Jerusalem

We have now made our way into Jerusalem and are staying at a hotel called “The Olive Tree”. It is overwhelming. Yesterday we went to the Garden of Gethsemane. This is where Jesus prayed, “Not my will but thine be done”, was betrayed, arrested, and taken to trial. As he prays to God and prepares to give His life for us all, He, as we could yesterday, could see the walls of Jerusalem, the Temple Mount, and the gate into the city Jesus entered to begin Holy week. This is all just down from the Mt of Olives where the Garden is located. The olive trees in the garden may be as old as 2,000 years, meaning they might have been there when Jesus was. What an honor it was to pray “Not my will but thine be done” in front of a tree where Jesus might have knelt. We saw the spot He prayed over Jerusalem, the Pool of Bethesda where He healed a lame man, Jericho; the Mount of Ascension where many think Jesus ascended into heaven, and the Mount of Temptation where tradition tells us Jesus faced the Devil before He began His public ministry.

For me the greatest moment was standing on the Mount of Olives and knowing that Jesus saw much the same view when He prayed, “How often I would have had you come tom me and you would not”. Have you come to Jesus yet. “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest, Jesus still invites us.

For the Cause of Christ and Shalom from Israel,

Mike