Holy Land Pilgrimage Journal (Day 11)

Sunday, 22nd September 2019

Our final outing in Jerusalem was a return to Old Jerusalem to visit the ‘Dome of the Rock’ on the Temple Mount. I found this part of our pilgrimage somewhat challenging! Having previously learned the history behind the Temple Mount, the destruction of the Temple and the spiritual significance of what remains for the Jewish people, the sight of the Mosque in the place of the Temple Holy of Holies was quite an affront. While I appreciated the architecture of the building, I couldn’t look pass such a sacred sit that was constructed to honour Yahweh being hijacked by the Muslims to honour Allah. All of a sudden, the ‘Wailing Wall’ made sense. I found myself empathising with the anguish of the Jews as they pray daily for redemption and restoration. My empathy is in no way political but spiritual. Behind the complex politics and historical conflict, there is an unavoidable spiritual battle occurring. When two monotheistic religions compete for the same sacred space, no amount of secular diplomacy will resolve this religious tension.

We then left Jerusalem and crossed over the border into the West Bank to visit the ‘Tomb of Lazarus’ and home of Mary and Martha in Bethany. Once again, an elaborate church built on this biblically significant site. On the one hand I find this disappointing, as I would love to see some of these sites in their original context, but on the other hand, I recognise without these historic church structures, these sites would probably have been lost forever centuries ago. Our journey in the West Bank then took us to the ‘Shepherds Field’ where the angels appeared to the shepherds to announce the birth of the Christ child. Inside the chapel we gathered together as a group to sing ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, surrounded by beautiful paintings of the nativity story, which was later read by Kate Young.

“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant

O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem

O come and behold him, born the King of angels

O come, let us adore him…

Christ the Lord.”

From the Shepherds Field, we naturally progressed to the ‘Church of the Nativity’, which houses the very place where Jesus was born. There was a sense of wonder and awe as we each stepped through the low opening through the front wall of the church (apparently, this is a deliberate design of the Crusade period to stop people riding into the church on their horses). Once inside the church, I felt a little overwhelmed by all the religious icons, statues and art paying homage to Mary and the Christ child. As beautiful as many of these pieces were, especially the gold mosaic uncovered only two years ago, it felt a little over the top for me, taking away from the humble origins of Jesus’ birth. We queued up for what felt like an eternity to descend into the cave of the ritual site of Jesus’ birth and apparent location of the real manger. It was a special moment to stand in this space, yet all the religious trappings just got in the way for me, diminishing this unique opportunity. I really wanted to be deeply impacted by the birthplace of Christ but instead, I was distracted: Distracted by the ornate fixtures, distracted by the crowd jostling of position, distracted by the religiosity of the whole set-up. I am very grateful for the privilege of such an experience, but it somehow took away from the image of the nativity scene that had formed in my mind.

The final stop for the day presented us with more artwork but of a very different nature. In a strange way, it spoke to me more of the nativity than the church did. I’m referring to the powerful and provocative artwork that lines the security/separation wall that divides Israel from the West Bank. This artwork presents the soul of a people who have been segregated from the world around them. The politics involved in the West Bank emerge out of centuries of conflict that divides the Jewish and Muslim faiths. Outside of the politics are a people who yearn for a different reality. The Palestinians we met want peace and goodwill for all humankind. Their desires and dreams of peace emerges from the art that lines the wall that separates these two states.

How appropriate that we ended our day staying with a Palestinian Christian family in a homestay arrangement. This provided us with a fabulous opportunity to get up close and personal with a family living this reality. Basam and Kawkab embraced us very warmly and together with their children shared something of their lives with us. Life in the West Bank presents many challenges, yet there is a deep national pride and a strong sense of community in Beit Sahour where they live. Coincidently, there was a street festival happening during our stay called ‘Souq Hikaya’, which means ‘Story Market’. It was a vibrant and joyful celebration of their culture and city. I must confess that before our homestay, my experience inside the West Bank wasn’t all that pleasant with pushy and aggressive peddlers trying to exploit tourists. But, at this festival, I saw Palestinians in their natural state enjoying life and extending very warm hospitality. There were no strings attached to the greetings and handshakes and you felt welcomed in their city. While these Palestinians longed for a different reality, there was a sense of pride and contentment with who they are as a people. Staying with this family was definitely a highlight of our trip.

