I remember feeling very sick as we were coming into Jerusalem from Nazareth. All I wanted was to go to bed, but instead we took time to visit the Western Wall. This was Friday night, the start of Shabbat, when the Old City of Jerusalem becomes one big celebration. Jews are singing and dancing in the streets. Everyone welcomed me with “Shabbat Shalom” everywhere I went. The atmosphere in Jerusalem on Shabbat is something that can’t be compared to anything else- it’s just pure excitement! Our tour guide Roni led us through the streets of the Old City, and I tried to stay in back away from everyone else because I was sick. (Social distancing before it was cool). There was one point where Roni stopped the group on the Via Delorosa and started explaining something about it. I was kinda out of it, really unable to pay attention. That road is believed to be the path Jesus took as He was about to be crucified. So I was leaning on a rail behind the rest of the group and a man caught my attention from the corner of my eye. He was an Orthodox Jew dressed in all black with a long beard and sideburns, and he was staring me down very intensely. I looked over at him to see him make a throat-cutting motion with his finger as he’s staring me directly in the eyes. I started to wonder what I did: was this rail I was leaning on an important historical rail? Maybe I was somehow offending him in some way. I tried to ignore him but at the same time, you can’t ignore a threat like that when you’re in the Middle East! I looked over again and he made that same motion. So I already wasn’t thinking correctly because I was sick, but I started to panic a little on the inside. Next thing I knew, he was walking toward me with his eyes locked in a dead stare. He got all the way up to me, pointed to my hat, and said “Bama got pounded last night, didn’t they!” I was in a complete state of confusion at this point and looked at him like he was crazy for a couple seconds before remembering that Alabama had just lost to Ohio State in the college football playoffs. I was so relieved to find out I wasn’t about to be beheaded that I don’t even remember how I responded to him. My hat has led to many interesting stories over the years, and I’m sure there will be even more to come.
Our group continued on, pushing through crowds of people, to the Western Wall. David, a Jewish man who was traveling with us asked us not to take any up-close pictures out of respect for the culture. The crowds making their way to the wall were intense, and I actually got lost in the sea of people because I had been staying behind the group. I eventually found my way to the wall and it was incredible! This is what remains of the Second Temple built by Herod on the Temple Mount where God’s presence literally resided on earth. Jesus predicted in Mark 13:2 that the temple would be destroyed, and right in front of me is the proof that He was correct. I started to shove my way through a literal sea of people trying to reach the wall so I could touch it for myself. There were Jews lined up praying at the wall and sticking rolled-up prayers into the cracks of it. I was able to stick my hand on the wall and say a quick prayer before heading back through the endless sea of people. I then saw a group of Jewish men holding hands in a large circle, dancing and shouting praises to God in Hebrew. There was one man on a chair in the middle, shouting something out and then the group of men circling him would repeat it. I immediately ran over and jumped in, holding hands with the men on either side of me, jumping up and down in sync with everyone else. I had no idea what they were shouting because it was all in Hebrew, but I gave it my best shot to repeat what was being said. For a moment, I forgot about my sickness and was able to just enjoy the experience. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and no sickness was going to keep me from participating.
We eventually regrouped and headed to our hotel and got rained on along the way just making the conditions for someone who is sick worse. At this point, my sickness was bad enough that the trip leaders were starting to worry about me. And unfortunately, because of Shabbat, it was difficult to find a doctor to come see me. According to Jewish law, you are not supposed to work on the Sabbath, so even pharmacies were all closed. Mat Staver, our trip leader, eventually arranged for a Palestinian doctor to come see me in my hotel room. She tested me for the flu, and it came back positive. That was very tough to accept. I had never gotten sick like this when traveling before, and I was on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Why couldn’t this wait until I got back? She gave me some medicine and instructed me to stay in my room the following day in order to recover. I was heartbroken because there were some places on the itinerary for the following day that I did not want to miss. I went to sleep, hoping that I wouldn’t have to miss out on any additional days. At this point, I know my family back home was praying because God literally performed a miracle that night. When I woke up, it was as if I had never been sick! I made it down to the lobby just in time as the group was about to leave. When the trip leaders saw me, they were blown away by the difference in my mood. It wasn’t completely gone, but I was in good enough health to travel.
First we headed to the Great Synagogue to experience a true Jewish Shabbat service. We watched as the priest grabbed the Torah scroll and paraded it around the building as men would get up and try to touch or kiss it as it passed by. Women weren’t allowed- in fact, they had to sit up in the balcony separated from the men. As it was explained to me, women sit in the balcony because their singing voices could be too seductive for the men, making it hard to worship. And while there are other reasons as well, that is actually a reason they gave me…
We left the service and went to visit the Mount of Olives. This is a very important location in the Bible. According to Luke 24, this was the last location that Jesus stepped before ascending into heaven after his resurrection. And according to biblical prophecy, it is also the location where Jesus will land when He returns. According to Zechariah 14:4, on that day, the Mount of Olives will be split in half resulting in an earthquake. Not only is this a significant location during Jesus’ ministry, but it is also where the best views of Jerusalem can be found. There is a cemetery on the mount, and some Jews believe that those buried here will be the first to be resurrected when the Messiah comes. On the other side of the cemetery but before reaching the Old City is the Kidron Valley where a major battle will take place during the End Times.
