Just a Breath Away

Ruins of King David's Palace

            Our ninth day in Israel began in the city of David, where the Holy city began about 6000 years ago. We first enjoyed a visit to ruins of King David’s palace, even to taking in the view he might have witnessed when he spied Bathsheba in the distance before he knew her.  Later, I was captivated by the virtual tour of how the city of David looked so many years ago via advanced technology.  It allowed us to experience what it might have been like during the Second Temple time period.

Where King David might have viewed BathSheba

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     What we did next though was completely amazing, although not nearly as technologically advanced!  We took a hike through the Lower part of the city which included a walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, learning about the water supply system in Bible times.

Hezekiah's Tunnel

          

                 After coming up out of the tunnels we found ourselves on the Temple Mount.  This was fantastic!  We witnessed the excavation on the southern wall of the Temple mount and the Hulda gate along with the steps that led people to the gate to get in the Temple.  This is a place Jesus probably would have walked.  To know, again, that I walked where Jesus walked just gives me “Holy Ghost bumps!”    In this place, Pastor Dennis shared a message before we moved on to the Pool of Bethesda where the Paralytic was healed.

          

Southern wall of the Temple Mount

At the Temple Mount

Steps leading into the Temple

Steps into the Pool of Bethesda

       

             Following lunch in the Aramaic section of town, we found ourselves standing on Via Dolorasa Street.   The Latin word Via Dolorosa means “Way of Grief, Sorrows, Suffering" or “Painful Way."  This would have been the path Jesus would have taken when he carried the cross to Calvary.  Again….a reason for “Jesus bumps!”

   Our next adventure took us into the Herodian drainage channel which was the actual stepped road and sewer tunnel from Jesus’ day.  It was about a mile long, under the city of Jerusalem.  The Muslim community built their houses next to the outer wall and so excavation couldn’t be done there, so they started digging underground, and discovered an old tunnel that was used for water drainage.  

In the Herodian drainage tunnel

The walk was fairly intense and given Charles’ medical issues, found himself really stiff and sore when we finally got through it.  Moran, the tour company owner sat with Charles later and discovered the pain Charles was suffering.  On the spot Moran laid his hands on Charles and prayed for healing.  About an hour later, Charles was feeling good again, which is a true miracle given the dynamics of the medical situation.  God was good all through the trip and He again demonstrated his great love for his children.  

At the Western Wall

Our day ended at the Western Wall also known as the Wailing Wall, dating from the second temple period.   It is the only surviving ancient wall that surrounded the Temple courtyard which causes some to consider it to be the most holy place to pray.  It is here men and women (who each have their own side) can come pray, morning, noon and night. 

It makes me wonder how we, as Christians truly feel about prayer. Do we have a special place of prayer?  How often do we commune with the Father?  Does prayer only happen when we find ourselves in a holy sanctuary or when we are in particular need?  Can we say with certainty that we rely on God with every decision we make in a given day?   I know the Spirit of The Lord was very apparent during our visit in Israel; from the daily messages given by the Pastors to the laying on of hands for prayer by Moran to the private time we experienced individually at the various sites.  God is always with us, and just a whisper away.  All we have to do is breathe His name.