Holy Land Pilgrimage Journal (Day 10)

Saturday, 21st September 2019

Today was a complete change of pace with a free day to explore Jerusalem on our own. After a bit of a sleep-in, a small group of us set off for Old Jerusalem through the ‘forbidden’ Damascus Gate (our guide advised against using this gate to avoid pick pocketers and aggressive peddlers). One of the rebellious traits of Australians is that if you tell us we can’t do something, it is received as an invitation to push the boundaries and do it anyway! It was kind of funny that more than half of the tour group ignored the advice and went through the Damascus Gate anyway. Though, we did so exercising caution with the foreknowledge we received.

With an incident free entry to the Old City, we weaved our way through the narrow market streets of the Christian Quarter. These streets were a vibrant expression of colours and textures with an array of aromas permeating from the street stalls. From the beautiful fabrics and ancient artefacts to the local produce, the richness of Jewish and Palestinian culture was on full display. One of the things I particularly enjoyed today was the freedom to go wherever these sights, smells and sounds led and to just linger in these ordinary, everyday spaces, engaging with some very interesting people. It was the accidental encounters along the way that made the day so interesting. While waiting for one from our group, a little photography shop opened, revealing some stunning black and white photography of Jerusalem from the 1920’s. The third-generation owner of the shop showed us an extraordinary image of a shepherd and his sheep by a river. When you turn the photo upside down, you see the same shepherd with only a single sheep reflection on the water. The photo has been connected with the Scripture about the lost sheep.

The owner of another shop selling antiquities offered us tea and shared some very interesting stories behind some of the pieces from Syria. He was more concerned about extending to us his hospitality than pushing his products. Hidden among the stalls was a delightful little café that looked like it was in a cave with the limestone walls and curved ceiling. Most importantly, the double espresso I ordered was on point! Our lunch stop was at the Christ Church Coffee Shop & Courtyard, where we ordered a Mediterranean style pizza and took joy in supporting this local Christian church in Jerusalem. On our way out of the Old City, we walked through the Armenian Quarter, where we bumped into our tour guide. As an Armenian Jew, he enthusiastically invited us into the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem where he shared with us some of their history.

We left the Old City through the ‘Zion Gate’ and made our way down to visit Oskar Schindler’s grave. After visiting the Holocaust Museum, the other day, it was a site I really wanted to visit. His grave was simple but adorned with stones from visitors as a Jewish custom of respect and honour for this great man. Our day concluded with a visit to the American Colony Hotel, which was established by Horatio Spafford, the composer of the hymn ‘It is Well’. This historical setting was a beautiful backdrop to finish off a very enjoyable day.

“When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well with my soul.”

As we prepare to leave Jerusalem and venture back into the West Bank tomorrow, it is fitting to say, “It is well with my soul.”

Holy Land Pilgrimage Journal (Day 9)

Friday, 20th September 2019

This morning, we ventured back into the Old City of Jerusalem through the ‘Dung Gate’ to visit the ‘Western Wall’ and its tunnels to explore the foundations of the original western side of the ‘Temple Mount’. This was a fascinating journey into one of the most sacred spaces of Judaism. As we learned about the historical significance of the Western Wall as the only really visible and accessible wall of the Temple Mount that survived the Roman destruction of the Temple and Muslim occupation, you get a sense why Jews choose to pray at this space. Their prayers at this section of wall are a longing for redemption and renewal of Israel. I couldn’t help but feel their longing and anguish as the Muslim prayers rang out over the loudspeakers from the Islamic ‘Golden Dome of the Rock’ built on top of the Jewish Temple Mount. Regardless of where you sit in this space politically, the clash of two monotheistic religions in the Holy place is very real. Given Judaism is the historical and religious roots of Christianity, there is a natural empathy for the Jewish longing for redemption. The tunnels of the Western Wall were a fascinating and enlightening journey, literally down the stony pathways of history. The realisation in one section of the tunnel that you were walking on original paving from the second temple period (516 BC – 70 AD) was surreal. I must confess that I was probably more intrigued by the engineering and architecture of the Temple Mount from than the religious significance (though, I did engage with that too). The sheer size and weight of the stones used to construct this wall was impressive. It any wonder that it is still standing today!