After taking in the views from the top, we walked down the mountain to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed before being crucified then was ultimately betrayed by Judas and sold to the Romans. Many of the trees there date back to the times of Jesus’ ministry, so they could have been there during those events. From there, we walked into the Old City to explore it. We ate plenty of shawarma, falafel, pita, and hummus and then went shopping in the craziness of the Old City.
Next was the highlight of the trip for me. We drove to the Garden Tomb. Here, we were able to see Golgotha, the place of the skull, where Jesus was crucified, paying the penalty for my sin. You can’t visit a more important historical location than this. The fate of all humanity and the course of history literally changed due to the events that happened in this spot.
And then not far away was the humble grave that is believed to be the one owned by Joseph of Arimathea where Jesus’ body was placed. But one thing that separates this grave from all of the others is that it’s empty. It was here where Jesus literally rose from the grave, defeating death and offering eternal life to anyone who believes in Him. I walked into the grave and looked at the place where His body was laid, and you can’t describe the overwhelming feeling of realizing what took place here. Jesus is alive, and I don’t have to fear death anymore because He rose from the dead! By far, this was the most important day of the trip, and I’m so thankful that I was well enough to be able to participate in it. I shouldn’t have been able to experience this because of the flu I had the night before, but I believe God wanted me to see this place and healed me to make it possible.
The first place we visited the next day was Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office, or technically the place where he gives televised speeches. The security to get in was insane, and I wasn’t even able to bring my phone in with me. We spoke with members of the Knesset about the political side of Israel. Then immediately after that, we visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum. And this was one of the most eye-opening, emotional places I’ve ever visited. What happened to the Jews during the Holocaust is completely sickening and heartbreaking, and it is important to have places like this as reminders to never allow it to happen again. The whole museum is designed to feel somewhat claustrophobic to give the feeling of being trapped. Out of respect, I didn’t take pictures here. The room that probably affected me the most is the one that is a monument to the children who were killed. The room is pitch-black filled with small lights, each representing a child that had been killed in the Holocaust. Then there were mirrors reflecting those lights creating an overwhelming illusion that represented all 1.5 million children. Names of the children were being read over the speakers as I made my way through what looks like the Milky Way, and I couldn’t make it through without tearing up.
We then visited the tomb of David, which was a room with a casket and many Jews praying nearby. Above that is what is believed to be the Upper Room where Jesus and his disciples had the last supper. Since then, it had been turned into a mosque and had a great view of Dormitian Abbey, where many believe that Mary died. This whole area is located on Mount Zion.
The next day started with our group exploring the City of David, the location of Jerusalem during David’s reign. Much of the area is still an archaeological site, but one place we were able to visit was the ruins of the palace. The area had some beautiful views of the Kidron Valley as well. We then explored the tunnels beneath Jerusalem and saw Hezekiah’s tunnel. One of the tunnels we took near the Pool of Siloam came out next to the Temple Mount, and we saw the Al-Aqsa Mosque, considered to be the third holiest site in Islam, as the Call to Prayer echoed through the entire area. Muslims believe that Mohammed was transported here from Mecca during the Night Journey. According to tradition, this is the direction Mohammed prayed until Allah gave him instructions to pray toward Mecca. This is one thing that makes Jerusalem different than any other city: all three of the major monotheistic religions in the world claim it to be a holy city. And visiting it gives an amazing blend of cultures that you won’t likely find anywhere else. I love Jerusalem, and can’t wait until I have another opportunity to visit!
While Jerusalem is claimed by three different religions, I’d like to point out that everywhere you go in Israel shows proof that Jesus is real. In Old Testament times, the only way to receive forgiveness from sins was through animal sacrifice in the temple. Jesus told us in the New Testament that the temple would be destroyed because we would no longer need it after His resurrection. Seeing a mosque built on the spot where the temple once stood is proof of that. We have all sinned at some point in our lives, and because we are imperfect, we cannot enter into heaven on our own. But because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection three days later, the temple is no longer needed for us to have forgiveness for our sins. All we have to do is put our faith in Him to save us, and we are guaranteed salvation. This is why I’m so involved in these mission trips: I don’t want to just spread my beliefs to other cultures in order for them to start thinking more like I do. I go because Jesus loves each person on this earth and wants to save them, and I want to reach as many people as I can with that message. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
I’ll continue this story in part 3 next week. Thanks for reading!
Tyler's Travels 