Jerusalem (New Testament Remix)

On Wednesday this last week we embarked on our New Testament walk into Jerusalem.  To begin our day, we visited the Temple Mount since it is only open at certain times in the mornings and afternoons.  So, we made our way up to the Mount I was surprised initially to see how much bigger it was than I thought, while the Dome of the Rock appeared smaller than I thought.  Our teacher, Abner Chou, then talked to us about the significance of this place throughout all of redemptive history.  We traced back to Genesis 22 where Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on top of Mount Moriah, which is the Temple Mount.  He also reminded us that this was the same place where the presence of God dwelled in the Ark of the Covenant, which was in the Holy of Holies of the Temple.  Then, we turned to John 2 where we read of Jesus cleansing the temple area.  Then, Abner gave us some info about the details of the Temple Mount.  The Temple Mount is 300 acres in size or 1,000,000 square feet.  So when we were reading that Jesus cleansed "the temple area," it brought a whole new picture to my head of Jesus sprinting all over this track of land turning over the tables and whipping those who were treating lightly the dwelling place of God.  Our teacher reminded us that Jesus was powerful and strong- he must have been in shape to run all over this area and cleanse it.  This was not only awe-inspiring to picture my Lord accomplishing all this, but even more so, what He said after doing this in John 2:19, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."  In the following verses, we see that the Jews instinctively thought Jesus was speaking of the physical temple when John makes it clear that Jesus was speaking of His body.  This means that Jesus was claiming to be the same Temple where God had dwelled for numerous years in the Ark of the Covenant.  Jesus was claiming to be the presence of God.  This fits perfectly the emphasis of John's gospel, which preaches the Deity of Christ.  Therefore, I was amazed to be standing at the place where God dwelled in the Temple and in the bodily form of His only Son, Jesus Christ.  

Next, we visited the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu in the City of David, just south of the Old City.  Gallicantu is a latin word meaning "cock-crow" commemorating Peter's triple rejection of Christ.  This byzantine church had a dungeon and a decent view from where it stood.  We only stayed for a little bit and then headed off to eat our sack lunch somewhere in the Old City.

On our way to find a place to eat, a couple friends and I encountered an elderly Jewish man whom I had met a couple days earlier and briefly talked with.  I felt convicted after talking with him the few days earlier because it was just superficial and I didn't mention Jesus.  So, this time when I saw him, I just couldn't pass it up and knew that I couldn't have another interaction with this man without him knowing what my life is all about.  So we started to dialogue about God or "Yahweh," which he said over and over again.  I found out that he was a preacher in the States for quite some time and he used to be a Church of Christ evangelist.  Therefore, as the conversation moved, I found out he knew Scripture very well, both the Old and New Testament.  He was constantly quoting Scripture the whole conversation and at many times, it was very difficult to track with him and actually understand his thoughts.  As we discussed more and more, it became more and more discouraging because he loved the sound of his own voice and talked the whole time.  We rarely had an opportunity to say anything, and whenever I did say something, I felt like I was cutting him off.  It was weird that he believed in Jesus and knew quite well the writings of the Old Testament but he did not believe Jesus to be God.  This was the hardest and saddest part of the conversation because whenever we mentioned obvious statements on the Deity of Christ from John and Colossians 1, he would respond and say things like, "It doesn't say that..." or "The New Testament wasn't written in Greek..."  So, all that to say it was a difficult time but I do not regret it at all.  I am glad that I was able to give a reason the hope that I have within me, and that is Christ.  I am so thankful that Christ was not just a man but so much more and in fact God or Yahweh in flesh, the God-man who established forgiveness for sins and freed me from the bondage of my flesh.  After talking, my friends and I were able to pray for Claude, which was definitely a good time to be humbled and realize that, as always, this soul is in God's hands.  After seeing this man's knowledge, I have been challenged to, "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," as Peter says in concluding his second letter.  I look forward to what other opportunities may lie ahead in the future and hope that I will be better prepared and equipped to represent my Lord.

