Israel: Making the Steep Climb to Jerusalem and Being Overwhelmed
Doug and Linda stand at an overlook in Jerusalem with the Mount of Olives (right side) and the Temple Mount (left side) in the background.
THE ASCENT TO JERUSALEM
A profound moment in our tour of Israel came when driving from the Dead Sea to Jerusalem. After passing Jericho, we drove up a steep incline to reach the city. Along the way, we passed a site that commemorates the story of the Good Samaritan. Seeing the roughness of the terrain created an image for us that will make the story come to life in a more powerful way. The big moment, though, came when we arrived at the summit of the mountain where Jerusalem sits and looked in amazement at the many landmarks we previously had seen only in photos. Our arrival in Jerusalem became an unforgettable grand finale for our trip.
Our Jerusalem Visit
Our veteran tour guide, Tamar with America Israel Tours, promised us that our arrival in Jerusalem would be memorable and she was right. Our encounter with the city began at the Mount of Olives where we shot photos from an overlook that gave us a great view of all the key landmarks. Next, we walked the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane.
Linda walks down the Palm Sunday Road where we visited the Garden of Gethsemane. Other than the walk being a steep descent and a little slippery, we loved walking in the same area where the Bible says that Jesus walked when making his dramatic entry into Jerusalem.
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The Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem is where the Bible says that Jesus healed a paralytic man.
Doug climbs the southern stairs of the temple in Jerusalem where the Bible says that Jesus taught.
The Chapel of Condemnation was built where Jesus picked up his cross after Pontius Pilate condemned him to die by crucifixion.
Doug stands where Jesus is believed to have began walking after being sentenced to death by crucifixion.
Linda walks on Via Dolorosa, which designates where Jesus is believed to have walked on his way to being crucified.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
This heavily visited church in Jerusalem includes memorials dedicated to the crucifixion and entombment of Jesus because some believe they took place at this site.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre includes a memorial built over the place where some believe that Jesus was placed after being crucified.
Sunlight highlights a section of the dome inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The ceiling of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre features beautiful artwork.
Some experts view this hill as a possible site for Golgotha (“place of the skull”) where Jesus was crucified.
Some archaeologists and historians believe the Garden Tomb is where Jesus’ body was placed following his crucifixion.
The Temple Mount in Jerusalem includes the gold-topped Islamic shrine known as the Dome of the Rock.
Men pray at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Women pray in an adjacent but separate section.
OUR BETHLEHEM VISIT
The most fascinating part of our 7-mile excursion from Jerusalem to Bethlehem was having Tamar describe how she wasn’t allowed to go there because she is an Israeli. Since the 1995 Oslo Accords, Bethlehem has been administered by the Palestinian Authority and access is restricted. Fortunately, our bus driver, Haim, had permission to take us there and hand us over to a Bethlehem resident who provided an excellent tour of the Shepherd’s Field and Church of the Nativity. This episode pointed out the complexity of the steps taken to bring peace to Israel.
Linda visits the Shepherd’s Field (a garden) in Bethlehem.
While we loved visiting the Shepherd’s Field and seeing the unique chapel and garden there, the Church of the Nativity tested our patience and willingness to stand in a line that made the waiting times at Disney World seem short. Near the end of the line, we shuffled down a short flight of stairs into a grotto where the church has placed relics intended to indicate where Jesus was born and where he slept in a manger. Because both are in an ornate church, it didn’t create the experience expected from years of singing “Away in a Manger.” The experience became more like boarding a New York City subway at rush hour. Still, we were glad to have been able to visit Bethlehem.
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The Shepherd’s Chapel in Bethlehem commemorates the shepherds who said that angels told them about the birth of the Messiah.
Visitors crowd into the area where Jesus was believed to have been born in Bethlehem.
Our Travel Companions
We loved our trip to Jerusalem and other places in Israel, especially when going to biblical destinations. It gave us new perspectives about the setting of Bible stories we’ve heard for years. We also met many new friends who made the experience better and will be part of our fond memories of Israel.
Linda visits the Old City in Jerusalem.
LINDA’S TAKEAWAY
Linda: I was looking out the window of our tour bus as we entered Jerusalem. My eyes watered with tears of joy and sadness. I’ve read about Jerusalem in the Bible, primarily in the New Testament. I’ve listened to many sermons about the city where Jesus preached the “good news” nearly 2,000 years ago. Now today, I hear through global news about the status of Jerusalem relative to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, watching television coverage about the turmoil in the Middle East among the three religions linked to Abraham—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—is very different when observing it in person. Fortunately, my uneasiness about current conditions in Jerusalem transitioned to a peaceful state of mind as we walked through the land where Jesus preached God’s word, was crucified and resurrected. The good news about our trip was discovering that walking through Israel didn’t change my strong, steady belief in Jesus. I feel Jesus’ presence in my country as clearly as I did in the Promised Land.
Israeli soldiers pass the Citadel in Jerusalem where “The Night Spectacular” was presented.
DOUG’S HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHT
Doug: Attending “The Night Spectacular” on Saturday night stands out to me as one of the highlights of our stay in Jerusalem. Beginning after dark, the sound and light show takes place at the Citadel (Tower of David/Museum of the History of Jerusalem). It is projected on the walls of a cluster of ancient buildings, including the Tower of David. Through music and creative artwork, the show presents more than 3,000 years of Jerusalem’s history in a highly entertaining format. The 20 featured periods begin with the Israelite (1006 BCE) and Babylonian eras (586 BCE) and end with the British Mandate (1917) and State of Israel (1948) periods. The show presents too much info to retain, but the message was clear—Jerusalem has a long history with seismic shifts occurring frequently.
PARTING SHOT: SEC SOUVENIRS AVAILABLE EVEN IN JERUSALEM
LSU and Arkansas fans can buy a T-shirt in Jerusalem to show their school spirit.