Israel Wednesday April 20 - last full day in the Holy Land

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Well, today is our last day of touring as we head back to Tel Aviv tomorrow, to catch our 12:55 flight back to New York.  A couple from our group left us today, Jim and Ann from North Carolina, as they will be heading to Paris for a few days.   This couple were filled with Southern hospitality and we were blessed to meet them.  Praying their trip and a hedge of protection over them as they travel.  Aloha and hope to see you both soon!

Today, we were making 3 stops, our final 3 stops of the tour and probably for me the most significant ones. We first visited the site known as the Upper Room.  It is located on Mount Zion outside of the Zion Gate in Jerusalem.  It is also known as the Cenacle and in this room, many significant New Testament time events occurred.  The Passover Meal (the Last Supper) (Matthew 26), the washing of the disciples feet (Matthew 26), the gathering of the disciples after the Ascension of Jesus and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and many others on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).

Topography and travel distance is important to the history of Jesus.  We read the scripture of the Last Supper and then I was asked to read the Acts 2, the day of Pentecost.  It was so profound to read the actual scripture in the actual room that it occurred in.  It was a reverent awe time for me…

Also at this location is what many believe to be King David’s tomb below the Upper Room.  David was the only patriarch in his lineage that was buried in Jerusalem.  Most of the others were buried in the family grave of Hedron.  This was significant, because until Jesus came along, King David was the most revered leader throughout history, as he was the one God loved the most back in the day.  Like all the other places to see with my own eyes, was totaling amazing. 

When leaving this location, we walked down the hill to what is known as Caiaphas House, which is now memorialized by the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu.  A church overseen by the Roman Catholic Church.  This is where a few things in the ending of Jesus life occurred.  After the last supper when Jesus was betrayed by Judas, Jesus was taken to Caiaphas,  the High Priest house, who was Jesus main opponent and in Luke 22, it tells of the events that was occurring to Jesus and Peter.  Caiaphas judged Jesus to be killed, but did not have the authority to make this happen.  Thus Jesus was kept as a prisoner in the bottom of cistern for overnight and was to be delivered to Caesar the next day, to begin what is known now as the Via Dolorosa.  We shared the scripture from Psalm 88 regarding the pain and suffering that the psalmist talked about happening to him, but instead prophesying what would occur to Jesus at the very bottom of this cistern, a good 100 feet from the street level.  It was a pit..not a good pit to be left in.  And again, to see this area, this landmark where Jesus life was occurring was amazing.  Prior to walking down to this location, Hill-El made us stop at the top of the hill and in one great moment in time, he walked us through and replayed for us the events that occurred leading up to the week of Jesus being crucified. 

Coming over the Mount of Olives from Bethany and Bethage, to the Mount of Olives and entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday via the road.  To the Southwest corner of the temple where He would enter the Temple Mount on Mount Morian.  To where He would teach in the temple and knock over the money changers table.  To the Passover, then taken back to Gethsemane across the valley again, where He was betrayed by Judas.  Taken back across the valley the to house of Caiaphas and then transferred to Caesar at the Praetorian which led to the Via Dolorosa – the way of the Cross actually occurring.  Amazing, amazing!!!

Here is also where the Rooster crowed 3 times after Peter denied He knew Jesus as Caiaphas was with Him. 

All I can say is wow!

The last place we visited was the Garden Tomb  For the past few years, since the early 1900’s there has been a discrepancy in regards to where Jesus was actually crucifed and buried.  Was it at Calvary or at Skull of Golgotha?  Both have archeological evidence as well as written proof of to where Jesus was killed, buried and raised.  This debate will continue on forever as in all things with the Bible..however here is what we all need to know: 

Whichever cave Jesus was placed in after being killed, He is not there any longer nor 2000+ years ago. As our Garden Tomb guide said, it is not so much where He died and was buried and rose again..but the fact that we know in faith and proof that it occurred and we are all saved by what He did and we have eternal life with the Father…amen!!!

There is way more data and info I could provide for today, but I am beat.  Just know for me, it has been a life changing, life altering, God glorying experience that I have been blessed with.  Lori’s passing, provided many miracles, blessings, healing and joy in many things and this was one huge one. 

We all had the afternoon free.  4 of us headed back to hotel..we first stopped at the train station by our hotel that has no trains and ate a great American lunch..burgers, fries and an Jewish beer.  Then we walked back. I went to the Turkish Sauna room, the pool and got a massage from a guy named Gabriel, who was barely 5’1” tall, but massaged my busted up body to a point of no return…it was a blast. 

We had our last meal together and shared one thing we were all blessed with and the sharing was priceless.  For me it was the relationships we built over this past week.. there were too many places and things I saw to name them all, but it was the relationships that will make this trip even more of a blessing. 

I will close out this blog once in New York and am so thankful for you all and for all your prayers and support.  Please continue to pray for peace in this region and that God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit be recognized as the True Triune God and that people be unified in Him throughout the world. 

Lord, all I can say is thank You!  Love you!!

Love you all, God bless you all and hope to see you all soon!!!

Blessings

Sean from Jerusalem Israel, Mount Zion Hotel 9:07PM Israel time, Wednesday, April 20

Below are the pics from today!

Pics from Wednesday April 20