. We would like to share some highlights with you.

 

What a wonderful surprise to arrive at Norfolk airport and see Helen and Pickett waiting to wish us Godspeed. Traveling through JFK in New York to Tel Aviv was an interesting experience especially because many Hasidic Jews, having traveled earlier to the United States for Passover were now returning to Israel. Tel Aviv, a city of 450,000 on the Mediterranean Sea, is second only in population to Jerusalem with 850,000. After reaching our hotel and having a wonderful dinner, we strolled on the promenade along the Mediterranean Sea.

 

Our first day was full (as were most) with a visit to Caesarea, a magnificent archaeological site on the  Mediterranean built by Herod the Great in the first century – temple, amphitheater (even vomitorium exits where people went when they had eaten too much), hippodrome, royal palace, etc.. A very significant event occurred here when Simon Peter shared the Gospel with Cornelius, a Roman soldier who became the first Gentile convert.

 

On to Mt. Carmel where we were told of the importance of Elijah to the Jewish faith; he must come before the Messiah to restore all things. We took in the beauty of palm trees, oleander and the Israel oak which is likened to the Jewish people – thorny on the outside and sweet on the inside. Next was the Tel of Megiddo (a tel is an archaeological mound where civilization upon civilization lies buried). According to the book of Revelations, the kings will gather here for the final battle between good and evil – Armageddon. We traveled north to Nazareth, the home of Mary and Joseph where Jesus spent much of his boyhood and learned carpentry from his father. In the city of 60,000, we were surprised to learn there were only 10,000 Christians – 45% of the Arabs are Christians and 55% are Muslims.


Cana is the next village we visited where Jesus performed his first public miracle –turning water into wine. All of the couples renewed their wedding vows and singles rededicated themselves to God. We headed toward Tiberias and the Scots Hotel located on the Sea of Galilee where the accommodations were excellent and the food superb. That evening, many of the Pilgrims chose to celebrate Israel’s 60th birthday with the locals.

 

On the following day, we took a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee with the only Christian boat captain who played and sang several hymns in Hebrew and English. All of us felt the presence of God as we sat in the quiet and visualized the sea during the time of Jesus. This experience was truly one of the most memorable of our Pilgrimage. As we headed toward shore, our wonderful charismatic guide, Exie, told us probably 80% of Jesus’ teaching was in the area at the northern end of the Sea of Galilee.  One of the most intriguing finds from the time of Jesus was the discovery of a boat that sank 2000 years ago near Geneserret. After much restoration work, it is on display at the educational center of Kibbutz Ginosar in the Man in the Galilee Museum. Nearby there at Tabgha was the Church of the Multiplication, a site where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish (Mark 6:34-44) and Church of the Primacy of Peter, marking the place where after his resurrection, Jesus restored Peter as head of the church (John 21:15-19). It is built over a huge rock called the Mensa Christi (Christ’s Table) where he fed his Disciples. We then headed to Capernaum where Jesus taught in the synagogue and healed many, including Peter’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:30-34). We visited the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12).

Prior to visiting Israel, most of us believed Israel to be mainly desert, which the Golan Heights area definitely disproves. There were luscious plants, waterfalls and crystal clear water in the Tel Dan Nature Reserve as well as apples, berries, and nectarines seen on the way to Mt. Hermon, located on the Syrian border. This area is strategically very important to Israel as it provides most of Israel’s water supply.

 

Early the next morning, we visited the baptismal site on the Jordan River where all of us were either immersed or sprinkled, rededicating our lives to Christ.


Fielder asked us 2 questions: Do you renounce Satan and all his demons? Do you accept Jesus as your Savior?

 

Frequently, when we were traveling from one site to another, Exie, our wonderful Israeli guide, shared facts about Israel, Biblical history and Israeli history. The following are important facts about Israel:

 

  • More than a quarter of the labor force is engaged in high tech – computers, medical research.

  • Israel has the highest proportion of the population with college degrees of any country.

  • The land has been made more productive by sophisticated irrigation and conservation – date palms and other fruit trees now grow in areas where they couldn’t have years ago.

  • Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East.

  • The per capita income is now greater than the UK.

  • Israel has the 4th largest Air Force in the world.

           

           

On our way to Jerusalem, we visited Jericho, the oldest city in the world (over 10,000 years old), an oasis in the desert fed by many springs. It is currently under Palestinian authority.  Overlooking Jericho is the Mount of Temptation where Jesus was tempted by Satan after spending 40 days in the desert fasting and reflecting on his destiny. Approaching Jerusalem (City of Peace), our excitement grew with the playing of “The Holy City”.  Jerusalem is the only city in the world considered sacred by Jews, Christians and Muslims.

 

On our first day in Jerusalem, we headed south to Bethlehem which is currently under Palestinian authority. It was disturbing to see anti-American and Israeli graffiti on the separation wall. In the lower level of the Church of the Nativity, a silver star marked the place of Jesus birth. In 1948, Bethlehem was 80% Christian and 20% Muslim; now it is just the opposite. Just east of Bethlehem, we visited Shepherds’ Fields where the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. We entered two caves, 1 small where a family lived and the other large which could have been the inn. When the innkeeper told Joseph and Mary there was no room in the inn, he meant no space (all slept on mats on the floor with their animals for warmth). Offering the stable was a blessing for Mary as she could have her baby in privacy. Leaving the area, we had to exit the bus and walk through a guarded checkpoint.

