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Israel Study Tour with Lifebridge Church
February 4-14, 2020
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We will never read the Bible or think of our faith in the same way again
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 started our 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.
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.
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 Scripture simply refers to the place where the olive press was. It is truly beautiful, once again with an incredible view of the city. 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.
From Gethsemane, we traveled to the city of Jerusalem where we were able to see the Pool of Bethesda where the angel would stir the water in the times of the Bible. Jesus healed a crippled man in this exact spot. After the man was healed, he was able to go up to the temple. In the immediate area of Bethesda is St Anne’s Church. Our group was able to go in and sing two songs together, How Great Thou Art, and Amazing Grace. Because of the acoustics in the room, our voices were resonant and powerful. People from outside the church came in and sang with us. It was unforgettable—so many people from different nations, all serving the same Savior and singing together. A picture of heaven on earth!
Pool of Bethesda
The name of the pool is said to be derived from the Hebrew language and/or Aramaic language. Beth hesda (בית חסד/חסדא), meaning either house of mercy[3] or house of grace. In both Hebrew and Aramaic the word could also mean "shame, disgrace". This dual meaning may have been thought appropriate, since the location was seen as a place of disgrace due to the presence of invalids, and as a place of grace due to the granting of healing
We were able to walk the traditional route of the Via Dolorosa on our way 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 (i.e., 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.
After lunch, we were able to travel to the southern steps of the Temple Mount. It is a significant place regarding the birth of the Christian church. Ralph and Joe 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. Our two themes for the trip were 1)The heart of God for people and 2)Mission. We go out from this place with purpose, ready to follow Jesus wherever he leads. Pastor Ralph 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, Pastor Joe took sand and dusted each of our feet saying, “May you be covered in the dust of your Rabbi, Jesus.” Our leaders took their time to minister to each of us individually and intentionally. It meant so much to us to take a breath and listen to the heartfelt prayers of our leaders for us. We feel blessed.
Southern Steps
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[2][3] and other Jews of his era walked up to approach the Temple, especially on the great pilgrimage festivals of Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot. [2] The stairs that lead to the double gate are intact and "well-preserved."[4] The steps that lead to the triple gate were mostly destroyed.[4] / 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.[2] The pilgrims entered the temple precincts through the double and triple gates still visible in the Southern Wall.[5][2] Together, the double and triple gates are known as the Hulda Gates, after the prophetess Huldah.[2]
We walked through the Old City again to get to our last stop of the day, which was at the Garden Tomb. While some scholars assert that Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, 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!
We finished our day with an awesome time of reflection together, as the group had the opportunity to share why this trip was so memorable and meaningful to them. 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 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.
The Lifebridge Team
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