Israel: The Holy City: Three Faiths, One Jerusalem

We had to rise and shine even earlier than usual to catch our first glimpse of the Western Wall—or Wailing Wall—in the Old City of Jerusalem. Part of the ancient wall that once surrounded the Temple courtyard, it remains a holy place of pilgrimage and prayer for devout Jews.

Western Wall of the Temple in Jerusalem

And then we entered the Temple Mount and beheld the golden Dome of the Rock, a Byzantine-era shrine. Here and there Muslim men were gathered in small groups to study the Qur’an, barely glancing our direction as we walked across the broad courtyard and snapped endless photos of the blue-and-white porcelain walls and the gold-covered dome.

The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem

Not sure how I imagined the Pool of Bethesda might look, but when we visited there next, I was surprised to see deeply hewn rock and a thin stream of water far below us. “Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.” John 5:3

Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem

Midday found us at the Bible Lands Museum, where each ancient artifact was fully described including a passage of Scripture. I now have a much clearer picture of those household idols Rachel took from her father. No wonder she could sit on them: they were tiny, like miniature action figures! Since we couldn’t take photos, check out their website: http://www.blmj.org/en/index.php.

At the nearby Israeli Museum we saw the Shrine of the Book with one of the original Dead Sea Scrolls and a huge outdoor model of old Jerusalem.

Model of Jerusalem at the Time of the Second Temple

Our sightseeing day ended at the Holocaust Memorial of Yad Vashem, which completely undid me. A series of paths guided us through rooms with artifacts and video interviews of survivors, their stories unfolding chronologically through the desperate days of World War II. The sense of loss was overwhelming, yet as we walked ever upward, we finally reached a glass wall with a green and peaceful view and sunlight streaming through the trees: “hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Yad Vashem in Jerusalem

6 Responses to Israel: The Holy City: Three Faiths, One Jerusalem

  1. Earline Miles February 10, 2012 at 10:45 pm #

    My heart is overflowing with so much yearning for the Jewish people and ALL the people in Israel that they would trust Jesus, accept Him as the Messiah, their Messiah.

    • Natalie Tocci May 10, 2012 at 12:33 pm #

      I have just discovered you and am soo excited to get to read your books . I am one of those lucky Jewish people who after having a personal realationship with the FATHER, was introduced BY HIM to his son. and have a wonderful personal relationship with both of them. It is the love of Father God and his awesom son Jesus that keep me whole and going from day to day. I have learned soo much from both.

  2. Liz Curtis Higgs February 13, 2012 at 9:15 am #

    That’s definitely happening, Earline. As my husband said of Jerusalem, it’s a city where faith MATTERS. We certainly felt that!

  3. Natalie Tocci May 10, 2012 at 12:36 pm #

    would love to go on a trip to Israel if you have another one please let me know. thanks

  4. Diana McLemore July 11, 2012 at 6:15 pm #

    Had the time of my life with all my “sisters of the mud” – thank you Liz for planning such a wonderrful trip. received text message from Earline regarding your new book “The Girl’s Still Got It” -received my copy today and can’t wait to read it through and through, thanks also for the pictures of our trip.Hope to see some of the sisters in Sept. in Indiana.. Please note my new email address. Love in Christ to each of you. Diana

  5. Josée January 11, 2013 at 8:52 pm #

    bless your hearth Sister Liz…you have a gift for writing! I thank Our Lord for the books he inspired you to write, funny, inspiring, well written.