As our Sunday draws to a close we know you are worshipping now and we miss being with family and friends. We were able to have a worship time on the Mount of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemanie this morning which is located just across the Kidron valley from the old city of Jerusalem. The view is the one you always see when you look at a picture of Jerusalem. It was one of Jesus’ favorite spots to pray. The Scriptures say it was His “custom” to go there when He was in Jerusalem. What a perfect place to sit and pray for the city He loved so much. It was on this hillside that He wept over the city. It was from here that He entered the Golden Gate on that Palm Sunday. It was here that He came to pray the night He was betrayed. It was here that His agonized over a lost world that He came to save. It was from this hilltop that the disciples witnessed His ascension. And today, it was here that we read the Scripture and prayed for you in Annandale. It was here that we were reminded that Jesus was led through this eastern gate on that Thursday night to lay down His life to bring us peace. And it will be this hillside that Zachariah says “God will come and all he holy ones with Him” (Zach. 14:4-5).
We also went to the citadel of David in the city and learned more about the strategic history of the old city. We did go to the temple area today and stood at the southwest corner which is the corner known as the “pinnacle” of the temple which we hear about in Luke 4 when Jesus was being tempted. In the same area we sat on the 2000 yr old steps where Jesus would teach and where He, most likely talked to the elders when He was 12.
We then went through Hezekiah’s tunnel built about 3000 yrs ago that provided water to he city in times of war. We stood in the pool of Saloam where Jesus healed the blind man and caused such trouble (John 9).
Once again our day has been filled with thoughts of Jesus and His passionate commitment to show us His love. He did this by coming to us, praying for us, and dying for us.
Just as Hezekiah tunneled through hundreds of yards of bedrock to provide water for Jerusalem…God tunneled through the hardness of our sinful hearts to bring us the “Living Water” of Jesus Christ.
Blessings from Jerusalem!
Keep praying! More later!