Wednesday
Our first stop on a big travel day was at Bet She’an. The ruins of a city larger than Jerusalem at the time of Christ, important to the Romans. In 1 Samuel 31:8-12 we learn that Saul (and Jonathan’s) bodies were displayed here. Saul was nailed to the city walls when he was captured. It was really cool to see what Roman life would have been like. Super glad to live in this century!
Beth Shean (Beit She’an)
(“house of security”) Located 20 miles south of the Sea of Galilee. Six temples have been unearthed. Well-preserved Roman city with amphitheater, colonnaded street, theater, bathhouse, forum (public square and marketplace), temples, plus more. 3rd
A.D. rabbi said, “If paradise is situated in the Land of Israel, its entrance is Beth Shean.”
• Part of Manasseh’s inheritance (Josh. 17:11)
• Bodies of Saul and hissons were hung on its walls(1 Sam. 31:8-13; 2 Sam. 21:12-14)
• This is a great Greco-Roman site.
Greco Roman Theatre where public shows, chariot races, theatre and gladiatorial combat occurred. Theaters were semi-circular in form and were designed to host events such as plays, pantomimes, choral events, and orations. As such they were built to optimize acoustics. They would have a high back wall (typically with the facade of temples), a stage, an orchestra pit, and a sitting section. Amphitheaters did not need superior acoustics, unlike those provided by the structure of a Roman theatre. Amphitheaters would feature races and gladiatorial events. They were constructed in the shape of a circle or oval. Roman Circuses/Greek Hippodromes: The Roman circus was a large open-air venue used for public events in the ancient Roman Empire. The circuses were similar to the ancient Greek hippodromes, although serving varying purposes. Circuses were one of the main entertainment sites of the time. Circuses were venues for chariot races, horse races, and performances that commemorated
important events of the empire were performed there. For events that involved re-enactments of naval
battles, the circus was flooded with water.
How about that public toilet?!
Water flowed underneath, taking away the waste.
We all gathered round the restroom for our history lessons, haha!
After this quick stop we drove along the border of Jordan toward the Jordan River.
Our next stop was the traditional spot of Bethabara, near where Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. It was interesting and fun to see Christians being baptized in the dirty water of the Jordan river. This is also near where the water parted when Joshua entered the promised land. Much of the water is now used for farming so it is a very small fraction of what it once was. Jesus already knew he was the son of God but is it possible that his understanding deepens when he is baptized as the voice from heaven declared “Thou art my beloved son; in thee I am well pleased in Luke 3:22. In D&C 93:12-13 we read that he received grace for grace and his baptism was likely one of those experiences. It was interesting to see armed soldiers all around the site as the river is the border with Jordan. John joked that if anyone tried to swim across we’d see them in the next life. Israel does not take security lightly.
This was a highlight of the trip. Shelley brought little, glass vials so we could bring home some water from the Jordan River. It had a more touristy feel to it and I didn't have the same feelings watching these people get baptized as I did at the Sea of Galilee but it was still special to see the place where Christ would have been baptized.
Next, we stopped at Qumran, the spot where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered in 1947. The Dead Sea Scrolls are considered by many to be the most significant archaeological find of the 20th century. It is hard to imagine how people could live in these desert places. We don’t see many people living in the desert these days, just the occasional shepherd and his goats. I’m not sure what they even eat or drink!
Floating on the Dead Sea was super fun! It is definitely a major tourist stop. There are multiple places to stop around the border of the Dead Sea and I learned that where we stopped was very different from where Rachel stopped last year. Where they were, they collected chunky salt in vials that was on the shoreline. We didn't see anything like that. After parking, there are gift shops and food to buy. We changed in the locker room areas then walked down a long path to the beach. It is lifeguarded and we were explicitly warned to not let our heads go under water or let any water near our faces. Even though the water is shallow, people have drowned when the salty water gets in their eyes and mouth and they are in pain and get disoriented and struggle to get out. It was such a trippy feeling to float on the water with almost no effort! The sand/mud on the bottom is supposed to be rich in minerals and really good for your skin. They even package and sell it in the gift shops and I ended up buying some because after this experience I noticed my normally dry, cracked hands were baby smooth for days! I really loved this experience!
Ezekiel 47 - Water flowing out from the temple will live. The living water of Christ will heal everything, even the Dead Sea.
An unexpected and very interesting stop of the day was the Wadi Qelt overlook where we could see Jerusalem to Jericho and a very cool monastery built on the cliffside. Remarkable that anything like that could be built out here! I have so many questions haha. So anyway, this was quite literally the road from Jerusalem to Jericho and it was hot, baron, and desolate. In the parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10 there were really two questions asked by each traveler. If I stop to help him, what will happen to me? If I don’t stop to help him what will happen to him?
The Road to Jericho
Joshua 2, 6 Israelites enter the Promised Land through Jericho with Rahab’s help.
