Jerusalem City of Zion

Hello Grandkids Family and Friends

We have made it to Jerusalem-just about 30 miles from the Dead Sea and Jericho.  We first visited a large outdoor model of Old Jerusalem- the buildings were made from small blocks of stone-almost like a mosaic.  This was supposed to orient us to the layout of the Old City with the Temple as it would have looked in Jesus’ day before the Romans destroyed the city in 70 AD.  We also saw an exhibit showing some of the dead sea scrolls- the entire book of Isaiah was one of the scrolls found- the scroll was made of animal skins sewed together. We skipped the large Israel Museum and walked across the street to a smaller museum with many artifacts from the different cultures that have lived in or influenced the land of Israel between Abraham and Jesus.  I didn’t really enjoy all of the false god temple artifacts and idols- but I did like seeing some of the pottery and tools and a few weapons from these historic peoples who lived in Canaan.

We drove to Bethlehem which was just 5 miles south but this is another Palestine Authority area- we had lunch and stopped at a olive wood craft shop which also sold many expensive jewelry and artistic items.  I found a small carving of Jesus carrying a lamb on his shoulders- just like he carries us through difficult or dangerous circumstances in our lives when we trust in His love and care for us.  Then we visited an early church built by Helena the mother of Constantine- she searched for various locations marking the life of Christ in about 325 AD.  The church is maintained by and serves several denominations. It was built over a cave that might have been the “barn” for animals- likely behind a cousin of Joseph or Mary.  Nazareth was settled by a group of families from Bethlehem escaping Roman rule and oppression- that is how the two towns were connected.

The next day we visited the western wall of the temple retaining wall built by Herod to expand the temple platform for the larger version of the temple.  The Jewish people consider this to be a special place that is close to God.  We know that God hears our prayers and hears our cries for mercy and grace wherever we go, but Judy prayed for God’s blessing on each of you at the western wall.  I prayed that God will draw the Jewish people that have been scattered throughout the world back to faith and that He would open their eyes to see their savior, Yeshua. We looked at the steps to the temple mount on the south side- these were built by Herod and Jesus likely entered the temple area using these steps 2,000 years ago.  We are amazed at how they constructed the walls and roads and buildings with such large stones.

We went to a museum below the current street level to see ruins found when they were rebuilding the Jewish quarter after the 6-day war.  The Jewish quarter was destroyed during the period between 1948 and 1967 because Jerusalem was part of Jordan during that time.  Some of the Roman road paving stones- some as large as 4 ft by 2 ft could be seen along with parts of the walls of priest’s houses from the time of Jesus.  Maybe this is some of the imagery when Jesus tells the disciples that He is going to prepare a house for us- to live with Him in heaven.  We had lunch at a garden café on the plaza of the Huva synagogue- which was just recently rebuilt.  Judy and I went to visit it and went up onto a walk around the round dome with views in all directions of the Old City and the temple mount.  Later we walked though one of the water tunnels that brought water from the major spring into the City of David (oldest part of Jerusalem).  The hills and valleys around Jerusalem are very steep but people have built stone houses on every hill.

On Friday we took a long bus ride south to see the Tel of Beersheba where Abraham and Sarah lived when they settled in Canaan. And we visited Tel Lachish which was a fortified city that the Assyrians besieged in 701 BC before besieging Jerusalem- which they never conquered because God saved the city by “sending” the army back to Assyria.  They had a deep well with stairs to the cisterns that were filled from the Wadi during winter rains. In the evening we walked to the American Colony Hotel which is a Victorian building (1885) that was a hotel for many travelers to Jerusalem 100-125 years ago. Several Norwegian and Swedish American Christians came to Jerusalem to be ready for the return of Jesus- joining with the first Jewish settlers of Zion from Russia.  On the way we passed the Swedish consulate. We appreciated the Swedish connections in Jerusalem.  On the walk back we came across two horses with riders along the street. The next day we walked to the hotel again and had delicious lemonade in their olive tree garden- our most relaxing activity in Jerusalem.