After eating lunch, we visited a museum containing some remnants of houses that were partially burned during the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem in 70 AD. by the Romans.  It was so interesting to see the difference in housing and how small the "upper class" homes of the time compared to our homes now.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any pictures because we were not allowed to take any.  Even so, our teacher did point out something cool in showing us some large stone water jars that were present in these houses when they were discovered.  He said that these were probably the same stone jars that were used in the wedding where Jesus turns water into wine in John 2.  However, he explained to us the significance of these stone jars being used rather than standard clay pots, which they also had at the time.  Apparently, clay pots were used for all types of liquids and drinks, but stone jars were only used to hold one type of liquid.  Thus, to the Jews, they used clay pots all the time and these would be easier to consider contaminated.  Stone Jars, on the other hand, were considered impenetrable and set apart for holding whatever substance they were to hold, and nothing else.  As a result, when Jesus turned these stone jars full of water into wine, He was penetrating something that was considered impenetrable.  No one could say, "Maybe there was left over wine in these jars that made the water taste like wine..."  That was completely out of the question and therefore, no human explanation could suffice for what Jesus had done during that feast.  

The final location we stopped by was the Garden Tomb, which is just north outside the Old City.  This spot has been claimed to be the location of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection because there is this hill that looks like a skull and the location is outside the city coinciding with the gospel accounts.  However, this location was not proposed until more recently and there are a couple reasons why it probably isn't the exact site.  First, the tomb itself is not the standard style of a 1st Century AD tomb.  Second, people have suggested that in front of the tomb there was a degrading in the ground to prove that a stone was rolled in front of the tomb; however, this was in fact a water channel.  On top of that, if this water channel was to be an indicator that a stone was rolled in front of this tomb, then it would have to be much deeper to support the stone that was to be rolled in place.  Nonetheless, it was still great to focus on the gospel message as Paul succinctly put it, "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."  

Well, I love you all and hope you all have a great Super Bowl Sunday!

Tunnel me...

Today we had our official Old Testament Walk of Jerusalem.  We saw far too many things to recount and accurately speak of, so I have made it a point to just hit a few highlights of our day.  The first site we went to upon arriving in the Old City was a small portion of the wall remaining from the reign of King Hezekiah.  This was significant because we were able to picture and read the story of King Hezekiah in his defense against the siege of the Assyrians led by Sennacherib.  As the Bible and history confirm, the Assyrians were one of the most brutal empires during their conquests of the eastern world in that time.  They had just ran through Judah's big brother Israel in the north and were next planning to seize Jerusalem and overrun Judah in the south.  Sennacherib set up outside of the walls of Jerusalem and sent Hezekiah a most insulting message oozing with arrogance.  In Isaiah 37 Hezekiah responds to the threatening message by relying completely upon the Lord.  In verse 20 he says, "Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his (Sennacherib's) hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God."  Hezekiah, knowing what the Assyrians had done to many, had the option of simply surrendering to the empire and going in peace; yet instead, he thrusted Himself upon the grace of God.  By the way, this was not necessarily the easiest decision to come to for Hezekiah in light of Judah's alliance with Egypt being severed prior to this Assyrian expansion.  As a result, he received grace in a comforting message from the Lord spoken through Isaiah saying, "'He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here.  He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp against it.  By the way that he came he will return; he will not enter this city,'  declares the Lord.  'I will defend this city and save it for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!'"  It is immediately after this message that we read in verse 36, "Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty five thousand men in the Assyrian camp."  So the Lord answered Hezekiah's prayer and made Himself known by disallowing this vast empire and supercilious dictator any possibility of conquering, let alone touching Jerusalem.  This brought conviction to my heart and caused me to consider deeply my shortcomings in dealing with my own sin.  I pray that God would enable me to trust Him like Hezekiah in battling my own sin and desire the result of God's glory in the end.

Next, we we're able to see the grave of Oskar Schindler, which lies right outside the city to the south.  This was very neat to see and it was also from here that we could see the Hinnom Valley.  This is where many people in Jerusalem were sacrificing their sons and daughters as Jeremiah mentions in chapter 7.  It was also interesting to find out that "ge," the Hebrew word for valley, is combined with Hinnom to make the Greek word "Gehenna," which we translate to mean hell.  

