Temple Mount
Time is a value commodity at the Jerusalem Center. It is a place where every second counts towards studying, socializing, sleeping, or exploring. 24 hours just doesn’t seem long enough to fit everything in. These past few days have been a whirlwind. My travels went well. There were no issues with security, passport control, or customs. The airplane dinner was better than expected and I slept through the night. The drive from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem felt long although it was only 45 minutes. It was an extremely warm day and we were all ready for bed even though it was only 2:00 in the afternoon. We all managed to stay awake mainly because we couldn’t wait to see the city. The first view of the city from the highway was exciting. The Dome of the Rock is in the foreground surrounded by Jerusalem. It was breathtaking. In my daze, it was hard to believe I was actually here in the Holy Land.
We were greeted at the center by our professors’ families and the service couples. Between all the professors there are 13 kids. They are adorable in every way! The Jerusalem Center itself is stunning.
So, today we went on our first field trip. We went to 5ish different lookouts to see Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. The main purpose of this trip was to develop a better understanding of the geography. At many of the stops we sang hymns. My favorite was singing “Be Still My Soul” in an Evangelical Lutheran Church. The acoustics were beautiful and the spirit was strong. Music, especially hymns, has the ability to invite the spirit into any situation. The word of each hymn bear a special and uniquely different testimony of Christ.
Angel at Augusta Victoria Lutheran Church
We referenced scriptures at each stop. There were a few stories that particularly touched me today.
The first was looking out over Bethlehem. As Jacob and his family were traveling from Judea to Jerusalem, Rachel was pregnant with Benjamin. Somewhere on the hills where we stood, she went into labor and passed away in childbirth. The events of that day were tragic. Jacob lost his beloved wife and Benjamin and Joseph lost their mother. Oftentimes, scripture stories seem just like words on a page. But they aren’t. These stories are real; they happened to real people. Being on the hill today and seeing the desolation of summer brought the tragedy of Rachel’s death to life.
The second story was about Solomon at Gibeon. Solomon had recently inherited the crown from his father. He loved the Lord and kept the commandments. One night, Jehovah appeared to him, ready to bless him with his righteous desires. In humility (and I’m sure fear) for being made king he acknowledged that, “I am but a little child.” Solomon asked for an understanding heart and discernment to lead his kingdom. This blessing and many more were granted unto Solomon because of his humility and righteousness. Brother Judd stressed to us that we can and need to ask the Lord for help and for blessings. Yes, I can ask for help to have fun or find a great souvenir, but that’s not why I’m here. Instead I need to figure out, “What can I ask for and seek after that is spiritually beneficial to me during my time in the Holy Land?”
I am grateful that I had the opportunity to visit each of today's sights. I know that as I invest myself in my studies, my understanding of the Holy Land will increase greatly. Even just a day surveying the land helped me orient myself and put more stories in context.
My wonderful field trip group.
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