On Saturday, our last day in Jerusalem, we walked down from the ridge of the Mount of Olives and visited two of the many churches along the path that Jesus may have walked after his trial carrying his cross bar- but we were walking back into the city. We had lunch along one of the crowded streets and then had time for souvenir shopping and we walked along the old wall on the ramparts between three of the gates. Judy thought that the crowded alleys lined with shops of every description- many with souvenirs but some with household items, produce, spices, bread, and several butcher shops for the people living in Jerusalem above the shops and in many other houses and apartment buildings- all built with stones.  Judy though that it was crowded noisy narrow and generally crazy! We met the group in time to walk to the Garden Tomb location for viewing the empty tomb and singing together before remembering the death of Jesus for us with communion.  At last we had a moment to consider Jesus walking among us as a human and teaching and demonstrating God’s love and forgiveness through His death-sacrifice for us. Back at the hotel we had our last dinner together as our full group of 40 because early in the morning some of the group returns to America.  About half of us will be going to Jordan to see more ruins and also to see Petra.   

Into the Desert Wilderness

 Hello Grandkids Family and Friends

Today we left the Sea of Galilee and drove south along the Jordan River which looks like a western US valley with some irrigated fields along the river and dry hills and mountains on either side.  We stopped at a garden spot that has been developed for Christians to be baptized in the river- and bought some souvenirs at their shop.  Our next stop was at an old city (Tel) where the Philistines defeated Saul and Jonathan and hung their heads on the city gates.  The Romans had built a large city sometime after Jesus that was destroyed by an earthquake and abandoned and covered by sand.  When it was discovered and excavated in recent times (after 1967 6-day war) many mosaic floors and fairly complete walls and many toppled columns were found.  This was a very impressive Roman ruins- we wondered how they could have built such a large city with huge stone walls and decorated marble columns.

We saw the old city of Jericho which has been occupied for 10,000 years- the oldest known city.  We stayed in a very luxurious hotel in Jericho which is one of the Palestinian Authority cities within Israel. We had time for a swim in their large pool and a nice dinner- always a buffet with many different dishes to choose and try new things.  The land is so dry that we can’t understand how anyone could live here- where did they find enough water to grow anything and raise animals?  This is not too far northeast of Jerusalem, so maybe John the Baptizer came through here and maybe Jesus came this way on one of his trips from Galilee to Jerusalem.

In the morning we drove to the south end of the Dead Sea to Masada- a tower cliff where David stayed for a time while hiding from Saul and later Herod built a huge palace and fortress with a wall all around the top of the cliff- maybe 10 acres.  When the Romans destroyed Jerusalem about 1,000 Jewish people escaped and used the supplies that Herod had stored there-which only the military outpost guards had used.  Thankfully they have built an aerial tramway that takes you up and down (800 feet high).  They had closed the Snake path which has switchbacks all the way to the top due to the hot weather.  I liked the water diversions and cisterns that were part of the fortress.

We then visited En Gedi- which is a wadi (desert stream) where David hid from Saul for a while.  We hiked up along the stream and walked (I wore sandals) in the water at several waterfalls along the way up.  We stopped at the first waterfall and put our feet in.  Judy headed back and Russ went on.  It was at this walk that Bob fell and scraped up his hands and knees.  Many trees and shrubs and birds and other animals live in this small valley in the desert.  Water in the desert has such importance and value- and the idea that Jesus can give us “living water”- not from a well or from a spring- but from his sacrifice for us that gives us a new birth in Christ and eternal life and forgiveness from our sins is wonderful. Would you like Jesus to give you his living water that can save and refresh your soul?

We also stopped at Qumran where the Dead Sea scrolls were found in 1947.  These are our earliest copies of the Old Testament Books of the Bible.  A Jewish sect wrote these copies of the Bible books and other historical documents and hid them in clay jars during the Roman revolt of 66-73 AD. 

Before we left the wilderness desert we stopped at a beach at the Dead Sea with the world’s lowest bar and snack shops at about -1,300 feet.  We changed into our swimming suits and floated in the very salty water.  It is not quite syrup but it is very dense so you float by just sitting down and it is a little hard to keep your head and eyes out of the salty water- the buoyancy tries to turn you over onto your stomach.  Some people like to add the salt to their baths and some people like to rub the mud on their skin- as a health and youth treatment.  Judy put mud on her face and back and arms.  They had nice showers at the beach and chairs under shade to sit for a while after our float in the Dead Sea.