After dinner each evening the group has been meeting together to discuss the day and pray. Last night after dinner we had two Jews for Jesus who are serving in Israel join us and give testimony to their work. They shared that most Jews are secular or even do not believe anything and are open to the gospel. Only the orthodox Jews are very difficult to reach. They said we should be sharing with Jews even in the states because they can be reached for Jesus. The two were very passionate about reaching Jews for Jesus.
This morning began early with a 6:30am wake up call, breakfast and on the bus at 7:20. We had an 8am appointment to go through the Rabbinical Tunnels and traffic is very bad at that time of day. The tunnels go through at the Western Wall and on underground beside the Western Wall for 400 more meters than what you see from outside. It is a very interesting tour as you see the huge stones that were put in place by Herod the Great. Inside is a place where you are the nearest you can get to the Holy of Holies so many Jews were there praying. We came out on the Via Dolorosa and walked to Pilate’s Judgment Hall , the Chapel of Flaggalation. We went to the Ecco Homo “meaning Behold the Man” Chapel. We took time to pray and sing at many of these places and have a time of remembering what Jesus did for us. We visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which is the traditional site of Golgotha and the tomb of Jesus. A church was built over the site so it does not have the feel of the true location but it may be.
We walked through the Old City, first through the Arab section. We had a little shopping and a wonderful falafel or shwarma sandwiches. We went through the Christian section and the Jewish section of the Old City. We visited a place that is believed to be the area of the Upper Room where the last supper was held. We sang and prayed here and read scripture. This is always a special place because groups from other countries are there and you hear them singing and praying in other languages. This happens at many of the sites and it is just a joy to hear other people praising our LORD.
We went to Caiaphas house (St. Peter En Gallicantu or St. Peter of the Cock Crowing). This is the area where Peter denied Jesus. Inside is a pit where it is believed Jesus was put after His arrest. Our group went down into the pit. I stayed up and turned out the lights so they could experience the darkness as Jesus did. We had a time of singing and praying and reflecting on His sacrifice for us.
We have been walking all day to this point but now our bus is waiting for us to take us to the Garden Tomb. This area was discovered by a British General in the 1800s when he was stationed in Jerusalem. There is a hill that looks like a skull. There is a huge water cistern, a wine press and a tomb that has never been used. All this points to the fact that this garden was owned by a wealthy man. The Garden Tomb has the look and feel of the real place. It is a wonderful place to worship our LORD which we did in song, prayer, sermon by Dr. Mike Goforth and sharing in the LORDs Supper together. We also had a wonderful time here listening to other groups worshipping.
We have many times during the day where we read scripture, pray, someone shares a testimony – it is just an awesome experience and God really binds our hearts together as brothers and sisters in Christ.
I’m only hitting the highlights for you. If you have been here you can read between the lines, if not perhaps you will take the opportunity to come to this wonderful land and walk in the steps of Jesus. Some of the places where we were today He would have walked the very same steps.
We had a wonderful, beautiful, sunny day in Jerusalem! Thank you Jesus.
Shalom my friends!
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