Day 1 The Old City Walk

 Day 1 - The Old City Walk by Beth Ragsdale

Today started for me with the reading of Psalm 121.  I will lift up my eyes unto the hills…where does my help come from? Not these hills…they are small.  “My help comes from the Maker of these hills!”  Truly HE is wonderful.  I understand a bit better why the psalmist said He is our shade (we sure needed it today because there is precious little shade in Jerusalem).  After going in and out of busy Jaffa Gate I have a much better understanding why the people sang “He will guard your going in and coming out”.  I praise Him that I have come through The Gate, Christ,  and my eternal safety is guaranteed.

JUC is beautifully situated just outside Jaffa Gate .  Walking along the impressive, limestone rock Old Wall toward the school, there is a sense that this is an ancient, royal place; a place defended, enjoyed, loved.  I couldn’t help but remember Psalm 24:7,8..”Lift up your heads, O gates, and be ye lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in!” It is clear David was not thinking of himself as the glorious king, but the King of Glory, Lord of Hosts!   It seems many are celebrating the entrance of the wrong king.

Frankly, I was surprised to find that our God has preserved a place for Himself at JUC so close to this special gate. Could JUC be more happily situated?

The study tour today of the city of Jerusalem started with the Ben-Hinnom Valley just below JUC ~ which I could not remember much about. This valley is narrow but successfully separates this ridge  from the slightly higher and more impressive Royal Ridge. Travelers along Royal Ridge can be easily spotted from the watchtower near Jaffa Gate.

I loved the walk along the wall to the Church of the Dormition ,

Upper Room

The traditional site of remembering the Last Supper doesn’t fit my picture of what it should have looked like.  I imagined something upstairs, not so elegant, and much larger. I was disappointed that there were no pictures of the Last Supper, but then I remember that this is an unbelieving nation still stuck on the old covenant, still looking for the Lamb.  David’s tomb was a shrine. David would not like that.  I liked the mezuzot on the doorpost ~ this was pleasing as a reminder of the Old Covenant in Deuteronomy 6:9.  As I exited, I was reminded by the Holy Spirit that Israel’s hope was in the New Covenant to come, a covenant that I and all who believe in Christ participate in today by His grace.  Jeremiah 31:31-34 “Behold days are coming when I will make a new covenant…with Israel and with Judah, not like the covenant with their fathers, which they broke…but this is the covenant, declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people…for they shall all KNOW me…for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”  This mezuzot is written on my heart and sealed permanently by His Holy Spirit.  How wonderful to know that! 

    The excavation of the Roman Cardo was especially interesting to me.  I didn’t realize that our modern malls aren’t actually American; they are Roman! I was amazed at how thorough the excavation has been.  Very clean.  

     In the sixth century, Justinian had built the Nea Church, Mother of all churches.  It was large enought to store the treasures of Herod’s Temple.  Only 40 years later these treasures were once again lost to the Muslims.  Here,  another reminder that the treasures of this world are easily lost, but those who trust in the Lord find a secure and safe dwelling.   

     It was a great witness to the fact that the Roman world did exist and that they were very interested in trade/business in Jerusalem, and the land between.  Along those same lines of thought I though that Hezekiah’s Broad wall excavation was also impressive.  Another proof that the Biblical prophecies are true ~  God does just what He says He will do (Isa. 22:10). 

The Western Wall.  The ladies side of the wall was crowded.  Everyone felt like they had to touch the wall and kiss it.  Some clung to it as if it would save them from their troubles.  Lots of women were stuffing waded up prayers into crevices, not minding that someone else’s prayers fell to the grown and were trampled under foot.  I found this paradoxical.  Where is the love for the neighbor?  Where is God?  Does He see the prayer that just fell to the ground?  When the ladies were finished with prayers they backed away from the way as if IT was holy, backing all the way back to the main entrance. Ironically,  I did not feel God’s presence at the wall.  I found that I could not pay that kind of homage to the wall., nor could I pray there for myself.  It seemed like idolatry.  Tears, tears, and more tears coursed down my cheeks for the women who were finding no relief for their sorrows.  Thanksgiving filled my heart as I recalled, “This poor man cried and the Lord heard him and DELIVERED him out of all his troubles.” (Psm 34:6) …I turned to God from idols to serve a true and living God and to wait for His Son…that is Jesus, who delivers from the wrath to come”. (1 Thes 1:10)

St. Anne’s Church.  Anne was the mother of the Virgin Mary.  A simple limestone, Byzantine style church was erected in her honor.  I was impressed that there were no icons, but only a life-size statue of Anne and Mary at the back of the sanctuary.  A simple cross at the front and a white stone altar are all that grace the front of the chapel.  Here we enjoyed the acoustics and sang “Allelujah” together and had some meaningful silent prayer.   

In 2005 the pool of Bethesda was discovered just outside St. Anne’s church,  about 30 feet underground.  The five porticos are clearly excavated.  It was quite impressive.  We read John 5 at this site where Jesus heals the paralytic of 38 years.  I guess what impressed me here is that this was a very public place.  Everyone here carries their water with them, because you just gotta have it!!!  The lame man is next to the water for 38 years, but still doesn’t have what he needs…. He needs the living water, the touch of the living God.  The lame man is not different than me…I need the living water for any transformation in my life.

The building below is a church 

built over the pool.