From Birth to Death and Resurrection... Bethlehem to the Garden Tomb

Today we began our day by visiting the Parliament buildings in Israel and reflecting on the Menorah as the emblem of Israel. The one here is fascinating with all the history etched into it from Moses hands being held up, to a rabbi teaching the torah, the holocaust and so much else.

We went from here to the Israeli Museum where we saw an incredible model of the city of Jerusalem in Jesus' day and the highlight was going into the Shrine of the book and seeing the authentic fragments of the Dead Sea scrolls from 100BCE, that were preserved by the Essenes sect of Zealots.

We also had a very emotional visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial and the challenge that our tour guide shared with us was to realize how many stood as bystanders and let this take place. There are just under 15 000 olive trees that represent the lives of those who took an active part in rescuing or hiding the Jews during this time including Oscar Schindler whose efforts saved 1200 Jews. The memorial is an incredible journey with pictures, video testimony, clothing, journal entries and the timeline of events leading up to WWII and beyond. The most moving part for me was to see so many shoes from children's sizes to adult encassed in glass on the floor. At the end of the walk you get to a room with a vaulted ceiling featuring pictures of those who lives were lost along with all their names in binders across circular shelves. As you leave, you have the opportunity to write some thoughts and sign your name.

There is also a memorial as well to the 1.5 children who lost their lives as well and it is another very moving experience to go into this dark cave like room which is housed by 5 or 6 candles and a collage of mirrors that give reflection to 1.5 millions lights reflecting the souls of these children. As you walk through, you hear the names and ages of the children.

After lunch, we travelled to Bethlehem and went through a security check point. There is a huge wall that divides Jerusalem from here and it reminds of the wall that divided East communist bloc countries from the West that came down in '89. We have to change buses and go through a security check point as we are now under Palestinian control. We travel to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and it is like no other shrine church we have seen to date as the Greek Orthodox, the Catholics and the Arminians lay claim to this area and all have their separate dates for celebrating the birth of Christ. As you enter the Arminian church through a very small passageway you are brought into a place full of massive chandeliers and lights of all kinds...the only thing that is missing is the Christmas tree. So, you uncover the wooden doors to a sub floor from a church in the 3rd century. You look ahead to see a priest performing a service complete with incense and bells ringing. You then travel down a narrow stairway to a cave like setting where there is a star enshrined where they believe to be the birthplace of Jesus. I watch as I see people kissing the star and then across from it is the manger complete with some figurines. You realize quite quickly how this can all so easily become idol worship and yet at the same time I can see through all the 'enshrining' the very heart's desire to memoralize a very special place. I don't think we should be so hard on the Catholics for all these churches because in a real sense they have protected some very special places close to the heart of Christianity that thanks to a church sitting there have not been completely destroyed. However as amazing as it is to be here to recognize the birthplace of Christ, it isn't so much about the exact location as it is about worshipping Jesus who did in fact become the incarnation of God.

The highlight for the day for me for sure was our last visit to the Garden Tomb. They don't come out at this site with authority that this is the site where Christ died and nearby was placed in a tomb, but certainly present a compelling view. They show how there is a tomb here that could have very well been owned by Joseph of Arimathea. There is a large well for water as well as a winepress and baptismal area all from the 1st century along with a tomb from that time as well. What is really awesome is that this is a real place to worship Jesus without all the excess, just beautiful, natural, authentic and nature. We finished the day as Pastor Billy and I led a communion service by the Garden Tomb and it was awesome.

Tonight I finished my day by running the streets of Jerusalem.

Psalm 122

¹ I rejoiced with those who said to me,
"Let us go to the house of the LORD."

² Our feet are standing
in your gates, O Jerusalem.

³ Jerusalem is built like a city
that is closely compacted together.

⁴ That is where the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD,
to praise the name of the LORD
according to the statute given to Israel.

⁵ There the thrones for judgment stand,
the thrones of the house of David.

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
"May those who love you be secure.

⁷ May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels."

⁸ For the sake of my brothers and friends,
I will say, "Peace be within you."

⁹ For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your prosperity.