Israel 2014 #3

#3 … Tuesday - April 29^th [The Dead Sea region]

After a good night’s sleep we head to the Dead Sea region.   Our first stop was Masada … one of my favorite places to visit in all of Israel. 

First: While Masada doesn’t hold much Biblical significance it is a landmark in Israel, post Biblical history.  The word in Hebrew means “the stronghold” and may be referenced in Psalm 59 and 62.  This was one of King Herod’s might fortresses that he had constructed to help defend the border of Israel and to use as a refuge, should he become the victim of attack or political upheaval.

During the First Revolt against Rome, the rebel forces under Menachem Ben-yuhuda overpowered the Roman garrison at Masada in 66 A.D.  The number of people who came to live in the fortress increased once the city of Jerusalem fell to the Romans in 70 A.D.

The Jews lived at Masada for two years before the Romans began a siege.  Using the Tenth Legion and thousands of prisoners of war, they first built a wall encircling the mountain to cut off all supplies, as well as eight camps for the billeting of the soldiers.  The ruins of these can still be seen today, nearly 2,000 years after the fact.  The Roman general used the Jewish captives to construct a ramp from the Western side to the walls knowing that the defenders inside would not attack their fellow countrymen.   On the first day of Passover in 72 A.D. the defenders realized that their situation was hopeless.  Rather than lose their freedom and have their families butchered or fall into slavery, they chose to burn their fortress and commit suicide rather than to surrender into the hands of the Romans.

• Today Masada is a symbol of Israel’s determination to not surrender to oppression and to live out their faith in community and freedom.  And decisions like that will always involve a price to be paid on our part.

Second: The Dead Sea region is often associated with the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18-19.  It is the lowest spot on the earth’s surface, some 427 meters or 1,401 feet below sea level.  It is situated in the Jordan Rift Valley between the hills of Moab in the east and the hills of the Judean Wilderness to the west.  The Jordan River enters the sea from a plain to the north, another plain south of the sea is called the Sedom or Sodom Plain.  The Dead Sea is about 48 miles long and 10 miles wide, and its deepest point is some 1,500 feet at the northern end.  Depending on the flow of the Jordan and rainfall, the Dead Sea changes its shape and consistency greatly.

Since there is no river exiting the Dead Sea, and because it lies in a region with numerous mineral hot springs and mineral salts, the water has become extremely ‘dense’ with solids; the water evaporates and leaves the mineral content behind.  The chemicals present in the water include salt, potash, magnesium, calcium chlorides and bromide.  Today both Israelis and Jordanians operate chemical plants on the shores of the Dead Sea to extract minerals, mostly for fertilizers and agricultural use, although cosmetic companies also use these minerals for their products.

It may seem hard to believe, but the region used to be a well-watered area – as lush and attractive as the Garden of Eden.  But God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah changed the area’s fertility to a desolate expanse that represented judgment on sin (Genesis 13:10; Deuteronomy 29:23; Jeremiah 17:6).  The evaporation hovering over the Dead Sea gives a constant haze over its surface.  It reminds the world of the furnace-like smoke that rose from the valley after the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 19:28).

Third: A favorite stop for many is Ein Gedi (“spring of the wild goat”), the desert oasis where David hid from King Saul – 1 Samuel 23 – 24. 

The place is first mentioned in the Bible as part of the story of Abraham’s victory against the four Mesopotamian kings (Genesis 14:7).  Another place is when King Jehoshaphat learned of the invasion of Moab and Ammon – 2 Chronicles 20.  After a long hike up the canyons the group will go swimming underneath waterfalls. :)

Fourth: We finish the day by going to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947. These are important because they backed up our understanding of the Hebrew Bible by close to 1,000 years and verified that the copies we had were accurate and reliable.  The Essenes, who dwelt at Qumran, were a religious sect during the time of Christ and were a monkish in their lifestyles and beliefs.     

• You can learn more by looking at this website: http://www.bibleplaces.com/qumran.htm

Here is an artist’s rendering of what the Essene colony would have looked like back in the first century, based upon the ruins found today: 

Israel 2014 #2

 #2 … Monday - April 28^th [Herodium & Bethlehem]

Today we head south from Jerusalem toward Bethlehem which is about ½ hour drive south of the city in the Judean countryside.  Our first visit will be Herodium (one of my favorite places).  See the following website:

·         http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodium

This is one of the many fortresses that King Herod built to protect his kingdom from marauding tribes and to provide a place of safety for him and his family, should there be a rebellion from the Jewish people.  The building of this unusual fortress began in 24 B.C. and was completed in 15 B.C.   It’s cone shape provide a difficult climb for anyone wishing to conqueror it.

