Puzzle Pieces

Shabbat Shalom! It is 8:33 pm here and Shabbat began at sundown. The city is quiet.The lights are beautiful in the night sky. It has been a very eye-opening, amazing day. It began as each of us received a puzzle piece and were told that at the end of the day it would make sense, to guard it and present it when we got back to the hotel.

Our first stop in the city was at the City of David where there is an active archeological dig. We saw palace ruins overlooking a valley with houses on the hillside and burial caves underneath in the bedrock (look closely for the small little black squares in the pictures).  We imagined what it was like when David was on his porch and saw Bathsheba at a distance. David was a man after God's own heart and was a great sinner. He was an even greater repenter! He was an amazing king.

From there some hiked through Hezekiah's tunnel. Solomon was anointed king at the Gihon Spring(See 2 Kings 20:20 and 2 Chronicles 32:30). Hezekiah had this tunnel dug so that the city had a water source on the inside of the city. Without water they could not have survived the attack of the Assyrian enemy. Archeology proves that the Bible is true as a plaque with an inscription regarding Hezekiah's rerouting the water was discovered. Remember that water is life! Hezekiah lived for others.  

We proceeded on to the Southern Steps and sat where the rabbis would have brought their disciples to teach them. Yes, Jesus would have also been on these very steps. Joseph, Mary, and anyone traveling to Jerusalem would have walked up these steps, all 240 of them, reciting the Psalms of Ascent (Psalm 120-134) on the way to the Temple. When Neil Armstrong visited here he asked where Jesus would have been. He was taken to the Huldah Gate. He proceeded to kneel down and kiss the ground saying, "I feel closer to God here than when I walked on the moon." We were amazed as we talked about Mt. Sinai and 3,000 dying because of the idolatry at the base of the mountain. Then here at this very place, at Pentecost, 3,000 were saved as they heard the life-giving message of Jesus. God wanted then and wants now for all nations to hear the good news. He dwelt in the Tabernacle among men, then in the Temple and now we are the temple! When people meet you do they "meet Jesus"?

John 9 came to life as we learned about the man healed of blindness spiritually and physically by Jesus. He had to descend 1000 steps to the Pool of Siloam and then back up! We sat on the very steps where they would have walked! Oh, may we be the witnesses of the great things he has done in our lives. He even tunnels through mountains to bring us life! There's nothing He can't do!

We had a chicken burrito Israeli style on the bus on the way to the Herodian. Oh my goodness!  This was only one of the palaces that Herod built. Remember that Jesus was born in the days of Herod who felt threatened by Jesus' birth and had all the boys 2 years old and under slain. Bethlehem was a town of approximately 250 people. Herod was a megalomaniac! Everything he did had to be the biggest and the greatest. He lived by what his eyes could see, extremely self-centered and used people to build his kingdom.  From the Herodian you can see the Mediterranean, the Dead Sea and Masada. It is a man-made mountain!  

Jesus, on the other hand, was simply born King of the Jews right near the Herodian. His kingdom was about serving one another, loving one another, and looking out for one another rather than using others to lift oneself up. Again we see a clash of kingdoms as Jesus was born three miles from the Herodian! True power is not about having the biggest and best. True power is following Jesus and being a servant. Jesus showed us how to do that well.  

Herod had everything but lived for himself.  All that he built he eventually ordered to be destroyed and turned into a mausoleum for himself. Today it all lies in ruins. Jesus left it all and came to earth to die for us. We too have a daily choice to live for self or to follow Jesus and serve others. Jesus came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).

We ended the day in Bethlehem shopping at a store owned by a Christian named Johnny who helps other Christians in the area. Once back at the hotel, our puzzle pieces were presented and put together. Each necessary piece formed a beautiful picture of the Herodian and Bethlehem with sheep and shepherd, some in the fold and others outside on their own. In the picture there are hidden scriptures and beautiful imagery of all that we have been learning this week. Jesus is the gate. He wants all to enter and He calls his own by name. May we follow Him, living by what our ears hear rather than our eyes.

I hope you have enjoyed these writings of our daily journey. If you ever have a chance to come, don't hesitate!  It has been so worth every moment!  A picture is worth a thousand words and seeing it in person increases the understanding all the more!

Tomorrow is our last day here. We have grown to love the people and the land. God keeps His promises! May we be changed for having been here. 

Beverly