At the end of our day, we made our way down to the City of David, which is just south of Jerusalem to walk through Hezekiah's Tunnel.  Before we did this however, we visited the Water Gate and read Nehemiah 8.  It was so cool to picture all of Israel, who had returned from the exile, assembled at this place to hear the reading of the Word by Ezra for hours and days upon end.  They were convicted and cut to the core just from simply hearing the Word of God read to them.  After visiting the Water Gate, we walked through Hezekiah's Tunnel, which was created to draw water from the Gihon Spring into the city walls of Jerusalem.  Some of my friends and I had a blast splashing our way through the tunnel while singing some new Hebrew worship songs that we had learned this past week.  It was a very tight fit as far as trying to squeeze through the tunnel but it was definitely well worth it to get wet on the beautiful day God had created for us.  Finally, we visited the possible burial tomb of David and then got on our bus to head back to the Moshav.  On Wednesday, we have our New Testament Jerusalem walk, which will hopefully be just as enriching as everything else we have done so far.  

Check out http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=159900827&ref=name for more pics!

"Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God!"  Psalm 48:1

I am the good shepherd

Today we had our second class for Life of Christ and I was once again pierced by many deep insights from the Word; unfortunately, I cannot go through and share them all.  However, there was one truth that I feel like God opened my eyes to see today as Abner taught our class with his much anticipated passion and accuracy.  This truth has to deal with the magnitude of the Life of Christ in everything He did and said.  So often we read flippantly through the events of our Savior's life and are left unaffected, while much of this may be due to the fact that we do not know the background of what Christ is saying in relation to the Old Testament.  This can be often overlooked by us believers in the age of grace where the Jews in the time of Jesus would have had no problem picking up on what Jesus was making reference to.

The example that Abner gave us was from John 10 when Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd."  Those of us on the other side of the cross can hear this and simply say, "oh, that's nice of him to say that," when really the Jews, who had a very extensive knowledge of the Old Testament most likely had a completely different reaction.  The first time the term "shepherd" is used in the Bible is in Genesis 48:15 when Jacob says, "May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day..."  Another reference to this term is in Numbers 27:15-17 where Moses appeals to the Lord to implement another leader or shepherd for Israel to take them into the promised land since Moses himself was not allowed to lead God's people into the land.  

Of course, there is the obvious appearance of the term in the twenty third psalm by David whom the Jews knew plenty about.  Not only does David say, "The Lord is my shepherd," but it is interesting to note the psalms that sandwich this chapter.  There is something to be said in regard to the fact that Psalm 22 is all about the suffering and death of the Messiah, when merely six months after Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd," He is crucified.  This is of course why He says, "The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."  As Psalm 22 refers to the first advent of Christ and His suffering ministry, so Psalm 24 refers to Christ's second coming as the King when it says, "Life up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in."  Therefore the Jews, being well aware of David's writings, knew that Jesus in claiming to be this good shepherd was essentially claiming to be God.  Jesus was claiming to be the shepherd who would come first to suffer (Psalm 22) then again to reign (Psalm 24).

Finally, an obvious passage that should ring a bell to the Jews, as if they didn't remember Jacob, Moses or David somehow, is Zechariah 13:7, "'Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!' declares the Lord Almighty.  'Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.'"  This is another prophecy keeping in terms with the direction that God the Father wanted His Son to walk in for His earthly ministry.  

So basically from observing these Old Testament passages that the Jews themselves were probably quite familiar with, we now see the resounding emphasis in Jesus' statement in John 10:11, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

Who better to study?

Yesterday, we had our first class for the Life of Christ and The History of Ancient Israel, both classes being taught by Abner Chou.  Even though both classes were introductory in their style and setting the framework for the rest of the semester, I was still impacted by something Chou shared in our class for the Life of Christ.  In the introduction of our notes, he asks the question "Why study the Life of Christ?"  Under that, he basically answers it with another question, "Who better to study?"  At this point, he had us all turn to Revelation 5, which paints a beautiful scene of heaven, yet poses the dilemma of who may open the seven-sealed scroll with writing on both sides.  From this description, we can see that this is no standard scroll but rather, it is of utmost importance since it had writing on both sides (uncommon for papyrus scrolls) and since it was sealed seven times.  This scroll was the title deed to the earth, as we see the results of opening it from the rest of the book of Revelation, and yet we read in verse 3, "But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it."  This caused John to weep in verse 4 since there was no one worthy to even look inside it.  Then, an elder comforts John and tells him, "Do not weep!  See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.  He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."  Thus, we see in possibly one of the most tragic moments in all history, proven in John's weeping, Jesus Christ the Messiah, displays all authority over mankind and heavenly beings by taking the scroll from his Father who sits on the throne.  It is at this very moment where Jesus takes the scroll that a threefold progression or eruption or praise breaks out.  First, the four living creatures and twenty-four elders fall down with harps and bowls of incense singing, "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seal, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.  You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."  Second, John looks and sees "thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand" angels encircled around the throne, the four living creatures, and twenty-four elders singing, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"  Then finally, John closes the chapter with verses 13 and 14 saying, "Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"  The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped."  

