God with us

Mount of Olives
Atop the Mount of Olives, overlooking the many tombs on the hillside, and the beautiful view of Jerusalem, our group sat and listened to Ronen and Pastor Paul teach. Looking towards the temple mount, we read of the near-sacrifice of Isaac on that mountain (Mount Moriah), and of Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. We then descended the mountain, and walked through the city to our next destination.

Garden of Gethsemane
Here our group listened to Pastor Matt teach, and we read of Christ’s prayer’s to the Father in the garden. We were challenged, as the disciples were challenged, to “Pray that [we] may not enter into temptation” (Luke 22:40). We spent a few minutes in prayer, and a couple from our group began to sing “I Come to the Garden.” From there we got back on the bus to drive to Caiaphas’ house.

Caiaphas’ House
There is, under the Church of St. Peter, a dungeon, in which scholars are fairly certain that Jesus was held prisoner. Here we descended into the caves and read Psalm 88, a Psalm that Jesus probably knew and could have been praying during his imprisonment. The portion that struck me as we read in that dark room was this: “You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep” (Psalm 88:6). Here was my Savior taken and tied to the stone.

Herodium
From Jerusalem, we went to Herodium, another one of Herod the Great’s palaces. From the top of the hill, you can see Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Here I imagine Herod receiving the news of the new King in Israel, and of the wise men’s trickery, and looking out from his palace towards Bethlehem, and pointing, shouting the order: “Kill all male children two years old or under!”

Bethlehem
Here we crowded into the Church of the nativity. With our tour guide from Bethlehem, we learned many things about the city, and about the Church building. After waiting in line, and goggling at the beautiful mosaics and icons, I stooped into the cave where Jesus was born. It was a fleeting glance, a quick stoop, a touch of the star in the floor, and I was out. It was not long, but long enough to send a shiver down my spine. Into my mind popped the name Emmanuel, and I thank God that He was, as the name implies, with us, and that He dwells in our hearts today.