 

Back to Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives which played an important role in the life of Jesus. From this hill, he prophesied that one day the temple would fall. After celebrating the last supper he went to the foot of the mountain in the Garden of Gethsemane to pray where Judas came with soldiers to arrest him. From the summit mount, Jesus ascended into heaven. As we stood on the Mount, the Muslim call to prayer blasted over the loud speaker.

 

The temple Jesus referred to was part of the Temple Mount and currently a Muslim Mosque (Dome of the Rock) is built on the site of the First and Second Jewish Temples where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. This site is considered the “Holy of Holies” for the Jews and yet they have no access to it. Because Jesus visited the Second Temple (built in 6th century B.C.) many times during his life, the Temple Mount is a sacred place for Christians. The Dome of the Rock was built directly over the rock where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.

 


We walked down the hill to the Garden of Gethsemane where each of us found a private place to pray. There were mixed feelings, one of sorrow when we thought of Jesus in the Garden alone praying and about to be betrayed and one of joy in the knowledge that because of his death and resurrection our sins are forgiven and we may have eternal life. A wonderful feeling of peace came over us as we felt his presence.

In 1995, the ruins in the “Old City” were discovered. It was fascinating to see the places like the “Wailing Wall” which is part of the original western retaining wall, stones of the original street, the active excavation site of the City of David, Bethesda Pool where Jesus healed the paralytic, etc. We walked along the Via Dolorosa which marks the mile long route Jesus carried the cross from Antonio Fortress where he was sentenced to Golgotha where he was crucified. It is difficult to describe the disillusionment we felt at seeing Arab shops selling everything from food to shoes in this sacred place. We expected to feel saddened, walking the Via Dolorosa but instead felt angered by the sacrilege we observed.

 

Exie, shared the background of the Upper Room with us under a beautiful tree outside the church built over the place where the Upper Room was thought to have been. She said she would be unable to talk once inside as many groups go through at the same time and we would be unable to hear. She spoke of the final Passover of Jesus with his Disciples(Luke 22:14-22) and washing their feet after the meal demonstrating his willingness to serve.  Jesus told them of the importance of their washing each other’s feet – you should do as I have done for you (John 13). We entered the church and a large group was present. Miraculously, after they left no one else came in; we couldn’t believe we were alone in the Upper Room. In the quiet, someone began praying and then we sang “Come Holy Spirit Come”. The Holy Spirit came and many of us were weeping as the presence of the Lord was so powerful. As we finished singing, and the first of our group left, the room instantly filled up with people and noise. We left in quiet contemplation, believing that God provided that time for us.

Many Protestants believe the Garden Tomb is the site of Jesus’ death and burial as it meets the criteria of the Bible: skull like mountain and tomb, many executions taking place in this area outside the city wall, foot washing trough and baptismal font indicating a place of worship and on the outer wall, there is an anchor cross carved into the stone. It is symbolic of the anchor of hope. On the door to the Tomb a sign reads: “HE IS NOT HERE – FOR HE IS RISEN.” The message of this garden is not whether or not he died here but why he died at all.  Out of the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem, in this beautiful, tranquil place, we celebrated communion. Once again, God’s presence was felt.

 

Leaving Jerusalem behind, we traveled south along the Jordan River through the desert to the Dead Sea. It is the lowest point (1200 m below sea level) on the face of the earth. The Dead Sea has absolutely no life because of the high content of salt in the water but the minerals are a valuable resource for Israel. It is true that you just sit back and your feet come to the surface, enabling you to float easily; however, one doesn’t want to get the water in your eye or on your lips as it really burns


Many of you may remember Qumran as the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered by two Bedouin boys playing in the caves. Archaeologists became involved in the search and found hundreds of scrolls written on papyrus and parchment hidden in jars and preserved for nearly 2000 years. The most amazing thing is the book of Isaiah is complete. Before these scrolls were found, the rabbis told the Jews that the Christians added Isaiah 53 which is the prophesy of Jesus as the Messiah. This discovery shows us that Isaiah 53 was there from the beginning; however, the rabbis still tell their people to stay away from it.

 

These words and pictures do not do justice to our Pilgrimage as it exceeded all our expectations. As we walked where Jesus walked, we experienced God in so many places: the beauty of his creation in the Tel Dan Nature Reserve, the serenity and peace on the Sea of Galilee, baptism in the Jordan River, entering Jerusalem to “The Holy City”, the beauty and solitude of the Garden of Gethsemane, Deborah’s spontaneous rendition of 

“Amazing Grace”, and God’s miraculously emptying the Upper Room. In addition to the places where we felt God’s presence, we experienced his love through our fellow Pilgrims.

 Thank you, Fielder and Gretchen, for giving us this wonderful opportunity.

 

Israel Pilgrims

 

 

 

 

 

 





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