Jerusalem and Bethlehem - Day 5

Today we woke up in Jerusalem and began to explore the holy city. Our first stop was near the Western, or "wailing wall." We will examine it more closely tomorrow, but from a distance we could see many devout Jews praying. They recite a liturgy as they bow frequently toward the wall. The wall is part of the only remaining site after the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 AD. On one side it is Jewish, the other side which faces the Dome of the Rock is Muslim. We were able to take a tour down into excavations that take us back to the time of Jesus. Herod the Great expanded the temple complex significantly about 60 years before Jesus. Since then, levels of civilization have built up with neighborhoods covering much of the ancient city of Jerusalem. From there, we traveled by foot to the area where Jesus healed the paralytic who couldn't get into the water when it stirred. It was built near or attached to a temple dedicated to the Greek God of healing, who was depicted as a snake. The medical field still uses the snake a symbol for healing. When Jesus healed the man by the power of his words, he was saying Jahweh was more powerful than the pagan gods who heal only through actions. Jesus only had to speak to male healing happen. Recall the man went immediately the short distance to the temple. Jewish law forbad handicapped people to enter the temple...so this would've been the first time he would have be enable the visit the temple in at least 38 years. Imagine his joy!

From there, we traveled by bus to Bethlehem, the place of Jesus' birth. Bethlehem is in the Palestinian territory which is 80% Muslim and 20% Christian. We visited the Church of the Nativity, which is the oldest church in Christendom. It was built by Constantine's mother in the 300's. We waited in line to go into the cave below the altar where tradition says the manger and birth took place, but they closed it down for a catholic worship service, so we had to pass. Got lots of great pictures of the place though. An interesting side note: the entrance to the church was sealed up so that one has to bow low to enter. Why? To keep Muslim horseback riding soldiers from entering the holy space in ancient days!

We visited a woodcarving shop. As you know, we have the Bethlehem Wood Carvers come to New Song twice a year to sell these olive wood products. This is the primary way Palestinian Christians make their living. They are not able to be employed in other ways, which is why so many are immigrating to other countries. Christians in the Holy Land are only allowed to work in tourism-related industries. So, every time Amjad and Suzan Jerasyth bring displays to church, your purchases help keep Christians in Bethlehem...thereby protecting Christian holy sights like the Church of the Nativity. We saw many of the same kinds of olive wood statues the Jarayth's bring to church and much more! One of the shop keepers tried to talk Pr. Dave into purchasing for the church a Hand-carved three-foot high nativity Set. It was "only $14,000, shipping included." He talked to the wrong Pastor! I could have negotiated a much lower Price! Also, Where would we put something this big in our current Building? We'll have to wait for the permanent sanctuary Building of the Future.