We’re thrilled you’ll be joining us on our local, national, and international experiences with Valor Discovery! Our hope is that we may be used by Christ to serve, love and transform, and that by our efforts we might advance His kingdom across the globe. Thank you for stopping by, thank you for your support, and thank you for your prayers. See you around the world!
Matthew 5:16
Today was eventful and quite a lot of walking. The weather was cooler and more overcast today, much to the surprise of several of us who had packed rain jackets away in our suitcases. Well, it was more than just overcast.
After hopping off the bus, we joined the Disney-like line for the Dome of the Rock. In the rain. I (Jack) definitely was in the camp who had left the rain jackets behind, but it wasn’t terrible. We’d been in this area before the last couple of days to visit the Western Wall, but had yet to enter the Muslim-controlled area on top of the Temple Mount. After 55 minutes in line and going through security, we entered this very interesting place. With guards swarming, Raed explained some of the significance of the place and we circled around the golden dome that so prominently marks the skyline of Jerusalem.
We then headed to the pool of Bethesda—the location of Jesus healing the man sick for 38 years in John 5. This was intriguing to see, along with walking through the Church of St. Anne here with perfect acoustics for singing Amazing Grace and the Doxology as a group. We proceeded out into the streets of Jerusalem to walk the Via Dolorosa, the path Jesus walked to His crucifixion. We discussed the significance of different sights along the way, both Biblical and those passed on as tradition. Then we went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre . It was an interesting place to say the least. Kinda crazy, actually. There were hundreds of people in this church. It felt like a crowded concert where you just lose people instantly. Luckily we didn’t lose anyone!
Generally accepted as being built on the location where Jesus was crucified at Golgotha, it’s quite an attraction. Right inside was “the rock” where Jesus was nailed to the cross (that a bunch of people were kissing…huh). Upstairs, “the rock” where Jesus is said to have been hanging on the cross. Interesting, but we had to take this experience as mostly illustrative of such an important event to our faith.
Lastly, this place conveniently houses the presumed tomb where Jesus was buried. We opted out of waiting in the line to go fully inside this part, but got to see a tomb similar to what Jesus’ body would have been placed in.
We then ate yet another delicious lunch of Shwarma (this was one of the better ones) and began walking again toward the Davidson Center and the Southern Steps. The Davidson Center is more of an excavation near the Western Wall and Southern Steps that reveals more of what the location kind of looked like when Jesus walked this area. Seeing the massive 2.5 ton Herodian stones of the original Western Wall were incredible to see up close. The magnitude of this place and the Roman architecture of the stone construction everywhere is breathtaking. We then sat on the Southern Steps—observing and talking pictures in the place where Jesus taught.
Knowing Jesus had actually walked these steps made this stop unique to me. We drove over to Bethlehem (just 20 minutes or so). Tonight we will be separating into several groups to go enjoy meals in Palestinian family homes tonight. We don’t know if they will speak English so that could get interesting. This trip is so powerful and these places hold so much weight. We are tired each night but we are learning so much, growing so close, and being stirred to chase after Jesus and learn so much more than we ever have known. We are all so thankful for all of you and cannot wait to share these stories so much more!
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