The Final Day-Echoing Eden
Mount of Olives, Dominus Flevut Garden of Gethsemane, St. Annes, Pool of Bethesda, Church of The Holy Sepulchre, Israel Museum, Mount of Olives
(Mount of Olives Overlook)
Our tour came to a close today, but not without being one of the most impactful days I've ever had in Israel. It began on the Mount of Olives, where we pointed out various features of the city and, more importantly, traced Jesus’s path into the city at the Triumphal Entry, the week leading to his death and resurrection. From here, we followed, somewhat, his path down the Mount of Olives and into a church known as “Dominus Flevit,” which means in Latin “The Lord Wept.” This church commemorates our Lord weeping over Jerusalem. It houses one of my favorite mosaics on its altar, symbolizing the Lord's compassion for the impending destruction.
(View from Dominus Flevet)
Continuing on, we walked to a garden on the Mount of Olives, where we shared communion together. We reflected on our Lord’s time in the garden, perhaps near where our group sang, sat, and shared. While it may not stand out in a newsletter, the quiet reflection before sharing in the Lord’s supper is likely one of the most impactful moments of the trip. We then moved to the church at the base of the Mount of Olives, which is surrounded by a 1000-year-old olive grove (not exaggerating). We sang the classic “I Walked in the Garden Alone” inside this beautiful church. It was quite something.
(Church of Gethsemane)
(Communion in/near Gethsemane)
We then proceeded to the Old City and the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. We learned about the ruins of the site and the pagan worship that took place there, shedding light on some intriguing words from Jesus in John 5. We then entered St. Anne's Cathedral, a Crusader-era cathedral with the best acoustics in the entire country. The acoustics require you to hold a rest as you sing, allowing the sound waves to carry. Naturally, Carissa was the one to lead us in "As the Mountains Surround Jerusalem," because I have no sense of musical timing whatsoever. It was deeply moving and quite impactful as about 40 people in the church burst into applause when we finished the song.
(Pool of Bethesda)
After this, we navigated our way through the city, arriving at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site of our Lord’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. This is the busiest church in the world, with millions of people visiting it each year. Our group went to the bottom level, in the old stone quarry, where we sang “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.” We drew another crowd, but none of us cared. We were all weeping while singing about our Lord’s great sacrifice and love. I will never forget it.
(Singing in the Church of the Holy Sepluchre)
After a fantastic lunch courtesy of our wonderful bus driver, Eli, we visited the Israel Museum, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls, a massive model of 1st-century Jerusalem, and basically every cool find from all the archaeological digs we visited throughout the tour. It's a marvelous museum. Our time there helped put a lot of things into perspective.
(Model of 1st Century Jerusalem 1/50 scale)
We then returned to the Mount of Olives, this time on the other side overlooking the desert and the Dead Sea. We closed by reflecting on God’s promise in Ezekiel 47 that he would turn that arid land into a flourishing oasis. We discussed the name of our tours, "Echoing Eden," and how the church is to be the presence of God in a land desperate for Him, and how our lives should bring an echo of the home that everyone is searching for.
(Back side Mount of Olives)
It was a marvelous trip. There is much to reflect on as we head to bed before our journey home. I want to thank our bus driver, Eli, and our Israeli guide, Ariel, who were both truly fantastic. The trip wouldn't have happened without them. Tomorrow, we bid farewell to this wonderful land, grateful for the experiences God has granted us during our travels here.
Love reading your enthusiastic words about your trip.