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Jordan & Israel
August 31 - September 12, 2019
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On the Southern Steps
On our second full day in Jerusalem we started the day with a devotional time in Galatians 3:27-29. We are Abraham’s seed and heirs to the promise. We shared our thoughts on what we are learning and the spiritual juices were in high gear as we boarded our bus at our usual time, 7:45 am.
Today we start in the ancient City of David just south of the Temple Mt and the Old City of Jerusalem. There has been amazing archeological work done here in the last twenty years. Our guide Ronen continues to add value to us with his deep knowledge of biblical history. He is a highlight on this tour!
From the City of David we studied the story of David and Bathsheba because we could so easily visualize his palace in relation to the rooftops of the people below. Not his finest hour and we took a lesson for ourselves about being accountable so as not to ruin our lives. Then we walked Hezekiah’s tunnel, where water still flows through from ancient times. It was another great experience.
Hezekiah's Tunnel
A 1750-foot (530m) tunnel carved during the reign of Hezekiah to bring water from one side of the city to the other, Hezekiah’s Tunnel together with the 6th c. tunnel of Euphalios in Greece are considered the greatest works of water engineering technology in the pre-Classical period. Had it followed a straight line, the length would have been 1070 ft (335m) or 40% shorter.
We made our way up to the Southern Steps of the Temple Mt where Peter most likely preached on the Day of Pentecost and 3000 Jewish men and women accepted Messiah Yeshua as Lord and Savior and were filled with Ruach ha-kodesh (Holy Spirit), Acts 2:38. What a moment! Here we are part of the church that was born here 2000 years ago.
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 drove to a local park and enjoyed a wonderful lunch of Jerusalem bagels. Along with olive oil, sour cream and date honey, goat cheese, hummus, and Israel’s version of Nutella. A delightful treat!
The most sobering event of the entire journey was our afternoon visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum. To fully appreciate the pain and horror the Jewish people have endured every believer in Jesus needs to make a visit to one. Although we are not to blame for such an atrocity we do bear the burden of helping heal the hurt and pain. We are recipients of the gospel and the Word of God because of our Jewish friends and Jewish Lord.
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