Day 09 - Impact: Go and Do Likewise

We have completed our last day in Israel! What an unforgettable trip it has been. We are so excited to get home and share with all of you. We will never read the Bible or think of our faith in the same way again.

We began our morning in front of the hotel with Steve leading us in the Sh’ma and a devotional. Today is the culmination of our pilgrimage in the Holy Land, a final time to meditate everything we’ve learned these last eight days. Ralph brought us to the Crossroads, it is now up to us take what we have learned (in our heads AND in our hearts) and use it to impact the world.

Mount of Olives & Gethsemane
We traveled to the first site of the day at the top of the Mount of Olives. It was early in the morning so as we listened to Pastor Ralph and Yehuda share with us, we watched the sun come up on the city. They pointed out to us the eastern gate of the Temple Mount, which is where Ezekiel prophesied Jesus would return. Pastor Ralph taught us from this spot and proclaimed what he wanted us to ponder throughout the day. God has done great things! He calls us to remember those things, continuing to have a grateful heart. Looking at all of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas, now having the rich history and heritage of the Redemption Story in our minds and hearts, it is easy to remember all He has done. Our aim and mission returning home is to carry that passionate knowledge with us and share it with others.

We continued to walk the Mount of Olives on our way to Gethsemane. The Hebrew word for Gethsemane means “the place of the olive press.” In America, we tend to picture Jesus in a specific garden. The Scriptures simply refer to the place where the olive press was. It is truly beautiful, once again with an incredible view of the city. We recalled from our first day when Yehuda taught us about the mechanics of the olive oil press. The image of the Gethsemane on the slope of the Mount of Olives where Jesus went the night before His crucifixion provides a vivid picture of Jesus’ suffering. The weight of the sins of the world pressed down upon Him like a heavy slab of rock pressed down on olives.

“And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.” Luke 22:44

Continuing in the spirit of remembrance, Pastor Ralph led us in communion on the hillside. It was a powerful moment. All of us were deeply reflecting on our experiences and how it has changed our lives. We’re very thankful for our pastors and this opportunity.

Garden Tomb
From Gethsemane, we traveled to The Garden Tomb (see gardentomb.com). While some scholars assert that Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (which we will see next), others believe it to have happened at this site. We were given a presentation overlooking the Place of the Skull, as is described in the Bible. We were also able to enter a burial tomb which is from the time of Jesus (possibly even the very one—which Jesus only needed for three days). The tomb is empty! He is Risen!

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
After lunch in a park, we walked to The Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This is the spot where many believe Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again. This magnificent structure is actually housed by several churches (e.g., Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Armenian). Upstairs are still the stones of the mountain where they believe crucifixions occurred. Then on the main level are the burial caves, one of which people believe was Jesus’ before He rose again. While we don’t know for sure if this is the exact spot or not, the important thing to remember is that it did happen.

Southern Steps
After the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we traveled to the southern steps of the Temple Mount. It is a significant place regarding the birth of the Christian Church. Ralph encouraged us to go out from here on mission—to take all that we have learned on this trip and tell all who will hear about our Savior, and what He has done for us.

We go out from this place with purpose, ready to follow Jesus wherever He leads. Pastor Ralph & Melinda took the time to anoint each of us with oil and pray for us, that God would bless us and stir the gifts that are within us so that we would be a blessing to others. Then, Steve & Regina took sand and dusted each of our feet saying, “May you be covered in the dust of your Rabbi, Jesus.” It meant so much to us to take a breath and listen to the heartfelt prayers of our leaders for us. We feel blessed. 

An enormous flight of steps leads to the Southern Wall from the south. They were excavated after 1967 by archaeologist Benjamin Mazar and are the northernmost extension of the Jerusalem pilgrim road leading from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount via the Double Gate and the Triple Gate, collectively called the Huldah Gates. These are the steps that Jesus of Nazareth and other Jews of his era walked up to approach the Temple, especially on the great pilgrimage festivals of Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot.  The stairs that lead to the double gate are intact and "well-preserved." The steps that lead to the triple gate were mostly destroyed. The risers are low, a mere 7 to 10 inches high, and each step is 12 to 35 inches deep, forcing the ascending pilgrims to walk with a stately, deliberate tread. The pilgrims entered the temple precincts through the double and triple gates still visible in the Southern Wall. Together, the double and triple gates are known as the Hulda Gates, after the prophetess Huldah.

We finished our day with a traditional middle eastern dinner and time of reflection together. We each had the opportunity to share why this trip was so memorable and meaningful to us. Many mentioned the connection they felt with each other. Others mentioned the time of baptism and extraordinary sites we visited. Israel has been a dream for many of us for a long time, so to be able to hear from each other was special. We all are taking this place home with us. We are truly different than we were when we came here, and as Yehuda tells us, we will never read the Bible or think of our faith in the same way again. That’s why he does what he does. He loves his job because he sees people impacted so profoundly in every group he leads. They are never the same again. We all hope that one day you will be able to experience all of this, and meet Yehuda, who is one of the most knowledgeable people we’ve ever known.

We leave knowing that while the Temple was destroyed, the Spirit lives within us and we are one with our Father! Kingdom living is now. Listening to the Spirit, being taught by Him and living day by day in communion with the Father.

We want to encourage everyone who has the chance to go...GO! Our pastors are passionate about this place and it’s contagious. You will never be the same. Until then, if you are at all curious about anything you’ve read here in this blog, ask any of us. We are ready and willing to share our adventures with you in person. Have a blessed and wonderful day!  We can’t wait to be home with you again.

CIC Israel ‘22