Israel and Jerusalem.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Israel, Jerusalem.

Hebrews 12:22: "But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels." That's how Jerusalem felt for me. I felt as if I were in "an innumerable company of angels." Even in Bethlehem when people were angry with us for cutting in line. Four of us were told to get near the front of the line to see the place where Christ was probably born. People were yelling at us in four different languages: English, Russian-English, French and Spanish.

Still, as we descended to the place of the birth and touched the 14-point star, the anger did not detract from the symbolism of it all. Thoughts of King David and 14 generations down to Christ were filling the space in my mind. The major disappointment in the area, however, was the wall. As Rhonda and Reagan put it, "Tear down this wall!"

Jerusalem was a melee of cultures, religions and food. It was easy to imagine Christ and, hundreds of years earlier, King Hezekiah, walking the streets of Jerusalem. As we walked the narrow streets of the city, people were talking, trying to acquire business. I guess some things never change.

The scene from the Mount of Olives was spectacular. The sun was shining and the breeze sifted through our hair. The Dome of the Rock stands out and looks over Jerusalem and the City of David. The walls surround the city. The only thing missing is the temple, which should be located along the southeast corner of the city walls. I have faith that the Jews will have their temple someday.

Probably the most significant thing to me was the olive trees in Gethsemane. Olive trees are the staple of life in the Middle East. They are symbolic of everlasting life, of eternity. While walking in the Garden, thinking of Christ's suffering, it was easy to think of that symbolism. My favorite souvenir is a branch of the olive tree that had fallen to the ground. It is now pressed in the pages of my journal.
Post by Shelli

Rhonda says her favorite part of today was standing on the Mount of Olives and overlooking the walled city of Old Jerusalem.
Mary Ann was struck by the surreal experience of entering and leaving Bethlehem. We thought we were entering a prison. Our guide was Israeli and was not allowed into the Palestinian controlled city. So we had to pass through the prison-like compound that was the entrance, until we met our Christian guide.

The most unfortunate part was when she took us first to the most expensive souvenir shop in the city (we're guessing). But it was impressive to see the elaborately carved nativity scenes, made from the olive wood. We ended up getting to the church of the Nativity after others had already arrived and we didn't have the time to wait in line.

The guards allowed six of the ten of us to enter from the exit. The other four were told to go cut in the line (see Shelli's account above). Augie felt that was extremely rude, so he refused.

Jerry enjoyed seeing the Armenian section of the Church of the Nativity and the Armenian section of Jerusalem.