Once we left the tunnels, we were given the opportunity to pray at the Western Wall (men on one side and women on the other). I found this to be an interesting exercise that did conflict a little with my spirit. The sight of countless prayers written on pieces of paper folded and stuffed into the cracks between the rocks was somewhat sad. The spiritual significance of the wall has moved into a mystical space for many religious people who see the wall as possessing some sort of power. Even so, I stepped up to the wall and prayed, not to bricks and mortar, but to the Cornerstone of my faith, Jesus Christ, who is the Rock upon which His Church is built. The wall itself doesn’t hold the same significance for me as the ‘Temple’ of spiritual significance for me is the one the Holy Spirit establishes within the lives of those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the Chief Cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22)

This is the indestructible ‘Temple of God’ and Jesus is the Cornerstone to whom I pray for the redemption and restoration of His people.

From the Western Wall we visited the ‘Burnt House’ (Katros House) and a high priest mansion that gave us an insight into the dwelling places of the upper class in the city of Jerusalem. Again, I found the architecture and social family structures fascinating. These sorts of visits help to create a clearer picture of the society and world in which Jesus lived and ministered. This would have been the sort of house the High Priest Caiaphas would have owned, where Jesus was brought to and accused. The class distinction between a humble carpenter’s home and that of the high priest would have been stark.

After lunch, we left the Jerusalem walls of the Old City to visit the ‘City of David’. This was indeed a fascinating trip that also focused on the second temple period. It is archaeologically known for its Canaanite infrastructure dated to the Middle Bronze Age, and its newer structures from the Iron Age, built by Judean kings. This site offered contrasting views from David’s palace over a neighbourhood of Silwan, a Palestinian Arab village, intertwined with an Israeli settlement, to underground views of King Hezekiah’s water tunnels that would have sustained the city. These tunnels are a complex labyrinth of limestone passages that weave through the side of the mountain, providing channels for the underground spring of fresh water. The tunnels exit once flowed into the ‘Pool of Siloam’, which is the place where Jesus healed the blind man and possible place where the 3000 saved at Pentecost were baptised.

Finally, we ended the day at the Garden Tomb, which is another possible location for the burial of Jesus. This stunning location provided a view of a cliff face believed to be Golgotha, the place of the skull. A close look at the structure of the cliff shows some caves that resemble the face of a skull. Although, erosion and ground movement in recent years is diminishing this appearance. While there is no definitive proof which site is the actual tomb of Jesus, the location and geographic features of this site seems to better fit the biblical narrative than the site of the Holy Sepulchre. Walking inside the tomb was a powerful experience being inside the space where the body of Jesus may have laid. Yet, the fact that the tomb is empty is where the real power lies, because we worship a resurrected Lord! The simplicity of the tomb and beauty of the garden manipulates our desire for this to be the place rather than the opulence of a man-made structure. We concluded the day with a beautiful communion service in the garden which allowed us each to sit and engage with our resurrected Lord in this sacred space. In these moments, the words of our guide range true, “It’s not the site but the event that is important.” Knowing where the actual tomb is located is of little consequence to my faith, whereas, knowing that the resurrection actually happened is of eternal consequence and significance. It was a precious time for each of us and a very fitting way to end a full and rich day.

Holy Land Pilgrimage Journal (Day 8)

Thursday, 19th September 2019

This morning, we visited the 'Holocaust Museum' in Jerusalem. Knowing this was our destination evoked a whole lot of emotions within me that led to uncontrollable weeping on the bus, even before we arrived. I anticipated the museum would have an impact but was caught off-guard emotionally on the bus trip. One would expect an emotional response to the atrocities of Nazi Germany because of our shared humanity. But for me, today was personal, because of my family heritage. My great-grandfather, Wilhelm Alert Peter Bredemeyer, is German and fled to Australia during the second world war as an illegal immigrant. His two brothers, Albert and Horst, were gassed by the Nazis in the concentration camps. Albert was sent to Dachau and Horst was sent to Slozenburgh. So, I exist today because my great-grandfather left his brothers and escaped these atrocities! Therefore, moving through this poignant memorial had a very profound impact upon me, touching the core of my being. The images, stories, names, artefacts, reveal some very dark pages of our history that exposes the very worse of our humanity. 6,000,000 Jews lost their lives because of the ideology of one man who convinced a nation of their racial and religious superiority. This memorial stands as a reminder and as a warning. Yet, I fear that we are dangerously close to the conditions that led to the Holocaust in some parts of our world today!

