The story of Jesus is far from over

After seeing, touching, and walking the Land, we fell more in love with Jesus and our hunger and thirst for His word grew stronger. Our love for, and understanding of His people were deepened and expanded. Yesterday our guide pointed up from where we were sitting on the Southern Steps to the Mt. of Olives and said we are going there tomorrow.

Okay, sounds good, we thought. Little did we know that everything we had experienced and studied been preparing us for this moment! If we had come up here any sooner, it wouldnʼt have been as impactful because, as Ronan had said many times, we werenʼt ready yet. We got out of the bus and obediently followed our leader to the teaching site, just like weʼd done countless times over the last 1a days. This time, as the view came into sight, there were audible gasps, but those were not the most notable reactions. As each of the places we had been all over the city of Jerusalem were pointed out, the lessons learned at each site were flooding our minds. We realized how much weʼd learned and what a journey we had taken to bring us to this time and place.

Our eyes moved from the shimmering Dome of the Rock where the first temple was built to the Southern Steps where Jesus taught to the whitewashed tombs and the cornerstones of the Wall. Then to the Kidron Valley and Gethsemane.

We relived the passages in Luke 19 and Matthew 21 describing the Triumphal Entry and shed tears of joy as we heard the words, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

And then our sights focused together on the Eastern Gate. We were reminded that the story of Jesus is far from over. No one but the Father knows the day or the hour, but we do know that He has promised to return and He who promised is faithful!

The Bible tells us in many different passages that Jesus will come to earth again. This time, not as a suffering servant but as a conquering King who will come to Jerusalem and set all things eternally right.