The picture to the right is an artist’s rendering of what Herodium would have looked like during the time of Christ.  As you stand on top of Herodium you will have an unobstructed 360 degree view: east toward the land of Moab in the Transjordan, from where Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem; south toward Tekoa where the prophet Amos was a shepherd; west toward Bethlehem; and north toward Jerusalem.

Below this fortress is the subtle transition from the desert to the cultivated area where shepherds lead their flocks, just as they did at the time of the birth of Jesus.

Later, King Herod was buried here and his grave was recently found in 2007.

After this, we will end the day in Bethlehem which has so much Biblical history associated with it.  In Genesis 35:16-20 we read about the death and burial of Rachel.  The book of Ruth is associated with this city.  Here in 1 Samuel 16 David was anointed King.  The prophet Micah said in chapter 5 that this is the place from which the Messiah would come.  In Luke 2 we read of the birth of Jesus and the Shepherd’s field.  In Matthew 2 we read of the visit of the Magi and Herod’s massacre, which may have been directed from Herodium.

In 330 A.D. Emperor Constantine ordered what is now known as the Church of the Nativity to be built over the cave that was thought to be the birth site of Jesus.  That church, destroyed in the sixth century, was soon rebuilt by the emperor Justinian and now sits over mosaics from the original church of Constantine’s time.

See the following website:

·         http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/bethlehem-church-of-the-nativity

Israel 2014 #1

#1 … Saturday, April 26^th & Sunday - April 27^th   [Arrival in Jerusalem, Israel]

After a delayed flight from Detroit to New York and then a 10+ hour flight to Tel Aviv (capital of Israel and the only international airport) which we were very fortunate to catch – We arrived on Saturday night.  After clearing immigration and customs, we’ll work our way up to Jerusalem as the Sabbath comes to an end.  There we will check into our hotel and the tour group will walk around the streets of modern Jerusalem and get a feel of the Jewish celebration as the Sabbath ends.  We will spend our first night staying just inside the Jaffa Gate of the “Old City of Jerusalem” and hopefully get a good night’s sleep.  (Picture is just below)

The official study tour of Israel begins Sunday morning with an 8am meeting … which will be 1am Sunday morning for everyone back home.

Our day starts with a nice walk around the city walls of Jerusalem so we can get our bearings of the city.  The walls are magnificent and were built between 1535 and 1538, when Jerusalem was part of the Ottoman Empire, by the order of Suleiman I.  The length of the walls is 4,018 meters (2.4966 miles), their average height is 12 meters (39.37 feet) and the average thickness is 2.5 meters (8.2 feet).  The walls contain 34 watchtowers and 8 gates.

Then we head to the Mount of Olives to chart the history of Jerusalem.  We’ll be looking at the Golden Dome (Muslim) that sits on top of the Jewish Temple Mount (it’s just not as nice as the Golden Dome at Notre Dame) and helping all of the new people gain a panoramic view of the area.

Then we’ll view the scale model of Jerusalem at time of Christ, which is an incredible sight for anyone who wants to know what the city looked like in the first century.

This 50:1 scale model, covering nearly one acre, evokes ancient Jerusalem at its peak, meticulously recreating its topography and architectural character in 66 CE, the year in which the Great Revolt against the Romans broke out, leading to the destruction of the Temple and the city in the year 70 CE.

The model, a Jerusalem cultural landmark, was originally built at the initiative of Holyland Hotel owner Hans Kroch in memory of his son Jacob, who fell in Israel's War of Independence. Kroch argued that Israel in general, and in particular its capital Jerusalem – which was cut off from the Old City at the time – lacked a historical monument that could compare with the antiquities of Athens and Rome.

In 1962, Kroch approached Michael Avi-Yonah, professor of Archaeology at the Hebrew University, commissioning Avi-Yonah to create the Model and provide its topographic and archaeological basis and architectural design. The model was opened to the general public in 1966, immediately becoming a popular attraction and educational site for Israelis and tourists alike.

In 2006 the Second Temple Model was transferred to the Israel Museum campus, where it offers a concrete illustration of the period documented in the Dead Sea Scrolls, when Rabbinic Judaism took shape and Christianity was born.

Providing a vivid context for the Shrine of the Book and the Dead Sea Scrolls and for many contemporaneous archaeological artifacts displayed throughout the Museum, the Model Illustrates one of the most formative periods in the history of the Jewish people, and bears a deep connection to the symbols of modern statehood that surround the Museum campus.