We then moved from one museum to another with a visit to the ‘Israel Museum’ which houses the 'Dead Sea Scrolls', among other significant cultural artefacts. But the exhibition that captured my attention immediately as we walked through the entrances was an extraordinary scale model of the Old City of Jerusalem (1/4” – 1’) in the second temple period. The model measures 1,000 square metres and is made entirely from limestone and marble with stunning detail. The centre housing the Dead Sea Scrolls is known as the ‘Shrine of the Book’ and is a fascinating piece of architecture and engineering in the shape of a large white dome. It is an impressive building displaying ancient artefacts relating to the scrolls, including the lids of the jars in which the first scrolls were discovered at Qumran in 1947.

Our afternoon then took us across the border into the West Bank to visit Bethlehem in the Palestinian territory. The high border walls are testament to the conflict and mistrust between these two groups of people. The contrast between Israel and this part of Palestine is hard to ignore in the civic management of these two regions. The perpetual state of conflict between these two nations and the imposing barrier of an eight metre concrete wall has clearly had an adverse effect on the Palestinian people. The territory around Bethlehem, where we travelled today, is poorly kept and we found the people we encountered on the street suspicious of our presence and somewhat aggressive, seeing us as someone to exploit. I personally felt a mixture of sadness and disappointment by what I encountered in Bethlehem today. Despite this, we did meet some lovely Palestinian Christians at the Bethlehem Bible College when we attended a lecture by Salim Munyer, co-author of a book titled, ‘Through My Enemy’s Eyes – Envisioning Reconciliation in Israel-Palestine’. He spoke about the history behind the conflict and cast a vision for a new reality of peace. It was very interesting and challenging to hear a Palestinian perspective about the conflict. At the end of his lecture Salim said, “Christians need to call both sides to reconciliation with God and with each other.” 

Today really challenged my emotions and my thinking. Have we really learned from the Holocaust? Is there any difference between the segregation of the Jews in WW2 and the wall that segregates the Palestinians today? Are we recreating similar conditions that will/could lead this region down a similar pathway to Nazi Germany? To some, these might seem like outrageous questions, but to me there are present day warning signs that cannot be ignored if we don’t wish to repeat history. I know the political and cultural circumstances between Israel and Palestine are complex, but the fragility of this region deserves/demands a better way forward. The words I read today by a 14 year old boy who was killed in an Aushwitz gas chamber should speak into this present conflict, offering a plea for a better future by Jewish and Palestinian children alike:

“When I will be 20 years old,

In a motorised bird I’ll sit,

And to the reaches of space I’ll rise.

I will fly,

I will float to the beautiful faraway world

And skywards I will soar.

The cloud my sister will be

The wind is brother to me.

I will fly,

I will float over rivers and seas.

I will marvel at the Euphrates and Nile.

I will gaze at the Sphinx and Pyramids

In the goddess Isis’ ancient land.

I will glide over the mighty Niagra Falls,

And soak up the warmth of the Sahara’s sun

Over the cloud-covered Tibetan peaks will I ascend,

Above the mysterious magic land of the Hindus.

And when extricated from the sun’s heat,

I will take wing to the Arctic North,

And I will whir above the giant kangaroo isle,

And then over the ruins of Pompeii.

From there I’ll set my sights to the Holy Land,

Where our covenant was given.

I will even reach the illustrious Homer’s country,

And will be so amazed by the beauty of this world.

To the heavens I will take off.

The cloud my sister will be

The wind is brother to me.”

(Written by Abramek Koplowicz)

This dream from the past shines hope into the present. If a 14 year old Jewish boy can dare to dream from a concentration camp in Germany, then maybe a 14 year old girl can dare to dream from behind a wall in the West Bank. As I read this poem, the words of Nella Fantasia began to echo in my mind as it too speaks of a similar dream for humanity…

“Nella fantasia ip vedo un mondo giusto,

Li tutti vivono in pace e in onesta.

Lo sogno d’aime che sono sempre libere,

Come le nuvole che volano,

Pian’ d’umanita in fondo all’anima.”

(Italian)

“In my fantasy I see a just world,

Where everyone lives in peace and honesty.

I dream of souls that are always free

Like the clouds that float

Full of humanity in the depths of the soul.”

(English Translation)

In poetry and in song the dream remains the same for shalom to prevail for all of God’s children in all nations on earth!

