Highlights of our Tour of Israel

How does one put into words the experience of a lifetime? It is indeed very hard. And then, to make things even more complicated, how does one choose one or two highlights from among the many? It is impossible. Overall, it was such a special time in Israel, despite all that is happening in the political circles. One can't really refer to the time as a 'holiday' - it is more of an Encounter or an Experience, and one that every believer should try and do, if you can.

If I am pushed to choose a spiritual highlight, I would go for 3 of them:

1. Sharing in Baptisms in the Jordan River - priceless encounters with our group and even with other people who came up to us (out of nowhere) and asked us to Baptise them. They were from the Coptic Church in Egypt - so, so amazing.

2. Sharing in Holy Communion at the Garden Tomb. Very blessed time and hard to put into adequate words.

3. Singing the Lord's Prayer in the Pater Noster Church. This is considered to be one of the places where Jesus taught his disciples to pray and we got the chance to sing in this special place. There are versions of the Lord's prayer in hundreds of different languages all over that place.

Overall, I am just humbled to have had the chance to be in that special place. It is hard to imagine that a land, smaller than the Kruger National Park, could have impacted the world in such a dramatic way.

Living in Grace
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Mount of Olives

Today we get to look across to Jerusalem, from the Mount of Olives. It will be almost the same view that Jesus had of the city, 2000 years ago, although lots has changed since then. We will read from the Bible some key passages, including this one:

Mark 13:2-4 - Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, ⁴ “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?”

Luke 19:41-44 - As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it ⁴² and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.

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The Wailing Wall

When the temple of Jews was destroyed in 70 A.D. (by the Romans), this marked a huge surge in the diaspora of the Jewish people. They were no longer safe or welcome in Jerusalem and so they fled throughout the world. Today, the Western part of that same Temple is still standing and people come from every continent to pray at this wall. It has become a place where Jews can lament over what happened and were anyone can come to PRAY.

Today as we stand at the Wailing Wall I believe we will be overcome with the historical significance of this moment. We will stand where millions of people have stood, covering a period of history thousands of years old - it is remarkable.

And into this surreal moment, we will offer up our prayers to Jesus, the one who is not bound by time nor space; the one who isn't only present in a temple building (or church), but who is everywhere. Our Lord is the maker of heaven and earth.

Luke 21:5-6

⁵ Some of his disciples began talking about the majestic stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said, ⁶ “The time is coming when all these things will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”

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Mount Masada

Today we get to climb Mount Masada. I have been looking forward to this moment for years and can't actually believe that I will be getting to do this. Masada is steeped in history, but is most famous for the 967 Jews who committed mass suicide on the mountain in 73A.D. Under siege by the Roman army, the Jewish community on Masada chose to die, rather than be tortured by the Romans. If you would like to read more on Masada then click onto the link. 

We will also travel to Bethany today, to visit the tomb of Lazarus. If you remember his story in the Bible (John 11), Jesus prayed over his dead body and he rose from the dead. Lazarus was also the brother of Mary and Martha.

^"When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. ¹⁸ Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, ¹⁹ and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. ²⁰ When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. ²¹ Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”
²³ Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”
²⁴ “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”
²⁵ Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.^[e] Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying." - John 11

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Beth Shean

Beth Shean has an incredible history. One hasn't got time to go into the whole history of this ancient city, as it goes back 6000 years, but it has had many occupants over the centuries. Perhaps the most striking biblical reference to Beth Shean is in the book of first Samuel. King Saul's body was nailed to the walls of this city, along with those of his sons. Later on in 2 Samuel 21, David returned to this place to retrieve the bones.

1 Samuel 31 - ⁸ The next day, when the Philistines went out to strip the dead, they found the bodies of Saul and his three sons on Mount Gilboa. ⁹ So they cut off Saul’s head and stripped off his armor. Then they proclaimed the good news of Saul’s death in their pagan temple and to the people throughout the land of Philistia. ¹⁰ They placed his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the wall of the city of Beth-shan.

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Armageddon

 As you read this post today, we will be driving to the ancient city of Megiddo, in Israel. This name may not ring any bells for you, at first, but if I used the word ARMAGEDDON, then perhaps your ears may prick up a little.

The book of Revelation mentions an apocalyptic battle at Armageddon, a name derived from the Hebrew "Har Megiddo" meaning "Mount of Megiddo". And so it is that the word, "Armageddon" has become a byword for the end of the world. I certainly hope that we won't get to experience the end of the world today, because I still want to see the rest of Israel :)

I guess this place reminds us all that there will come a time, when all things will come to an End. I pray that we are all prepared for that day.

Revelation 16

¹⁵ “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”

¹⁶ And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon.

¹⁷ Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!”

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What is on your Bucket List?

Having a 'Bucket List' is a good thing! It helps us to dream and put plans in place to fulfill our dreams. Today, Kim and I get to tick off one more thing off our List. Travelling to the Holy Land has been a lifelong dream of ours and we are so grateful to be heading there tonight. It is hard not to try and anticipate too much, but one has a few preconceived ideas already formulated in your mind, as to what certain places will look like. We will keep you updated as we head along and may send some photo's through too.

In the meantime, draw up your own Bucket List. Make number 1, the most likely to be achieved this year, and then dream even bigger, as you make up the rest of the list.

"Everyone who got where he is has had to begin where he was." - Robert Louis Stevenson

"We all have two choices; we can make a living or we can design a life." - Jim Rohn

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Tour of Israel

Yes, the rumours are TRUE. We are heading off to Israel this weekend for a 10 day tour. This trip has been months in the planning and we are joining a large group of people travelling from Wesley, Scottsville Baptist and a few other churches. We are so looking forward to this Pilgrimage, as it will be our first time in the Holy Land.

I am deeply aware that Christ rule in 'our hearts' and that one doesn't have to trek to Israel to experience the love of Jesus, but I am excited to walk in the places where Jesus walked and ministered. Also, as a lover of history, I am looking forward to seeing some of the ancient places and cities.

If you would like to follow our Tour then you are welcome to look at the photos on the Wesley Methodist Facebook page.

Please pray for all of us on the tour, that we would arrive safely and have a pleasant time. Pray also for our families and loved ones that are left behind in South Africa.

Thanks for all your support.

Matthew 2:6 -  ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”

Living in Grace
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