Experienced tour elders to Israel tell me that a twelve-day trip is preferably since there is so much to see. While I think they are right, one blessing is that Israel is small and much is clustered close together.

A case in point is our adventures today on our sixth day in country.

Marveling At Masada

Just a ninety minute ride from our Jerusalem hotel, we arrived at the ancient and awe-inspiring fortress of Masada. Its history is ancient, but Masada’s heyday was in the era of Herod the Great when it was expanded and upgraded to be an incredible 22-acre mountain fortress complete with weapons and food for over 5000, a cistern system holding close to 100,000 gallons.

Yet, as famed as Herod’s splendid mountain fortress was, it’s real place in history comes after Herod and Jesus, in climactic Roman siege and subsequent suicide of 960 Jewish Zealots in AD 73.

The dramatic location and even more dramatic story made this excursion unforgettable.

The Qumran Community And The Dead Sea Scrolls

At its height, 4000 men who were known as Essenes and called themselves the “children of the light.”  They spent their days in work supporting the community, taking ritual baths.  They spent their nights

copying Old Testament books and other scrolls.  We got to see the ruins of where the Essenes lived, and the caves where the oldest copies of the Old Testament were ever found.  By AD 68, the Essenes had either chosen to flee or join the rebel Jewish group at nearby Masada.  Quite an amazing experience!

Floating Fun And More At The Dead Sea

I wish I had snapped a photo of the sign I saw at the cafe by the Dead Sea shore: “Lowest Bar On Earth!  Elevation 415m Below Sea Level.”

Wow!

But as low as the Dead Sea is, you can’t get low in the water!  With nearly 34% salt and mineral concentrates (compared to around 3.5% for normal ocean water), floating is a breeze for even non swimmers.  Free mud treatments were also available and many in our group were partakers.  What fun!

Tumbling Through Jericho

We concluded our day touring Jericho.  The oldest city in the world, with archeological evidence showing that people have lived continuously in Jericho for nearly 9000 years.  Joshua and the children of Israel entered the Promised land here and for their sake, God sent the walls “a-tumblin’ down” (see Joshua 6).  Jesus began His ministry by being baptized near Jericho and then going forth into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan (see Matthew 4).  Later, Jesus travelled through Jericho, healing the blind (Luke 18), calling Zaccheus to faith (Luke 19:1-10), and beginning his Palm Sunday journey (Luke 20).  The sight of a 2000 year-old sycamore tree along the main road of this ancient town really brought the story to life

today!

I will never think of the desert the same.  I will remember this day for a long time for several reasons, but especially to have gotten to share these experiences with dear friends!

Today, our group prepares to enter Old Jerusalem, but more importantly, we are praying for the power of this place, the very power of our Lord’s Salvation story to enter into us deeper than ever before.

After celebrating Christmas yesterday by visiting the church built over the cave where Jesus was born, we now prepare to have a Holy week experience and celebrate Easter.  We will be visiting the Jerusalem sites of the Gospels.

• The Temple where He taught, and cleansed, and stood trial
• The Upper Room where He gave us His Supper, even as He prepared to sacrifice His Body and Blood.
• The Mount of Olives where He prayed in anguish and then experienced betrayal
• The hill of Calvary where He died for the world He loved and came to save

Our day will conclude with communion together in the reverent stillness of the Garden Tomb area.  What an awesome blessing that we are sure will bring what and old hymn describes as “Easter triumph, Easter joy!”

Remember, He is risen.  Jesus is with you.  Jesus is for you.  His risen life is your life!  Alleluia!

Our Day Three Adventure was unforgettable as we visiting Be’t Shean, travelled through the Samarian and Jordan deserts, and then arrived at Bethlehem.

The Stunning Site Of Be’t Shean

The site of Be’t Shean (pronounce BET SHEE-ahn) was stunning.  This place was continuously occupied for 6000 years due to its strategic location where two major trade routes crossed.  During the Roman occupied era, it was one of the cities of the Decapolis, mentioned in the Gospels.

You are touching biblical history at Be’t Shean. King Saul died fighting the Philistines within sight of this city, and then the victors celebrated by hanging his body on the walls here (1 Samuel 31).  Later, Jesus travelled through Be’t Shean, and the demon-possessed man Jesus healed came here and testified of Jesus’ mercy and miraculous powers (see Mark 5:20).  That verse ends, “and all the people were amazed.”  Experiencing the Bible’s story coming to life as we see Be’t Shean still does that to all the people on our trip.

“Let Us Go And See This Thing That The Lord Has Told Us About!”  Visiting Bethlehem

Bethlehem was also a visit with more than we expected.  First, we had the experience of entering Palestinian-controlled territory (the West Bank).  It is hard to think of any other description than entering a prison.  The Israelis have encircled Bethlehem and most Palestinian communities with high walls, watch towers, and guards.  Obstensively to stop terrorism, the real-life impact has been to chock a city into poverty.  The number of Christian who have emigrated out of Bethlehem since the wall went up in 2002 is over 20,000.  There are very few left outside of the church staff themselves.  I cannot speak to the politics or the complexity of this situation, but from the ground level, human perspective, it is truly sad to see walls surround the birthplace of the One who cam to knock down the dividing wall of hostility (see Ephesians 2:14-15).

Yet, in the midst of this, we found a wonderful gift shop, run by the same Christian family whose father was instrumental in revealing the Dead Sea Scrolls to the world.  In fact the very jar that held the sacred scroll of Isaiah-the most famous and complete of the scrolls–is on display in the store as a gift of gratitude from Israel to the Candoo family.

When we arrived at the Church of the Nativity there was a festive atmosphere.  A lot of pilgrims were ready to celebrate Christmas that day with us!  The low door invited a humble, reverent atmosphere.  Being inside such an ancient, magnificant building, with exquisite 4th century murals and remarkable frescos on the walls confirmed that feeling.  Then it was our time to descend the steps to the ancient cave when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” (John 1:14).  We were indeed moved as we experienced the glory of the place and the meaning of Jesus entering our world.

I will never forget it, and I will never stop thanking God for loving us so that He sent His Son into the world (John 3:16).

23 hours of travel are a fading memory as we prepare for our first full day in the land of the Bible!  Over 6000 miles we have travelled, but we know that Jesus’ journey into this world, into our humanity was even further.

In truth, that’s why we’ve come.  We want to honor the LORD who journeyed so far and sacrificed so much.  We want to better understand His blessings by coming to experienced the places where they happened.

We’ve had our dinner.  Who knew frozen chocolate flavored tofu was so good?  Now it’s time for a good night’s sleep.  Then after a walk (or swim?) alongside the beautiful Israeli coast of the Medittaeranean Sea, and after breakfast, it’s time to see this Holy Land!

Shalom, ya’ll!

What a great group we have going to the Holy Land! All are through security and waiting for the spiritual adventure ahead. And no one has asked “Are we there yet?” So awesome! Here a patient couple, Jay & Bernice, and they send Shalom greetings to all!