Holy Land Pilgrimage Journal (Day 7)

Wednesday, 18th September 2019

Today, our pilgrimage took us into the Old City of Jerusalem via the Palm Sunday route from the 'Mount of Olives'. We commenced our journey at the ‘Church of the Pater Noster’ located on the Mount of Olives, which is the traditional site where Jesus taught the disciples how to pray (the Lord’s prayer). As we moved through this church, the walls were lined with renditions of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ in almost every language you could think of. It was quite a blessing listening to different cultural groups gather around their particular language board to recite the prayer in their mother tongue. I was somewhat disappointed not to find one written in Pijin English. However, I was able to photograph the Indonesian board for our dear friends Majors Nyoman & Suni Timonuli.

“Dadi bong mifala long heven,

Nem blong yu nao hemi mas stap bikfala.

Yu mekem kingdom blong yu fo kam.

Yu mekem wanem yu laekem nomoa

Fo hapen long disfala wol,

Olsem wea hemi hapen long heven.

Yu givim kam kaikai wea hemi

Fitim mifala fo tude.

Yu fogivim mifala long olketa

Ravis samting wea mifala duim,

Olsem mifala tu forgivim olketa

Hu I duim olketa ravis samting long mifala.

Yu no letem enikaen samting

Kam lo traem mifala,

Bat yu sevem mifala from paoa blong seitan.”

(Matthew 6:9-13, Solomon Islands Pijin Bible)

As we continued along our journey, we got our first glimpse of the Holy City, which was stunning. Seeing photos online is one thing but standing on the Mount of Olives looking down on Jerusalem is quite another. Next stop was the ‘Dominus Flevit Church’. This is the traditional site where Jesus wept over Jerusalem on His way towards His ‘Triumphal Entry’ into the Holy City.

Further down the Mount of Olives was the 'Garden of Gethsemane' and the 'Basilica of Gethsemane'. As spectacular as the beautifully decorated basilica was, I was more drawn to the olive tree lined garden. The arid garden connected me more with the anguish of Christ than the ornate church sanctuary. There in the garden among the 2000 year old olive trees, I imagined myself waiting and watching with the disciples while Jesus prayed. This garden is truly a sacred space that exposed the intersection between Christ’s humanity and divinity.

“Lest I forget Gethsemane

Lest I forget thine agony

Lest I forget thy love for me

Lead me to Calvary.”

Finally, as we left the Mount of Olives, we entered the Old City of Jerusalem through the Lion’s Gate. There was a tangible sense of excitement and anticipation as we entered the ancient walls of Jerusalem. I even think someone in our group started singing, ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem’. Our first stop inside the gate was the 'Pool of Bethesda' where Jesus healed the paralysed man who begged by the pool daily. The stone infrastructure of this pool that was still standing was quite amazing. Alongside the Pool of Bethesda is the 'Church of Saint Anne'. This beautiful church offered extraordinary acoustics which have become quite an attraction for touring groups to assemble at the sanctuary to sing. The sound of music pouring out of this church really is something to hear. We even waited our turn before assembling at the front of the church to sing ‘I Love You Lord’ and ‘We are Standing on Holy Ground’. It was another awe-inspiring moment. Yet, again, I found myself with a conflict in my spirit. Somehow this beautiful attraction seemed to draw people’s attention away from the wonder of the healing beside the Pool of Bethesda. A small sign beside the pool that declared the power of Jesus seemed to be overshadowed by the echo of voices inside the church. This feeling was further punctuated as I walked down the stairs to the basement below the church that is considered by Catholics to be the birthplace of Mary. The birthplace of ‘Our Lady’ seemed to be a greater attraction than the healing place of ‘Our Lord’. I don’t mean to be cynical or overtly critical, but I can’t help the way I felt.

Other sites visited inside the Holy City as we walked the 'Via Dolorosa' include the 'Struthion Pool' before the 'Convent of the Sisters of Zion', the 'Upper Room of the Last Supper' and 'King David’s Tomb'; all of which offered memorable moments. But the one space I want to comment on is the 'Church of the Holy Sepulchre', the place of the crucifixion and the tomb of Jesus Christ. I’m certain for many pilgrims this would be the pinnacle or defining moment of visiting the Holy City (the crowds alone certainly suggest this). In many ways, that was my hope and expectation for myself. Yet, that was far from my experience. Our visit to the Holy Sepulchre was a melee of religious pilgrims scrambling for a glimpse or touch of the elaborate and ornate icons representing the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The crowds were simply overwhelming and the jostling for position almost sacrilegious. As much as I wanted to just linger in this most sacred space, I was too distracted and disorientated by the chaos around me. And our well-meaning guide didn’t help matters as he seemed more concerned ushering us around the crowd from on spot to another than allowing us to simple be present and encounter God’s presence. Beyond the ‘WOW’ factor of the extraordinary architecture and rich history that surrounded us, I was sadly spiritually underwhelmed! We are going to try and revisit the Holy Sepulchre on our free day at a much earlier hour before the tour groups arrive and see whether that provides us with a different experience.

