Next Steps - Days 4 & 5 - So Busy, So Beautiful, So Holy

We have been incredibly busy the last two days.

We have been challenged. We have been overwhelmed. We are thankful.

Day 4:
The day began with a return trip to Tabgha and the Church of the Primacy of Peter built on the rock where Jesus fed the disciples and where Jesus restored Peter (John 21).

We then traveled to the Mount of the Beatitudes outside of Capernaum. This beautiful sanctuary is built on the hillside where Jesus is said to have delivered the Sermon on the Mount. We read Matthew 5:1-16; 6:1-15; 6:25-34; 7:7-12).

We got on the bus for the long journey to the Jordan River. We drove into the West Bank and had an amazing conversation with George, our tour guide, about religion, politics, and conflict.

We stopped at the traditional site of Jesus’ baptism. We went to the water and celebrated a renewal of our baptisms together. We read the story of Jesus’ baptism from Matthew 3:13-17. What a moving experience for us all. “You are the beloved child of God, in whom God is well pleased.”

Then it was on to Jericho. We first saw the tree of Zacchaeus, and we read Luke 19:1-10. We visited the Mount of Temptation where tradition says that Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil or adversary (Luke 4:1-13). Following our visit, some students were able to make a new four legged friend that spits. Hurray for camel rides! 

Then we arrived in the city of peace and got our first view. After a brief overview, we headed to the Garden of Gethsemane. What a beautiful and mysterious holy place (Matthew 26:36-46).

End of Day Four.

Day 5:

This day began with an incredible conversation with the amazing Dr. Mustafa Abu Sway, who holds the Integral Chair for the Study of Imam Al-Ghazali’s Work at Al-Masjid Al-Aqua and at Al-Quds University. The students asked incredible questions and received thoughtful responses from this gracious man. What an honor.

We then left the hotel for the Old City, where we began our tour with a visit to the Church of St. Anne, mother of Mary the mother of Jesus (we even got to hear Sarah sing!). We also visited the Pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed a man who had been ill for 38 years (John 5:1-13).

This was followed with a journey down the Via Dolorosa. We visited all of the stops. The highlights were the Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross, the Church of the Flagellation, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where we saw Golgotha, the tomb of Jesus, the tomb said to have belonged to Joseph of Arimathea, and the location where tradition says St. Helena discovered the real cross.

Then we visited the Western Wall where we joined the crowds from around the world as we prayed for you, for us, and for the world. May we find a better way together.

Our final stop of the day was Bethlehem. That’s right. In a single day, we got to visit two of the most holy sites for Christians around the world. We went in to the Church of the Nativity and touched the place where Jesus was born. Then we visited Nativity Square and the Mosque of Omar. A beautiful sunset greeted us as we prepared to depart for our hotel.

So, that is all for now. What an amazing day. On to bed to rest for another adventure tomorrow. 

Thank you for your prayers, and Happy New Year from Jerusalem!