Jerusalem

After walking the path of the crucifixion, we had some free time to explore the city. On our way to a pottery shop in the Armenian Quarter, two Orthodox Jews, Elliot and Samuel, struck up a conversation with us. We walked with them towards the Jewish Quarter. They explained that they were both originally from Brooklyn and had come to study at a Yeshiva in Jerusalem. Our lengthy conversation covered topics from religion and politics to society. Elliot, who had been a practicing Lutheran six years, pursued his Jewish roots to the Yeshiva. He had been in a Christian band opening for Hillsong United and TobyMac. One of the most interesting parts of our religious discussion was their articulation of the mission of Judaism. The goal of Judaism, they related, was to call all Jews to practice their faith. They do not evangelize like Christianity and Islam. Rather, they call gentiles to follow the Noahite laws, moral laws established for all humanity. These seven laws include worshipping one God, the God of Israel; refraining from idol worship; not eating live animal meat, etc. Those gentiles that practice these laws are known as “righteous gentiles.” Christians, they explained, do not fall in this category because they believe in the Trinity, a blasphemous doctrine to Jews. It appeared that Muslims had more potential to be “righteous gentiles.”

From a political stance, these men said the Palestine was a fictitious national identity. Such people were merely immigrants from neighboring Arab countries. They argued that refugees, such as those in the Gaza Strip, are not true refugees because they live ten minutes from their old houses. A passing Toyota Camry and Chevy Cruze prompted a change in discussion. They told us that a Camry in Israel was a $100,000 vehicle ($20,000 in the states) due to Israel’s high tax rate. Immigrants in aliyot are exempt from these taxes for a certain period, so they often import vehicles within their first year of residence. Our conversation was an incredible learning experience. If you had transcribed it, it would have mirrored our texts about the Orthodox Jewish view on Judaism and Israeli politics and society.

Leaving our friends to continue their Shabbat, we continued on to the Armenian pottery shop. The proprietor, a Christian, was a world-class artisan. He explained the symbols on his beautifully colored pieces—peacocks, doves, flowers, deer, and the Ring of Fire—as relating to different periods of artistic symbolism in Armenian history. Upon buying several pieces, we joined the ranks of Itzhak Perlman and birthday party guests of a certain Russian president as owners of this marvelous pottery. Among the elements of Armenian culture visible in the shop was the incorporation of the Free Mason “all-seeing eye” as a representation of the Father’s omniscience.

After dining at the Gloria Hotel with our group, we took an evening stroll to the modern city of Jerusalem, mere feet from the Old City. We passed through a fashion district including such shops as American Eagle and Tommy Hilfiger on our way to Herod’s family tomb. Here, amidst this modern park and garden, was an unearthed rolling-stone tomb. This 1st century tomb was a close representation of the tomb in which Jesus’ body was laid. A few members of our group rushed back to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre just before closing. We were encouraged to move quickly through the grotto in the church, traditionally thought to be Jesus’ tomb. From following Jesus’ steps to the cross to speaking with Orthodox Jews, it was a thrilling day in the holiest city in the world.

By Caleb Bowers, Justin Colwell, and Colin O’Grady

As we gathered early this morning, Dr. Bernius brought the group together for the usual briefing of the day’s schedule. Today, however, we were brought into a gathering room in the hotel for a special meeting. Leading up to today, the group was told to expect a heavy walking day and that we would follow the last hours of Jesus’ life. Beginning this journey, we celebrated together with Communion, prayer, Scripture, and the recounting of Maundy Thursday in the Upper Room. I have never experienced the presence of God quite like that! Gathering in remembrance of the breaking of the bread and the taking of the cup with Jesus and His disciples was powerful. The group learned an important lesson this morning: the reading of Scripture, the welcoming of the presence of God, and participation in the Sacraments may be rather simple in structure, but is enough to change hearts and lives. Many of us were sharing afterwards that our morning meeting was the best Communion service we have ever experienced. That’s the power and simplicity of the Gospel! After our time of prayer and preparation, we departed the hotel for the Garden of Gethsemane. While sitting there in the Garden, I could not help, but reflect. I am so incredibly grateful for Jesus’ sacrifice and His willingness to do the will of the Father. The prayer of “not my will, but Yours be done” from Matthew 26 is absolutely beautiful. As I sat by the Garden of Gethsemane, I prayed that God would create in me a passion and devotion for Him and His will. Some sites in Jerusalem are captivating, while others look like any other rock in the city. But I would argue that every group member walked away impacted by our time at the Garden of Gethsemane. Most of the sites in Jerusalem are flooded with tourists and consumed by noise, but the Garden was nearly silent. It is in a place like this that I think of the prayer of Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:10 that declares, “Speak LORD, for your servant is listening.” God spoke in a unique way in Gethsemane, one which I will not forget. At the conclusion of our time at the Garden, we prayed as a group and headed on an exceedingly long hike back up various hills and steps to the Old City.

As we continued our journey in following Jesus’ final hours, we often stopped to read Scripture passages that corresponded with our locations and next destinations. Such a journey brought extra life out of the biblical texts and solidified the reality of the Gospel in our hearts and minds by providing a visual of Jesus’ journey. Near the end of our walk, we travelled along the Via Dolorosa, where Jesus carried His cross to Calvary. Then at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher we commemorated the crucifixion of Jesus. With much time and reflection, the group read through the Scripture writings of Jesus’ death on the cross. I chose to study the account in Mark 15. One of my initial struggles that I was wrestling with was the following question: How can this trip to Israel and even this walk of Jesus’ last days translate into my personal faith and life so that I am urged on toward deeper and fuller devotion to Christ? I am praying that God uses this trip to further reveal His way, His truth, and His life to us and that our faiths would be changed as a result of our experiences in Israel. Walking around the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, our group spread out throughout the building in order to find nooks to sit in and experience a time of intimate conversation with God. Taking place in multiple ways, our conversations with God involved reading Scripture, journaling, praying, and simply meditating on the truths of the Gospel and of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Many members of the group had the opportunity to see the tomb by which we mark Jesus’ burial.

Throughout the day, the group thanked and praised God for sending His Son to die on the cross for us. In addition, we are grateful for Jesus’ love for us and His covering of our sin in the Atonement. If there was one takeaway that comes from the ending of such an eventful day, then it is this: Jesus loves you, died on the cross for you, rose again, and is alive forevermore! And that makes all the difference.
Grace to you all,

Adam Munshaw