Holy Land Pilgrimage Journal (Day 6)

Tuesday, 17th September 2019

This morning, we checked out of the Sea of Galilee Hotel and made our way towards Jerusalem. Our first stop along the way was at the hilltop city of Megiddo, which overlooks the Jezreel Valley. The ruins of this ancient city were simply amazing, giving you an historic insight into the period. Megiddo is widely considered to be the Armageddon of the New Testament where the final battle to the end of the world. One of the impressive features of this city (apart from a breathtaking view of the valley) was Ahab’s tunnel. This tunnel was dug to connect the heavily fortified city to underground springs that lay outside the city gate. That way, the occupants could access fresh water without leaving their gates and out of sight of their enemies. Genius!! There was also an underground grain store with stairs leading in and out to ensure the community had access to an ample supply of food. Another example of clever civil engineering.

From this impressive city, we drove to Mount Carmel where Elijah confronted the Prophets of Baal in the Old Testament. I was given the privilege of reading the story from 1 Kings 18:16-39 in a garden courtyard alongside a rather intimidating statue of the prophet Elijah. While reading this Scripture, the rest of our group noticed a cross in the background. Elijah’s prayer…

“Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again” (1 Kings 18:36-37).

Reading this Scripture in such a location was truly an awe-inspiring moment! What added to the moment was the rumbling of military aircraft engines in the distant background. It almost sounded like thunder in the distance. Following this reading, I invited our group to sing together the chorus ‘Be Still’…

“Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here.

Come bow before Him now with reverence and fear.

In Him no sin is found. We stand on holy ground.

Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here.

Be Still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.

He burns with holy fire; with splendour He is crowned.

How awesome is the sight, our radiant King of Light.

Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.

“Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.

He comes to cleanse and heal, to minister His grace.

No work too hard for Him. In faith, receive from Him.

Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.”

This was truly a mountain top experience in every way! I never imagined in my life ever being able to stand in the same space as the prophet Elijah and read a part of his story in the very place it happened. I’ve always connected with God on the top of mountains but today was something special that I’ll always remember.

As we passed through Haifa, we made a brief stop at the Bahai Temple and Garden. The view across the city was amazing and the Bahai Gardens were beautiful. However, I really did wonder the relevance and appropriateness of such a stop on the “Footsteps of Jesus” Holy Land Tour?! Personally, I would have much rather stop at the Elijah Cave while passing through Haifa. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the journey.

The journey along the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, before turning inland to Jerusalem, offered some amazing Roman architecture with views of the Roman Aqueduct in Caesarea and the Roman Theatre at the Caesarea National Park. Among the ruins of the Roman Theatre, we paused to read from Acts 25:1-12, when Paul stood accused before Festus and boldly defended himself by saying, “I appeal to Caesar.” Once again standing in the very location where these Scriptures happened is quite amazing.

Our final stop for the day, before reaching Jerusalem, was at Jaffa. Apart from the biblical significance of Jaffa (aka Joppa) being the place where Jonah ran from God (Jonah 1:3) and where Peter had a vision and met with Cornelius (Acts 10:9-23), this was an absolutely delightful city. The European influence is unmistakable in the Middle Eastern architecture and cultural interaction in street markets and cafes along the esplanade. We were given some welcomed free time (not enough) to explore the beauty of this delightful setting. Of course, I found a quaint little café where I took the opportunity to order a double espresso, which didn’t disappoint! I would definitely return to Jaffa if I ever had the opportunity, to take in every part of this city. Oh yeah, the view of Tel Aviv was spectacular also!!

We drove into Jerusalem after sunset and checked into our second hotel for the trip – ‘The Olive Tree Hotel’ – which is gorgeous! From the ancient Judo-Roman décor to the olive tree in the middle of an elaborate dining room, then the personalised greeting on the TV monitor in our room, this place is something special. I think we are going to really enjoy the next five nights in this accommodation. It’s been a long, full day, but a blessed day. We look forward to getting out and about to explore some of the significant places where Jesus actually walked.