Off to the Hill Country of Judah

We started out our morning at the Holy Sepulchre with mass in which we co-celebrated with the Franciscan monks in front of the tomb of Jesus. After mass we had the opportunity to enter the tomb were Jesus was laid after he was crucified. This is the spot where Mary Magdalene came and Jesus appeared to her saying "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God." Luke 20:17

The entrance to Jesus's tomb

The interior of Jesus's tomb

An addition view of the interior

After breakfast we traveled to the hill country of Judah. We visited the Church of the Visitation. The Church of the Visitation is the place in which Elizabeth was visited by her cousin Mary. Elizabeth was six months pregnant with John the Baptist at the time.
"At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. " Luke 1:39-41

Exterior of the Church of the Visitation

Statues of Mary and Elizabeth

The art work on the walls of the interior of the church

Art work depicting the slautering of the innocents. To the left of the photo you can see the angel of the Lord guiding Elizabeth and her baby to safety.

The Magnificat

Luke 1: 46-55 This is also referred to as Mary's Song. Mary proclaimed this after Elizabeth said to her " Blessed is she who has believed what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished." Luke 1:45

The Magnificat in various languages

This is the rock that is believed to be the rock that Elizabeth hid John the Baptist under after he was born. 

We then walked over to another church called Ein Karem. This church was built in the place where John the Baptist was born.

"Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. 

And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished. And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this childturn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him." Luke 1:57-66

The original flooring of the church

 

The altar 

The Grotto of  John the Baptist (Place of his birth)

Out for a night on the town and enjoying my last night in Jerusalem

Merry Christmas!

The birth place of our Lord and Savior

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Today went to Bethlehem to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We celebrated mass in the Church of the Nativity. The mass took place in the Grotto of the Manger within the church. The church is own by the Franciscans monks (Catholics), the Greek Orthodox, and the Armenians. Below you will see pictures from within the Church of the Nativity. 

Greek Orthodox section of the church

Armenian section

Franciscan section

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance." Acts 2:1-4

The Upper Room

After leaving Bethlehem we came back to Jerusalem to release the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room. It was such a powerful experience. You can just feel the Holy Spirit moving in this place! 

The Wailing Wall

Next we ventured off to the Wailing Wall to place our prayers and petitions. The wall is located in the Jewish section, but it is open to anyone who wishes to place a petition in the wall. It is separated into two sections. One side being for the women and the other for the men. Petitions are placed in the wall that are written on small pieces of paper. Once you place your petition you say a prayer and walk away backwards from the wall. It is the custom not to turn you back from the wall once you are done praying.

Praying at the Wailing Wall

Arise!

"When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth. The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, Unbind him, and let him go.”                          John 11: 43-44

Today we had the opportunity to visit Lazarus’s tomb and the church of Mary and Martha. It was an awesome experience to actually go into the tomb in which Lazarus was raised from the dead. Each of us went down into the tomb to view the place where Lazarus was placed.

Sign at the entrance of Lazarus's tomb

Church of Mary and Martha

The interior of the church 

Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?

“My heart, my mind, my soul belongs to you. You paid the price for me way back on Calvary. That’s why I praise you. I lift you up and I magnify your name. That’s why my heart is filled with praise.”

God is so amazing. I had a revelation today. I realize that I don’t have to be in a particular place to feel God’s presence. It’s not the location, but what in your heart.

Today one of the places we visited was the Holy Sepulcher, which houses Jesus’ tomb, Calvary, and the prison he was placed in prior to being put to death on the cross. His suffering really became real to me today.

Calavary

The Garden of Gethsemane

The Church of All Nations/ The Basilica of the Agony

The interior of the church
The altar has a section of the bedrock where Jesus is said to have prayed before his arrest. (Mark 14:32-42)

On the Road to Emmaus

“We are standing on Holy Ground.

There are angles all around.

Let us praise Jesus now.

We are standing in His presence on Holy Ground.”

This was the song began to sing once we left the airport on our way to Emmaus to celebrate mass. Emmaus is the place where Jesus broke bread with the disciples after his resurrection. We were unable to celebrate mass outside, because of the high temperatures. We celebrated mass in the chapel instead. After mass we checked in Norte Dame. Norte Dame is a Catholic hotel right in the heart of old Jerusalem. I was so surprise to find out that Jerusalem is not that big. It’s about the size of Rhode Island. I’m about to turn in. I am tired from such a long day. I can’t wait to see what is in store for tomorrow.

The Norte Dame Guest House

Jewish Tombs

Altar at Emmaus

Chapel at Emmaus

I Become A Pilgrim Today

"a land of ... olive oil and honey;" Deuteronomy 8:8
This verse has been in my head all of yesterday and this morning. I can't wait to see the places were Jesus walked and conversed with the people. The bible will truly become alive to me and not just the mere images that I have conjured up in my imagination.