LET THE BIBLE COME ALIVE AS WE WALK IN JESUS FOOTSTEPS
We can start in Jerusalem, and what better place than at Calvary, or Golgotha where our Lord was crucified
This is where the body of Jesus lay-below you can see the tomb cut out of the rock
This in the garden which we presume belonged to Joseph of Arimathea, who placed Jesus’ body in his own tomb-Before entering, we partook of communion as a solemn moment
Having communion in the garden
The door to the tomb-below the skull shaped rock formation called Golgotha
Next we can look at the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus wept blood on the mount of olives. I had a fascinating experience as follows-I was praying at the base of the centuries old olive tree on the left and was filled with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. As I looked up, I saw nearby a man who was one of our party of South Africans who was Italian and whose arms were very hairy. I say this because the Holy Spirit told me to go over and lay my hands on him, which I did. Instantly, all his dark hairs shot up straight and he exclaimed-“what is this?” in surprise. I told him it was the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and he jumped with joy as he said he had come all the way to Israel to experience just that! How amazing is our God!!
A view of the Mount of Olives from below the walls of the city
Next, the view of the Church built on top of the Mount of Olives where Jesus ascended into heaven
Aerial picture of Jerusalem
Some pictures of Jerusalem of the dome of the rock with the mosque on top where Abraham was buried
On the right side is a picture of the golden gate which was shut by the Muslims after conquering Israel, because they believe the Messiah would come through that gate. I used to run around the walls of Jerusalem before sunrise every day, and when the sun rose and the rays crept over the top of the mountain, the gate became a golden colour. I stood at the bottom entrance to the gate and asked the Holy Spirit if my feet were touching stones where Jesus walked-He replied- ‘ that may well be, but are you following in His footsteps?’ (a sobering thought)
The pinnacle of the temple wall where Jesus was tempted by the devil. Below are the tombs of the old testament prophets Haggai and Malachi.
A board showing where Jesus ascended and the church in His honour.
Now in Jerusalem itself, some views of the gates and the walls
These walls of Jerusalem were re- built by the Muslim conqueror, after they were all torn down when they tore the walls down and conquered Jerusalem. He ordered his architect to make an exact copy of the city as it was a holy site to the Muslims-you can see the statues of the invaders on the right. The architect forgot to erect the lower walls of the city of David, who was executed for his omission.
Below is the highest part of the wall surrounding Jerusalem-called the pinnacle, where Jesus was led and tempted by the devil
Some pictures of everyday life in Jerusalem-the modern Rabbi below is smoking and using his cellphone which is a far cry from the old days! Mother has a mobile cot to push her children around in
Here I am busy savouring some of the Israeli breads they sell on the street
This is the wailing wall, so called because behind it is the tomb of Abraham and the Muslims have barred the Jews access. Everyone comes to pray against the wall, and puts their prayers on slips of paper and sticks it into cracks in the wall-I was asked to put someone’s prayer into it, which I did. Again a very solemn and quiet atmosphere
A Jewish wedding next to the wall-below is the remains of Nehemiah’s wall when he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem after the 70 years in Babylon
Next is the original scroll of Isaiah, found in the Qumran caves near Megido by the dead sea
Here is the pool of Siloam where Jesus healed a blind man
This is the judgement seat or Gabbatha, where Pontius Pilate sentenced Jesus to death
This is me floating in the dead sea, and one cannot sink because of the very high salt content
Here I am baptising a few people in the Jordan river
The place where Jesus fed the 5000
This is the Church built on the site where Jesus taught the beatitudes in Mathew Chapter 5
Myself meditating at Genessaret by the sea of Galilee
I trust you enjoyed the trip. I will add more as time permits
Arthur Dilley