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Israel Study Tour - Cornerstone University
January 3-14, 2015
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Mount of Olives
We began our day at the top of the Mount of Olives. Dr. Wittmer lead us in a devotional about the physical return of and hope we have in Jesus Christ. After our devotional we started walking down the Mount of Olives towards the City of Jerusalem and the Sheep Gate. Just before walking through the Sheep Gate we paused to read about the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ and His weeping for the city in Matthew 21:1-11. The Sheep Gate was used during temple worship time to bring the sacrificial lambs into the city. What a powerful picture of the humility of Jesus Christ coming to the city through the Sheep Gate as the ultimate lamb and sacrifice for our sins. Only Jesus brings reconciliation and atonement for our sins before a righteous and Holy God.
Mount of Olives
Separated from the Eastern Hill (the Temple Mount and the City of David) by the Kidron Valley, the Mt. of Olives has always been an important feature in Jerusalem’s landscape. From the 3rd millennium B.C. until the present, this 2900-foot hill has served as one of the main burial grounds for the city. The two-mile long ridge has three summits each of which has a tower built on it.
After we entered the city we went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The area is one of two places believed to have been the location of Jesus’ burial and resurrection. We took time discussing several reasons (geographical features of a jagged rock outcropping, archeological elements that show the burial tombs are the right style for the second temple time period, and historical evidence that the church has embraced this location for many years) why this has been argued as the location for Jesus Christ’s burial and resurrection.
After lunch we went to the Davidson Center, which is just 100 meters away from the Temple Mount Complex. The Davidson Center is a beautiful and relatively new archeology complex that allows visitors to not only see parts of the city wall and the actual steps leading to the temple from the second temple period. We also watched computer-generated animations of what it would have looked liked during the time of Jesus to walk up to the city of Jerusalem and into the temple area. We finished the day visiting the Western Wall.
A common theme during our treks over the past few days has been the idea of God invading human history. Even from the earliest pages of Genesis we see a God that not only calls out but also pursues sinful and broken people. Today we had the privilege of seeing the Mount of Olives, the temple steps and the city gates our Savior walked as a Lamb to the slaughter so He could continue pursuing and invading the lives of broken, lost and hurting people like me and you. This trip causes me to reflect in greater awe and love the awesome God I serve.
Dr. Osborn (Associate Professor at GRTS)
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