Total and complete surrender

Waking up in Jerusalem is a feeling all its own. It is the first day we realized our trip is coming to an end. We have absorbed so much and have had the word come to life in front of us day after day.

Today was no exception. We began our morning on the Mount of Olives, a place of rich events. It is the place where David was forced to flee and where Solomon rejected God and built altars. In the end times, Zechariah 14 says the Mount of Olives will be split in two forming a great valley and living water will flow out from Jerusalem. We stood in the place where Jesus took his disciples, overlooking Jerusalem, to tell them of its coming destruction. We reflected on how they must have felt. “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
Just a short walk from there we stopped to remember the place where he wept and pleaded with the father. It is often that we forget our Savior experienced life on earth to the fullest, completely human. It is in these deep moments of authenticity we see him for all he truly is. He says in Mark 14, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” When obedience is costly, that is when we come to know its true meaning. It was on that hillside that Jesus perfected his obedience. It was there He gained clarity, He knew His mission. He knew his role. “Abba, Father,” He said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” This reminded me how often we fear total and complete surrender. His plans are large, and they are perfect. It was in the Garden of Gethsemene where we worshiped the God of the impossible. We fell to our knees in surrender. We asked for more.

We went on our way and had an incredible experience visiting the Israel museum. Here we were able to see a model that had been constructed of ancient Jerusalem. This was amazing to compare to what we see today. This location is also the home of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit.

This theme seemed to follow us to our next destination. We had the privilege of experiencing the Holocaust History Museum here in Israel. We came not as tourists but as learners, to remember and reflect. As we walked room by room we saw the story told from the beginning through pictures, testimonies, and so much more. We were met with names of Christians honored for their bravery as they stood faithfully and hid Jews throughout the holocaust. Our theme resurfaced. True obedience costs something. It's in those moments of deep surrender that we find life and purpose. Before we left we witnessed a memorial ceremony held in a specific area dedicated to those whose bodies were destroyed at the different concentration camps. Their ashes were brought to this place so that those who lost so much would have a place to mourn. The floor of this site is tiled with 6 million stones in honor of those who lost their lives.

The rest of our day did not turn out as we expected. : ) We broke the bus! But not before we made it to Bethlehem for an amazing lunch and shopping at a local olive wood store in support of the local Christian community. We were unable to make it to the Shepherds Field because of our breakdown, but our God is good and knew He had given us so much to think about. It was a day worthy of reflection and we are grateful for it. We look forward to our final day.

With love,

Lauren LaPorta