So... why study the life of Christ?  Who better to study?

Jerusalem Walk

Today, we had our first official introduction walk into the Old City.  We visited various places such as the ruins of a Herodian Citadel, the first Protestant church in Jerusalem, the Holy Sepulchre, the pools of Bethesda, and we scoped out the Mount of Olives from the walls of Jerusalem.

The Herodian Citadel was the first site we visited, which is located on the west side of the city and has a pretty sweet view of all the city.  This place wasn't super significant biblically but the museum inside seemed to trace the events of history in the city of Jerusalem fairly accurately, especially in regard to the Old Testament and the reigns of David and Solomon.  

Next, we went right next door to the first Protestant church in Jerusalem called Christ Church.  This was a very unanticipated, yet moving event in our day for me.  We went into the church, sat down in our chairs, and listened to a deacon of the church explain to us the whole history of the church and how hard it has been to actually get a church inside of Jerusalem.  It has taken years upon years and man after man convicted by God to take the Gospel to the Jews.  However, once having the church established, it does not mean that the mission is accomplished.  In fact, he described the difficulty involved in trying to actually preach and live the gospel to the Jews.  He showed us some of their windows in the church and the reason for certain designs on the windows that would help the Jews understand Christianity.  It was this part of his sermonette that was very interesting to me.  In one window was a picture of an olive tree that had one branch to the right in the shape of a menorah and another branch to the left in the shape of the cross.  This is to symbolize what Paul illustrates in Romans 11 conveying the concept that Christian Gentiles are simply joining forces with this very Jewish religion.  Another window had three different names for God in Hebrew to help portray the concept of the Trinity.  The top window described God as God using Adonai and Elohim.  The second window contained the name Immanuel, meaning "God with us" referring to the fact that God came and dwelt among us as a man, Jesus Christ.  The third window gave God a name meaning "God is breath" signifying the Holy Spirit.  Seeing this in the church and also hearing a brief testimony of a woman, once orthodox Jew but now Messianic, made me realize how our faith is a very Jewish faith and we simply have been grafted in, as humiliating as that sounds.  I now feel more burdened to pray for this church inside of a very lost city.

After this, we had some lovely pizza and made our way to the Holy Sepulchre.  This was another interesting site, which I have never known much about.  This place is traditionally the proposed location where Jesus was crucified and buried; however, it is impossible to know for sure.  Nonetheless, there are many reasons to believe that this could be the place where sin was atoned for and death was conquered by our Lord and Savior.  With this, we walked inside and I was amazed to see all that had been done to this location.  Not only had an enormous church been built on top of Jesus' possible burial site; but, it was sickening to see all the religious paintings and icons, which probably took years to adorn this church.  It made me wonder if people really thought that this is what Jesus would want.  All these people gathering day after day and year after year to kiss the stone he was possibly laid upon and go into his possible tomb just seemed so contrary to Jesus last words for us to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth.  So on one hand, it was awesome to think that I might have walked where Jesus became the propitiation for my sins, but on the other hand, it was sad to see all the traditions and rituals that have now become "honoring to God" in the eyes of some.  I am still taking in what I saw and praying that God would direct me to honor Him truly from my heart and not just my lips as Isaiah spoke of in Isaiah 29:13. 

For the next hour or so we walked upon the walls of Jerusalem until we got to the east side of the city and had a clear view of the Mount of Olives.  Here we read Zechariah 14:1-5 speaking about the return of Christ on the Mount of Olives to make war against all the nations of the earth.  This was another amazing thing to hear as someone read from God's Word and picture happening on the mountain yards away from me.  The image of Jesus splitting the mountain in half forcing half the mountain to move south and half the mountain to move north was comforting considering the Mount of Olives is where he ascended into heaven after his life on earth.  

