Follow Jesus – (Jerusalem and Bethlehem)

I filled this week’s blog about my Israel trip with miracles, spitting camels, and arrival in the Holy City David built. Here, I could follow Jesus!

Ready? Let’s go!!!

Follow Jesus to the Wedding at Cana

To start, our group bonded with each other pretty well by this point in the trip. Hence, we shared a private moment in the land of miracles: some couples renewed their vows at Cana.

For those of you not aware, Jesus performed His first miracle at Cana. Specifically, Jesus turned water into wine. After Mary, His mother, told the bridal party servants to follow Jesus’ every instruction, He ordered them to fill the jars (seen below) with water. Subsequently, when the master of the banquet tasted the liquid, it was choice wine.

Repeatedly, God reveals a truth in the gospel: if we surrender what we have to Jesus, He can make a miracle happen.

Tunnels of Megiddo

Next, the bus was off to the tunnels of Megiddo. To clarify, Megiddo is an ancient city founded in 7000 BC. Moreover, the site contains a huge underground water system 30m deep and 70m long.

With the mountains and valleys across Israel, we had some gorgeous views.

The Drink Test

Following Megiddo, our group ate a fabulous picnic lunch at Gideon’s Spring. Gideon acted as a Judge of Israel and was involved in several famous Bible stories.

For example, Gideon originally started with 32,000 warriors to fight against the Midianites. However, God wanted to show His might and prove that battles are won by God and not by man. Twenty-two thousand soldiers left out of fear, and 10,000 remained.

But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink (Judges 7:4-6 NIV).

With the remaining 300 men, they surrounded the Midianite camp and made a loud ruckus by smashing jars and blowing trumpets. God caused the men in the enemy camp to turn on each other. Hence, Gideon won the battle.

Watch Out for the Spit!

Later that afternoon, the bus pulled into a gas station for a bathroom break. (Tony said we used the bathroom more than any other group!)

Then, I jumped out of the back of the bus when I saw…a camel! The guy who owned the camel scooped me up, and I went for my first camel ride.

Solomon’s Prayer

Honestly, I can barely write this next section because tears well up in my eyes. Finally, the group arrived in Jerusalem amid the gray clouds and pouring rain and headed to Mt. Scopus for a view of the city. There, Tony read the prayer by Solomon and welcomed us home.

“As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name (2 Chronicles 6:32-33).

Tony told us that over 2000 years ago, Solomon prayed for us, for our trip. We were foreigners to Israel, to Jerusalem. Consequently, God would hear our prayers as the foreigner who has come home. Next, we all broke bread together and shared juice in a mini-Shabbat on the bus. Despite the horrible weather, I felt an incredible closeness to God.

That evening, we went to a real Shabbat with an Orthodox Jewish family. Unbelievably, they hosted 25 guests!

In Jerusalem

Notably, the iconic image of Jerusalem is the gold dome. The temple mount, the site of the temple Solomon built, sits in Jerusalem. On top, sits the gold dome of a mosque. For this reason, the holy ground is part of a struggle between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Afterward, we walked down the streets to the Garden of Gethsemane, amazed at being able to follow Jesus in this way. Upon arrival, the main part of the garden (which wasn’t very big) housed a church and a boatload of tourists.

Follow Jesus in the Garden

Thankfully, we were given the opportunity as a group to go into a private part of Gethsemane for a time of prayer and meditation. For me, this was the most impactful moment of the trip. Here, I chose an olive tree and leaned against it. Connected to God, I read through the gospel story of Jesus praying in the garden.

He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:41-44).

Immediately, I was overcome reading the words. Jesus was both God and man. Therefore, He felt fear like we do. And, this place was where He begged God to deliver Him from His circumstance. He felt fear because of what He was doing for me.

I wonder if he touched my tree? Follow the steps of Jesus.

Mini Jerusalem

Subsequently, we visited the Holyland Model of Jerusalem. To explain, this is a 1:50 scale model of the city measuring 2,000 square meters. Viewing the model provided a great reference for further time in Jerusalem and a backdrop for many Old Testament stories.

Follow Jesus to the Temple

The next day, we spent some contemplative time on the temple steps. Here Peter and John healed a beggar. In addition, Jesus walked up these steps when he attended the temple. Our pastors encouraged us to remove our shoes to walk where He walked.

We also visited the Siloam tunnel built by David and Hezekiah, which served for defense and water supply. Furthermore, the Siloam pool is also significant in the story of Jesus healing the blind man.

Joy to the World

For the second half of the day, we journeyed to Bethlehem to see the birthplace of our Savior. Unfortunately, we were not able to visit the Church of the Nativity. However, we stopped where the star appeared to the shepherds heralding Christ’s birth.

Without a doubt, it was crazy to stand where these things happened, to even breathe the air in these places. Follow Jesus.

BUT, it’s not over yet. Next week we head up to the Temple Mount and visit the Dome of the Rock. AND, find out what surprised me most about my trip.

Love from the Holyland,

K.