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Israel In-Depth Study Tour - Yearley
March 13-24, 2017
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Conquered by Israel
Nine days ago we set out to conquer the land of Israel, however it is Israel that has conquered our hearts. I woke up this morning with an array of emotions as this will be our last day in this beautiful country. On day one pastor Michael talked about this being a journey; that we had the presence of the lord, we lost the presence due to Adam and Eve whom hid from him after their sin, and since then we've tried to seek the presence of the lord. However it's the lord who's seeking us. We were chosen before time in our mothers womb.
I've wanted to come on this trip for the past three years. My purpose of this trip was to seek God, grow in my faith, grow closer to God and to put God first in my heart and in my life. Yesterday While we were worshiping at The Mt. of Olives I had a moment where I fully and completely felt gods presence, and I realized at that moment that it is all to familiar of a feeling. I then realized that God is always with me, and has always been with me, as God has been pursuing me and seeking me all I had to do is answer his call, seek him in return by spending alone time with him and getting into the word.
Our First stop is the Temple Mount, Western Wall (wailing wall) so named for the crying due to the destruction of the temple. The stones of this wall can be up to 570 tons. I cannot deny that at the Western Wall that there is a divine presence, I have come to learn and feel that the same divine presence is with me always, now that's the best souvenir.
Western Wall
The Western Wall is the most holy place accessible to the Jewish people because of Muslim control of the Temple Mount. Known in recent centuries as the “Wailing Wall,” this was built by Herod the Great as the retaining wall of the Temple Mount complex. The plaza was created as an area for prayer when Israel captured the Old City in 1967. At times tens of thousands of people gather here for prayer.
We then walked underground along the western walls, and ended up near the Pools of Bethesda where in John 5:1 Jesus asked a lame man if he wanted to healed, and then told him to walk and to stop sinning or something worse may happen. Heaven met earth on that day. Pastor Dave then gave me the interpretation that in order to continue and experience freedom you have to continually submit. Our healing comes with continued surrender.
Rabbinic Tunnels
The tour of the western wall tunnels is one of the most popular tourist sites in Jerusalem. These underground tunnels connect the western wall prayer area to the north-west side of the temple mount, passing along the side of the temple mount and under the present day houses in the Old City. Along its path are remains from the second temple period, as well as structures from later periods.
We then visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which was built on top of a hill where it is assumed to be believed that this is where Jesus was buried and resurrected; the hill is known as Golgotha (skull hill). In this church we saw the anointing stone, the burial cave and a place where you are able to touch a piece of the Golgotha stone.
Now on to the Southern Steps. This is where people entered the temple and this is where people sat on the steps and prophets taught the community. Just like in Pslams 48:4 we Walked around the ramparts. Which started on Mt. Zion we walked around the towers and the ramparts. We pilgrimaged on the same path. It was on these steps that scholars believe that Peter and the apostles preached and baptized over 3000 people and that's when the church of Jesus started. Pastor Michael then taught us as we sat on these steps. This would be our last teaching while in Israel. He left us with the reminder that we have been given two promises. The promise of forgiveness and the promise of the Holy Spirit. Forgiveness is what opens the door and the Holy Spirit is what gives us that personal relationship God is in pursuit of.
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]
At the end of the day I was able to sit down with Ronen our tour guide. He told me he wanted to give me the "Chutzpah award" for the entire trip. Chutzpah means to have audacity, nerve and boldness. He said when he first met me and saw that I was not only pregnant but pregnant with twins he was worried I wouldn't be able to complete all this trip had to offer with all the waking, hiking, climbing and long days. I then had the realization the only reason I was able to complete this trip was because of my passion and thirst to learn, grow and absorb everything himself and Pastor Michael wanted to teach us. Throughout this trip we were all faced with different challenges weather it be emotional or physical, together we have conquered the land and are headed home with a life changing unforgettable experience. To my 54 brothers and sisters the Chutzpah award goes to you.
Blessings
Whitney Ramirez
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