Finally, we checked out the pools of Bethesda were Jesus healed the invalid in John 5.  This was pretty neat to see and once again very reaffirming to know that Christ was ministering in this same place.  In John 5, verse 4 is omitted in some translations because it is thought that a misled scribe inserted a verse speaking of how the pool would randomly be stirred and heal whoever would go in it.  Our teacher was sharing that this was probably a common misconception and superstition during that time.  As a result, Christ sought to crush this superstition and set Himself up as the Almighty Healer, with whom nothing is impossible.  This was very encouraging and reassuring in the sense that Jesus alone heals us, not our strategies or intelligently contrived medicine, but Christ. 

After climbing around in these pools for a little while, we walked back out of the Jerusalem on the Via Dolorosa, which was very standard and normal.  There was one interesting point where there was a big chunk taken out of a wall and it has been said that Jesus fell there and put his hand on the wall.  It was at this point that Simon of Cyrene helped him carry his cross.  Once again, this is not certain but it was peculiar, nonetheless, to see.  

Well, that was our day in Jerusalem and hopefully some of the pictures in the slideshow help, even though I wasn't able to necessarily label or caption them.  Thanks again for all your prayers!  Love you and miss you all!

"... and you will do well to pay attention to it..."

This morning we had our official ibex orientation at the Moshav in Yad HaShmonah, which is where we will be staying the duration of our semester.  It is located in the Judean Hill Country and actually quite beautifully surrounded by mountainous greenery.  

(View of the beautiful Judean Hill Country from the Moshav)

One of the mountains closest to us is Kiriath-jearim, which we learned was where the Ark of the Covenant was located for almost one hundred years.  It was brought back into Israel shortly after the Philistines stole it from Israel and experienced much sickness and suffering because of doing so.  

(The mountain of Kiriath-Jearim)

We were able to walk to this mountain along the main road and visit the current cathedral that stands atop this mountain providing a view to Jersualem and practically dividing the tribal allotments of Judah, Dan and Benjamin.

(This is a strange sight atop the Cathedral.  It has Mary standing on Jesus on the Ark of the Covenant)

After this, we proceeded into the town of Abu Ghosh containing many Arabs and Muslims.  Here we visited another cathedral that had been constructed in the 11th Century by the Crusaders.  It had great acoustics so we sang a song in Hebrew and a song in English, "I love you Lord."  

(Ancient Crusader Cathedral over 900 years old)

Finally, we walked back to the Moshav for dinner and some relaxation as we await tomorrow where we will venture into Jerusalem for the first time!  

However, this morning I must say that I was already impacted by some verses that Bill, our Land and the Bible professor, shared with us from 2 Peter 1.  They really describe the goal for our time in Israel:  "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty."  This essentially is the confidence we have in studying these events that took place in the Bible.  There are many who have testified to these real events and it is because of this that verse 19 says, "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."  This verse hit me hard and I personally have been asking God that this would be my theme for this semester that I have over here.  I have been telling people to pray for me to be able to make the most of my opportunities over here, but this verse was so cool because I feel that it not only confirms that but specifically describes the goal for my time here.  Therefore, I would greatly appreciate any and every prayer for me to do well to pay attention to the word of the prophets and eyewitnesses... basically pray that I would listen to the Word of God and bow humbly as I see it placed in its physical context.  I hope I can savor and cherish this time so that I may not miss out on a moment that might enhance my knowledge of our God and Savior whom we serve.  

I'll do my best to keep this up to date!  Thank you so much and I love you all!

Mexicali... the new Holy Land?

For those of you that are here visiting this blog, you are probably here for all intents and purposes to learn more about either the Holy Land, me or both.  However, I don't quite fly out until Saturday morning so until then I thought I would keep the international theme and post this video summarizing Valley Bible Church's involvement in Mexico.  Our church sent a team of about 20 or so down to Mexicali on December 19-21.  Not only was the trip full of wonderful fellowship among the people who took time to serve for the weekend, but it was a time to simply thank God for what He is doing in His Church around the world.  He is faithful and He is causing the necessary growth needed for His glory.