I knew John and Carole from my Bible College days. A few years ago, they had an opportunity to go to Israel with an organization.
Carole is my guest today. She said three places helped her feel connected to Israel. Here is what she chose to share with us today.
Three Places
by Carole
The Garden of Gethsemane
The garden of Gethsemane is at the foot of the Mount of Olives and is not open to the public. It is located in the middle a neighborhood across the alley from the Church of All Nations. You must be with a tour group that has permission from the church to enter.
The garden is a small serene grove of trees and pathways surrounded by a stone and rod iron wall. Once inside the walls, the hustle and bustle outside is transformed into a quiet where private thoughts, meditations, or sessions guided by pastoral teachers
can happen. There are stone benches and folding chairs. Places to listen to Scriptures read that were related to
this place.
Some gardeners harvest olives in one corner of the
gardening while God's Word is read. It was harvest time, and obviously, a
“working” garden, who-knew!
To me, I just wanted to stay in
the shade of the old trees for some quite time. Must be why Jesus came
here…
The Mount of Olives
The Mount of
Olives is a great vantage point for seeing Old Jerusalem. History comes
to life as one looks west across the deep and craggy Kieron Valley. Beyond the wall of the old city is the Dome of the Rock.
Our guide tells us that faithful Jews throughout history
have been buried on the Mount of Olives in anticipation that the Messiah will
awaken them when He comes.
The Apostles saw Jesus ascend into heaven here, and
prophecy says He will return to this place. Since this is ground
zero for Jesus’ return, it’s thrilling to say I’ve been there. Even so, come
quickly Lord Jesus!
The World Holocaust Remembrance Center
I’ve visited several
Holocaust museums in my travels, but Yad Vashem in Jerusalem can rightly say
it’s the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. It’s an amazing and unforgettable
tribute to the victims. The Children’s Memorial is especially memorable.
The tribute to the “righteous among nations” is an
extensive garden of individual plants and trees for each person remembered. May
we never forgot or repeat any such horror or desecration of life and hope, and
may the righteous never lose sight of their mission to be God’s hands and feet
in a broken world.
Thank you so much, Carole, for sharing the small piece of your trip with us!
This post has been brought to you by the one word: 3toRemember
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