He is not here, He is risen!

Jerusalem

            Our last day in Jerusalem.   I could hardly believe how quickly time passed, how much I learned and how much I knew I would miss this amazing place once we left.  Still, my heart was full to overflowing even as we began at the top and edge of the Mount of Olives for another view of Jerusalem.  Rabbi Dennis shared the message from Ezekiel of dry bones coming back to life.  This is fulfillment of prophesy in Israel, even now.   To be in this place at this time was significant in each of our lives.  As the days passed, even after we returned, I knew it was certainly true for me.

 

                                                                  Our view from the Mount of Olives included another look at the Temple Mount where the Muslims have the dome of the rock.  It's interesting to note the Golden gate is to the right of the Dome of the Rock, which means the new Temple could be built even with the Dome of the Rock in place!  This is the place where Jesus will return….and here we go again with “Jesus bumps!”   

Note the gate to the RIGHT of the Dome of the Rock

My “Jesus bumps,” continued as we walked downhill to Garden of Gethsemane.  It was beautiful, yet heart wrenching when I consider it was here Jesus suffered in great agony, and prayed "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22:42)  We were encouraged to spend time alone with the Father in this special place and reflect on the impact Christ’s sacrifice had on our lives.  It is truly immeasurable. 

Gethsemane

Gethsemane

Gethsemane

Church of St. Peter

                                                                                                                                                                 Our journey then took us to Zion to see the church of St. Peter, which it is believed to have been Caiphas’ house and where Peter denied Jesus three times.  We saw the huge pit where Jesus would have been lowered by his wrists into the dungeon the night he was arrested and then pulled out the same way.

Where Jesus would have been lowered into the dungeon

After lunch in Jerusalem and little shopping we went to Mount Calvary/Golgotha also known as the “Place of the Skull.” (Golgotha is an Aramaic word for skull and Calvary comes from the Latin term Calvaria, which also means skull, giving us the word Calvary).   This just made me shudder!  It really does look like a skull, even though the area directly in front of it now is part of a busy bus terminal.  From there we took a short walk to the Tomb of Resurrection.  

Golgotha

It really does look like a skull!

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Giddy with excitement is the best way to describe my feelings as I waited my turn to enter the tomb.  I can not imagine how the women and disciples must have felt when they entered the tomb and He was not there.  We know what happened because we have His word to tell us.  At the time, they had to reflect on all His teachings and make that deduction and come to that understanding.  

                                                                                                                                                   We know! He is not here, For He is risen!  This is powerful stuff; life changing! Even as I write this I can feel my pulse race.  What a gift of overwhelming joy, great peace, redeeming grace, compelling purpose, enduring strength, and more; all because of God’s boundless and intense love of his human creation and Jesus’ willingness to be a living, pure sacrifice on a cruel cross.  All God wants in return is acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah, and our lives as a living sacrifice.  These thoughts were culminated in the sharing of communion before leaving Jerusalem.

 

        

                                                                              

         This ends my series on our Israel trip and I hope you have enjoyed reading about it as much as I have writing about it.  It is an experience I will never forget, an experience that enabled me to grow and learn about our Savior.  And Charles and I made wonderful, “forever” friends we will cherish always.

            One added note.  Upon returning home, I was honored to be asked to write an article on why a believer should visit the Holy Land.  The link is attached and I hope you will not only read it, but share it with others.  http://hope4israel.org/a-believers-pilgrimage-to-the-holy-land