Then we’ll visit the Israel Museum and take in some of the current exhibits. 

The day will end with a tour of the 1,500 foot Western Wall tunnel.  This is a tunnel that goes under the housing that is built right next to the remains of the foundation of the temple that existed during the time of Jesus.  Part of the way into the tunnel is a small synagogue called “The Cave” – near Warren’s Gate.  It is thought to be the closet point a Jew can get to the former location of the Holy of Holies.  The biggest stone in the Western Wall ranks as one of the heaviest objects ever lifted by human beings without powered machinery.  The stone has a length of 13.6 meters and an estimated width of between 3.5 and 4.5 meters; weighing in the neighborhood of 570 tons!

INCONCEIVABLE

Easter Sunday is all about Jesus.  It is a reminder and a celebration of His life, His death, and His resurrection. 

 

This week the news media carried a story about a Christian women’s group who put a display in the Wisconsin capital building; only to have an atheist group place the following sign near-by; needless to say, it created a minor uproar.

 

The question needs to be asked, WHO IS JESUS CHRIST? 

 

Jesus was born roughly a little over 2,000 years ago in the Jewish nation of Israel which at the time, was ruled by the Roman Empire. 

He grew up in a small backwater town in the middle of nowhere. 

He was raised by a young mother who was likely a teenager at His birth. 

His father was a “blue-collar” masonry tradesman and more than likely died early.

He was the oldest sibling, having four (4) brothers and several sisters. 

He was related, in the far distant past, to a great king, but like so many of us, He could also count among His relatives people who were liars, murderers, prostitutes, and Gentiles.

Jesus probably never traveled more than a couple hundred miles from home.

 

For the first thirty (30) years of His life Jesus lived in relative obscurity - never wrote any books, did any miracles, had no following, attended no school of higher education, or built anything grander than a table and stool.   

 

And then for about 3 ½ years everything changed.  Jesus gathered followers and taught them a new way to live. 

 

He delivered countless messages that amazed the crowds, both then and today.

He did mighty miracles and displayed tremendous compassion.

He challenged the way people thought about women, slaves, and our enemies.

He talked about God as though He were intimate with Him. 

He gave up His life and suffered immensely to pay the price for humanities sins and now offers forgiveness, shope, and seternal life. 

His name is the most famous name in the world. His example has inspired billions. He has had countless books written about Him – including the bestselling book of all time. And our calendar is based upon His life. 

 

And in spite of this … we have people who are putting up signs saying that “Nobody died for our sins" and “Jesus Christ is a myth.   

 

Their rationale in spite of the historical evidence is simply, to borrow a famous line from a movie  ... the word is INCONCEIVABLE silly!!

 

Pray for Asia

Asia.  At least 51 countries make up this region that contains nearly 4.5 billion people.  The vast majority of these people are divided between the Islam, Hindu, and Buddhist faiths while the Christian minority is around 6.5% (And that contains pretty much anyone who even mentions the name of Jesus). 

In my recent three week trip to Asia, I had the privilege of talking with and hearing stories of fellow Christians in that region.  While sharing stories of struggles, persecution, and hardships; these believers shared their joy of sacrifice and servanthood for the cause of Christ.

    

During my visit to Turkey, I heard about the story of three Christians who were martyred for their faith several years ago.

http://www.bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=25460

 

 

 

And in talking with a friend who is a church planter in India, he told me several stories how religious persecution of Christians is all too common in the Asian region:

 

·         http://www.wnd.com/2013/02/missionaries-in-india-expect-persecution/

Jesus spoke long ago about the cost of following Him.  It would not be easy.  In His words in John 15 the Lord said …

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. ¹⁹ The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. ²⁰ Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. ²¹ They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.

In our church lobby, at Grace Community, we have a large map of the world that I would encourage the people of Grace to pray over.  Nearby are pamphlets that each family could take home and learn more about their extended Christian family around the globe, especially those in Asia.   Coming quickly is the month of May and on Thursday, May 1^st is the National Day of Prayer.  I ask that the people of Grace focus their prayers that month on our fellow Christ followers in Asia and re-read the words of the Master that I quoted in this blog. 

Here is a picture of me and some the Asian church leaders who I work with.  You don't need to know all of their names .... just pray for them.  God knows who they are :) 

As Americans, we have been sheltered a long time from the persecution and hardships that most of the rest of our global church family suffers.  But that is changing quickly and not all too subtlety. 

Remember to pray for those who are going through the fire now.  Ask the Lord to give “us” – the American church, the courage and character to represent Christ well in the coming days ahead as our nation wanders from its Christian heritage.