Israel Highlights - Jerusalem and surrounding area

My pictures that I share today are mostly from the Jerusalem area with a few exceptions. In this first photo, Kristin is preparing to sing (a capella) in the amphitheatre at Bet She’an. The acoustics in the amphitheatre are such that she could easily sing without a microphone and be heard very well. We were so blessed by Kristin.

At one tiny church in the Galilee are, Kristin sang ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ a capella. We got special permission from the nuns who run the site for her to sing. It was an absolutely holy moment. Other groups touring the site crowded into the small church to listen. After Kristin finished, there was hardly a dry eye in the place. Our pastor, Bro. Fred, stopped by the nun’s office to thank them for allowing Kristin to sing. He said that they had tears in their eyes and told him that the pleasure was all theirs. I wish you could hear my friend sing.

Kristin, Bro. Fred and Wisam at Bet She’an amphitheatre

This picture was taken from the top of Mt. Megiddo where at least 25 civilizations have existed. The Jezreel Valley is a lush, beautiful valley where the Bible tells us the final battle of all battles will take place at the end of time. We are told that the blood of the nations will run deep in this valley. As you look out from Megiddo, it is hard to imagine the bloodshed that will occur here.

Jezreel Valley/Site of the Final Battle

The Megiddo site has a large water cistern that was used in antiquity to provide water for the residents of the city. We had the opportunity to go down into the tunnel through which the water flowed from the outside.

Now, what you must know is that I have a bit of claustrophobia. In the spring, my husband and I went through Cave Spring, Ga on our way back from Charlie’s graduation. Greg wanted to go into the cave and see what it was like. I declined and stayed outside as I could not bear the thought of going into a cave.

Fast forward to my Israel trip. The group was going through the tunnel and so I thought, “Ok, it is a tunnel, not a cave. I can do this.” Wrong!! I got the bottom of the stairs and thought, “Oh, no, this was not a good idea”, but I kept moving. The problem came when Bro. Fred got halfway through the tunnel and stopped. He turned to the group and said, “Let’s stop right here and let me tell you a bit of the history.” I was very near a panic attack and thought, “Oh, no you don’t.” It was at that point that Kristin grabbed my camera and said, “Let me take a picture to show Greg. He will never believe you went down in the tunnel.”

This picture IN NO WAY shows what was going on in my body and mind. I was very close to hyperventilating. I was trying desperately to focus on my breathing, yet my heart was pounding out of my chest. I was dizzy and really needed to get out of there. I pushed past Bro Fred and left the group in the tunnel. There was a long flight of stairs that I had to climb to get out and I can assure you that I got up those stairs very quickly. It took a full 15 minutes before I stopped shaking. Lord, have mercy!

Tunnel at Megiddo!

We visited the church at Cana where Jesus performed His first miracle. This cistern would have been very much like the cistern that held the water than Jesus turned into wine.

Cistern at the church at Cana

Honestly, I have never seen a half shower door!! It took both Kristin and me a few days to get the hang of showering with only half a door. The bathroom got a good soaking several times until we learned to keep the showerhead turned down to the floor. Anyone else seen one of these?

Shower in our hotel room

Very few people will ‘get’ this picture so please bear with me. Mary Snyder, this is for you!!!! Wish I could have loaded it up and brought it to you!! There were two bedside table lamps to match, if you can even imagine it!!!!!!!!! Love ya, girl!

Mary Snyder…this is for you!!

Our tour guide, Wisam, is a carver. His father and grandfather have also been long-time carvers. I brought home a beautiful olive wood challis that Wisam carved. Wisam took us by his church and showed us this spectacular altar that was carved by his grandfather many years ago. It is intricate and so beautiful. The church has been offered millions of dollars for it but it is priceless to them. I wish I had been able to really capture the details.

Altar carved by Wisam’s grandfather

We sat on the Mt. of Olives looking across the Kidron Valley at the Temple Mount. I noticed that just in front of me was strung razor wire all around the area. I thought how much similarity there was in the razor wire and the Dome of the Rock, the third most holy site in Islam. Both represent captivity, violence, and repression. Praise Jesus that He has set free those who believe in Him!!

Captivity

Surrounding the temple mount one will find several doors that look like this. In Jesus’ day the doors looked very similar, with the smaller door giving access so that the main gates did not have to be opened. Wisam told us that the smaller door was called ‘the eye of the needle’. Hence, when Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven, He was not referring to an actual needle, but rather to the small door leading into the temple mount. Cool, huh?

Gate door/Eye of the Needle

These olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane date back to the time of Jesus! AMAZING!!

Garden of Gethsemane

Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount

The eastern gate of the temple would have been the main entrance into and out of the temple area. Jesus would have walked through the gate many times.