Day 3 May 25, 2018
Another
wonderful day in Israel. This day was a
bit of a whirlwind. My memory and notes
have some holes in it but I will do my best.
We headed out to the east into the land of the Old Testament. There was a lot of discussion about battles
between the northern and southern kingdoms, places where Samson lived and how he
gave into lust with Delilah. Best that I
let Dr. A explain it better than I could.
As
we walked into and out of the site it became very clear why foot washing was a
thing in Israel. The paths we took all
week throughout our tour consisted of rocky paths or this incredibly fine dust
that clings to everything and splashes when you step in it like water.
John 13 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had comefor him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
A dovecote
and an olive press were at the next place we stopped. I would have imagined that doves and pigeon
raising would have been done above ground with all the flying etc. But at least here it was largely
underground. This is where doves and
pigeons would have been raised for sacrifices and also lunch.
Also
in the same complex we saw an olive oil processing plant. The olives are pressed to get the oil out and
they keep pressing the already pressed olives to squeeze every last drop
out. Virgin Olive Oil is oil that is
taken in the first pressing. This device
was used.
After
the virgin oil was extracted the mashed bits were gathered and place inside a
second press where more weight is exerted and more oil is squeezed out. The mash is place in the area behind the
wall and the stones tied to the log pushed down on the far end.
We
passed by a cistern on the road that might have been very much like the one
that Joseph was thrown in by his brothers and later taken out and sold into
Egyptian slavery. Then again maybe not.
Our
next stop took us to Bet Guvrin-Maresha – where the Bell Caves are
located. These were dug by hand during
the Byzantine, Crusader and Islamic times. The purpose was to mine the chalk that is under the hard rock. During the Crusader times a Christian church was located at this
sight.
In
636 AD the Muslims invaded Israel and by 638 they had taken over
Jerusalem. Many people from Jerusalem
fled the city and many came to Bet Gurvin where these caves are located. You can see on the walls crosses carved to
indicate this was a place of Christian Worship.
The Muslims found out about this place of Christian worship and came and
demanded they renounce their faith in Jesus or die. By God’s grace they chose to die rather than
deny. It was in this place that 750
Christians died. It is a sacred
site. If we are faced with such a
decision may we be like these men and women, like Polycarp, Antipas, and Paul
and the other disciples and choose by God’s grace to stand true to our
Savior. We sang How Great Thou Art. Ignore they voice of the guy holding the
camera.
We
then returned to Jerusalem and made our way to the Hebrew Museum. The Museum was fascinating. While there are many exhibits which are
relevant to Christians they are rarely pointed out by the descriptions. For example, the ossuary (bone box) that held
the bones of Caiaphas the high priest is in the museum but it does not indicate
that this was the man who had charges brought against Jesus.
In
like manner the tablet found in Caesarea that gives the name of Pontus Pilate
is displayed with no mention of his role in judging Jesus.
Perhaps
my favorite moment of the trip was seeing the seat of the rabbi from the
Chorazin Synagogue. Chorazin was a city
that Jesus condemned because much of his ministry including miracles was done
in this area and yet the people did not believe and repent. Jesus would have without a doubt gone to the
synagogue on the sabbath and would have sat and taught in this seat.
Matthew 11:21 New
International Version (NIV)
21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you,
Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been
performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in
sackcloth and ashes.
We
made our way from the Hebrew Museum to the Old City of Jerusalem. Here is a picture of Elvin standing in front
of the Old City Wall telling a story about the fish he caught.
We
went through the walls of the city via the Jaffa gate. The story was told that this gate is really
not a gate but rather a breach in
the wall which was created in 1898 by the Ottoman authorities in order to allow
German emperor Wilhelm II to enter the city triumphally. It seems that
the Eastern Gate on the other side of the city has been sealed for centuries
and no conquering force has been willing to open it to march into the Temple
Mound from that direction. The Eastern
Gate is believed by many to be where Jesus at his return will enter the city.
While in the market area of the city this is where we ate lunch and
had our third day of three choices for lunch: falafel (a fried chick pea nugget
that is the shape size and consistency of a large hush puppy all placed in pita
bread with veggies), shawarma (a pita bread chicken sandwich), and pizza. The
first two were fine at the first two restaurants but the pizza at today’s place
was a bit like Totino’s frozen pizza.
All of them were way overpriced, about 3 times what it would cost to
walk into any restaurant on the street and order the same thing. Oh well, tourist group food and shopping,
what can I say?
On
the way out of the city we stopped at this archeological place that had a
modern mural painted on the wall depicting what the place may have looked like
in the past except that the artist had a sense of humor. A little anachronism found its way into the corner
of the painting.
We passed by this on the door post
of one of the ancient houses. Any
guesses as to what it is?
We
made our way to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Since the 4th century this
has been the believed location of both the crucifixion and tomb of Jesus. It was not until 1867 that the Garden Tomb
was unearthed and is believed by many to be the place of his burial. But as our guide pointed out: the important
point is not which if either of these locations was the tomb but rather that
the tomb is empty. Jesus is alive!
Just inside the Church is this stone
slab which is said to be the place where Jesus’ body was laid to be prepared
for burial.
To be honest as I walked around the
church it was not clear to me where the crucifixion and tomb were supposed to
have been. But here are some pictures
from inside the church.
No this is not Jesus.
From the Greek Orthodox section of
the Church. Over the years different
sects of Christianity have gained control/ownership of different parts of the
church.
This I am certain was the closely
guarded and regulated entrance to the tomb.
The priest or monk stationed at the door was very particular about what
people were wearing and how long they stayed inside.
All in all, it was a very good
day. To be in Jerusalem in the places
where Jesus would have walked is a moving experience.
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