June 26, 2005
06/25 Jerusalem - Day Four
Today we visited the site of the Nativity - war-torn Bethlehem. We spent time in the Mt. of Olives at the Church of Gethsemane. We walked through the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where Golgotha and the tomb are supposed to be.
The four holiest sites for Christians - Bethlehem, the Garden, Calvary and the Garden Tomb. Nearly 1700 years of tradition have identified these locations as the approximate places where Jesus walked, lived and died. The truth is that no one knows exactly where these events took place, but what the visitor is impressed with is the fact that it's close enough. Somewhere in Bethlehem Jesus was born. Somewhere on the Mt. Of Olives Jesus stopped to pray. On the hill somewhere outside of the city of Jerusalem Jesus was crucified, died and was buried.
I was not impressed by the pilgrimage sites. I wanted something more "romantic," that is, something that I have always pictured from the Hollywood movies. The dirty, dingy old buildings and all the traffic around the area didn't give me an opportunity to stop and contemplate what happened there. Besides, I've been reasoning over the last couple of days - we as Christians are people of the "Person," not the "Place." We have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ who lived and died and rose again so that we might have eternal life with Him. That's the most important thing - faith in Jesus. By faith in Him we are reconciled to God.
But .................................... something has happened along the way. Somehow, faith in Christ and being here in person have captured our hearts - mine and Les'. There is something about these stones that fire your imagination and your faith. When we prayed at the Western Wall it was electrifying. We just felt like we had the personal presence of God surrounding us. Having a relationship with God sustains all of us, but being in this place is also transforming.
These stones do have a heart. That's why Peter said that we can be "living stones" for Jesus. Having come to Jerusalem, I don't think our lives will ever be the same.
Shalom in Christ!
Posted by roger at June 26, 2005 11:59 AM