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.