Entry into Jerusalem

Of the many things one anticipates on a pilgrimage, entering Jerusalem has to top the list. Like the ancients before us, they reflected on the significance of the holy city and how they would meet God there. 

While we didn't sing the Psalms of Ascent as we ascended 3600 feet from the Dead Sea Basin in 17 miles, we did stop along the same route. Wadi Qelt overlooks St. George Monastery and the Valley of the Shadow of Death (Psalm 23).  We paused and reflected on Psalm 122:  

I will lift up my eyes to the hills - 
    from where will my help come?
My help comes from the LORD, 
    who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
    The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day
    nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep 
    your going out and your coming in 
    from this time on and forevermore.

As we made our final ascent into the city, the view was spectacular! The walled city, the Dome of the Rock, the Mount of Olives - all there in living color. We had made it to this holiest of cities and sacred home to three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.

We immediately made our way to the place of beginnings for our faith:  Ein Kareem, the city of Elizabeth and Zachariah. According to Luke's gospel, Elizabeth's miraculous pregnancy gave whole-hearted witness to Mary's unprecedented one. Even before their birth, John endorsed the savior of the world. 

John's the Baptist's home now houses a church where the Nunc Dimitas is enshrined in many languages. Next up was the Church of the Visitation, commemorating Mary's encounter with Elizabeth. The text to the Magnificat was on the walls reminding us that our church is global and universal.  

Our next stop was to Pater Noster, a church at the top of the Mount of Olives. Although closed for lunch, Iyad got us in and we enjoyed wandering around and seeing the Lord's prayer in well over 175 languages. We were surprised to learn that Jesus and his family and friends from Nazareth likely camped out on this hillside during the various festivals over the years. Each village had a "designated" camping spot because the city was overrun with visitors. 

After lunch, we walked down the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane.  We lingered at Dominis Flevit, the teardrop church, where Jesus wept over the ancient city. Then, surrounded by olive trees that date back 2000+ years, we celebrated communion in a private garden. The Church of the Agony, adjacent to the garden, reflects the dark night of the soul that Jesus' experienced on the eve of his crucifixion. 

Our first steps into Jerusalem reminded us of the incarnation. Sometimes, we forget that Jesus was a person who grew up in a family who faced the challenges of his day. There were long trips to take for religious reasons, camping equipment to haul around, and dangerous treks made through hostile country. Like us, there were family obligations and expectations to be met. But with Jesus, there was the additional layer of his obedience to God's will that cost him dearly. He suffered an agony that few of us experience. Yet, in the end, his faith was tested and he trusted God to keep him and all of us from all evil. May the LORD, through Christ, keep our coming and going from this time on and forevermore!