Day 11 - Mon Jul 04

Waking up in the middle of a city filled with people made it clear to our team that we were not in Galilee or the desert anymore! We spent the day walking around Jerusalem. Every turn had a story and so much history. We began our day at the Temple Mount, where the temple once stood. We passed the Western Wall that is part of the Temple Mount where Jews today spend time praying and memorizing scripture, hiding it in their hearts. The Dome of the Rock now stands where the temple once was and the temple courts. This is where Muslims believe Mohammed to have ascended. At another point in time, Rome had built a temple to Jupiter in the same place. The temple courts are where Jesus is found in the scriptures listening to the rabbis when he was a boy as his family traveled back home. This is also where he later overturned tables of money changers and reminded the people this was His house. People came and were healed. It's also where the early church met. Jerusalem was built on Mount Moriah where Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son. Jerusalem means the Lord provides. He did and still does.

We walked from here along part of the Via Dolorosa and made our way to where David and his mighty men lived. We walked underground along Hezekiah’s tunnel, which was built to bring water into the city. It was a short and narrow tunnel, only illuminated by the light of a few flashlights we had. On our way out of the tunnel, we passed by the Pool of Shiloah (Siloam) where Jesus healed a blind man. 

Herodium was our next stop. Herod built another palace on this manmade hill from which you can see Bethlehem and Jerusalem on one side in the distance and the desert on the other. Before he died he turned it into a mausoleum in hopes people would remember his grandeur. It is not a coincidence Jesus was born in to the time Herod ruled. Jesus came and unleashed a very different kind of kingdom. Herod’s kingdom consisted of power, palaces, armies, and money, all to serve Herod. Jesus came as our King and gave His life for us. Rod asked us if our lives emulate the kingdom of Herod or the kingdom of Jesus. It was clear sitting on that hill that Herod spent so much time building up a kingdom that will fade away and not last. But Jesus says to seek His kingdom, His righteousness, to show mercy, and store up treasures in heaven. That is a kingdom that will last. 

We stopped for lunch in Bethlehem and ended our day with a sobering time at the Holocaust History Museum.

This entire trip I never knew where we were going and most of the time I kept having to ask, “Where are we?” I asked this not out of anxiety but curiosity. It didn’t matter to me where we were going or if it was safe because I trust Rod and his leadership and knew that he knew the way. The fact that I trusted Rod didn’t mean I assumed we would never be without problem during our days. Luckily with the exception of a few, we remained pretty healthy and without injury, but even if we hadn’t I would not stop trusting Rod. I would be on the bus the next morning ready to follow him again the next day. God gave us His word, filled with His love, His story of redemption, and so many promises. If we choose not to trust His promises, it doesn’t make them any less true. We just loose out on a life of peace and joy. I hope to trust the Lord with my life like I trust Rod with this trip. It truly has been a joy. God is so good and we have no reason not to trust His leading. Jesus chose us. He chose you. He believes you can walk like Him and be like Him for the sake of the world. At the end of Matthew Jesus says all authority has been given to Him and then He commands us to go!

By His grace and for HIS glory,

Hannah Girard