Luke 10:30-37 “A certain man” – this man isrepresentative of all mankind
• Jerusalem: The Holy City – The presence of God
• Jericho: Lowest city on the earth – a telestial world
• Stripped naked: naked in scripture typically means – mortal and without glory (Adam, 2 Corinthians 5:2-4)
• Half dead & half alive: quickened both by the flesh and by the spirit 50/50
• Priest & Levite pass on the other side: heading to Jerusalem? Ritually unclean?
• Samaritan: half Jew/half Gentile; The Samaritan is our Christ figure
• Christ: half mortal/half immortal; half divine/half man
• Bound wounds by pouring oil/wine (blood)
• Set him on his own beast: Took upon him our wounds
• Paid for the recovery of the wounded man (Redeem = To Buy)
• How shall I inherit eternal life? Through the redeeming gift of Christ...
• Who is my neighbor? He who acts as Christ would act.
Off in the distance in this picture is Jerusalem.
There were people selling jewelry and scarves and Shelley bought a necklace so I got a similar one. Now we have matching white beads from Israel.
Our first glimpse of Jerusalem!
In preparation to experience and enjoy all different types of worship in Jerusalem we had a very interesting and enlightening discussion about how in our faith we have overemphasized Gethsemane and downplayed the suffering and atonement that happened on the cross. This was all familiar to me because I've read John's book called, “Consider the Cross” that helps people of our faith to understand that Christ’s suffering and death on the cross was critical and although we don’t worship the cross, we cannot overlook what happened there. He talked about seeing all the good in the worship of others and recognizing their hearts.
Traffic got a little hectic for a second.
This is called "crash corner", for good reason!
Why they wont put up stop signs or lights in just that intersection
but have them everywhere, I dunno.
As we entered Jerusalem, we went straight to the Mount of Olives to get the lay of the land. It just felt so iconic to be there, to have the Temple Mount in the distance and the dedicated believers all around us. In fact, while we were there, a bell rang out and I watched as a Muslim pulled out her prayer mat to pray. I hope it's OK I took this picture. I just love seeing religion in motion and I think it's admirable that they commit to that devotion every day. John took just a moment to speak of Acts 1:12 and the ascension and Second Coming that will happen on the Mount of Olives.
Our hotel in Jerusalem, Grand Court Hotel, wasn't quite as luxurious as Magdala, but it wasn't a shack either! And the buffet was just as incredible, if not more so, than the others! I was not expecting to eat so good here but we have been spoiled! How will I ever go back to cooking in my own kitchen?
A weird thing to note, but these croutons were so so yummy! Buttery and crunchy on the outside but then soft and a bit chewy on the inside. It was like food from another world. I was obsessed.
I forgot to mention that John's son was with us on this trip! John and his family lived here for a year, not long ago, so his son knew the lay of the land and offered to take us into town after dinner. We had had a long day but I wasn't going to waste a second in Jerusalem so we happily agreed! He kept a really quick pace and we nearly jogged through some main sites. Walking through the city was the COOLEST!!! Pinch me! How am I actually here?!! It was all very different than what we had seen previously. Here, people and tourists lined every street. The buildings and shops crowded around us. It still felt like stepping back in time but mixed with present day. A mix of biblical and modern. I was mesmerized by the rows and rows of wares on display. Butchered animals strung from ceilings. Fabric and candy, shoes and artwork. All framed by the magnificent stone walls of the city.
Walking through Damascus gate.
We first went to The Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, the church is home to two of the holiest sites in Christianity- the site where Jesus was crucified, known as Calvary, and the tomb where Jesus was buried and then resurrected.
I'll write more about it when we come back with the whole group.
This is the stone they believe Christ's body was laid on in
preparation for burial.
People were putting personal items on the stone and praying over them.
Even store keepers brought their merchandise to pray over
before putting it on shelves to sell.
So interesting to watch!!
Up some stairs is where they believe Calvary is.
Where Jesus was crucified.
It is really hard to see, but the alter underneath the Jesus statue has
glass boxes around stone boulders, where His cross stood.
People in line to pray in the alter.
Then we walked to the Western Wall. On the way, Shelley and I bought matching scarves to cover our heads with. Shelley may have pulled out her mom voice with one of the merchants who was trying to hustle us, haha.
Going to the wall was so so cool. The feeling in the air at night is more still and calm. This is sacred ground to the Jews and I felt it.
Washing stations. The Jews believe in ritualistic cleansing.
The Western Wall plays an important role in Judaism due to its proximity to the Temple Mount, the traditional site of the Jewish Temple. Because of the Temple Mount entry restrictions, the Wall is the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray outside the Temple Mount platform, as the presumed site of the Holy of Holies, the most sacred site in the Jewish faith, lies just above and behind it.
The men and women's areas are separated. Travis took these pictures of Shelley and I going up to the wall. The Jews pray here and write their prayers on little slips of paper and stuff them in the cracks and crevices of the wall. It's hard to work your way up to an open space. Even harder to find a spot to put your paper into. Somehow we managed and it was a really special experience to share with Shelley.
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