Day 07 - Jerusalem: Temple Mount, Western Wall, Rabbinic Tunnels, Herodium, Bethlehem

We awoke in Jerusalem (means City of Peace in Hebrew) after arriving last night on the first night of Hanukkah. What a blessing.

We began our day at the Temple Mount. This is the most Holy place in the world for Jews and Christians. It is the 3rd most Holy place for Muslims. Jerusalem is home to approximately 1 million people, of which over 60+% are Jewish, 30+% Arab with 2% Christian.

We were amazed by the Western Wall which represents the glory of The Lord. It is actually a retaining wall that sits just west of the original Temple Wall. This is Holy ground. The Temple construction was staggering with stones that ranged in weight from 2 tons (the smallest) to 572 tons.

The Western Wall is a very emotional place to pray as one ponders the significance of this place in human history and its importance in the world. Some of us tucked written prayers into the wall.

Beautifully, every couple of weeks, these prayers, which become Holy Scriptures once written, are removed and buried on the Mount of Olives. We sat on the south steps of the temple and viewed Mount Zion. For me, being in the land of Zion (Jerusalem) was something of a homecoming as my maternal grandmother’s maiden name is Zion.

We saw Herodium which is a destroyed castle from the days of Herod. Herod, known to be a self- obsessed megalomaniac, built this place as a tribute to himself…a sort of "look at me and look what I can do" type of development.

We pondered how the world has been so significantly influenced by Jesus, who invited people to look to God and follow Him on a Christ centered path. Contrast that with how little influence Herod has today given his prideful, self centered path.

We ended in Bethlehem and saw the symbolic birthplace of Jesus in an underground cave inside the Church of the Nativity which is the oldest active church in the Holy Land. We observed his actual manger which was moving and powerful. Interestingly, the manger was stone given the limited use of wood as there is no timber industry in Israel. Portions of the church and some streets were decorated beautifully for Christmas with lights and Merry Christmas wishes. Gratitude is the overwhelming emotion I am feeling as our journey of learning and discovery continues. Grateful to our triune God and the beautiful people from Sun Grove who are here. Sending prayers of love and encouragement to all who read this post.

Shalom and Forever in Christ,

Steve Parent