CROSSOVER IN THE LAND - DAY 8

One of my goals for this trip was to make sure that I spend much more time on the Temple Mount than I had on previous trips. Our wonderful guide, Gilla, got up early to take us so that we could have a full 2 hours walking around up there.
After making our way through security (which I will tell you more about), we finally arrived at the very top of the existing Temple Mount. It was a very powerful and informative time for all. We asked lots of questions about what was where. We tried to place everything as it would have been during the different periods of time. One of the highlights was seeing an original stone step that led up to the upper court of the sacred or “holy area”. This is how they would have accessed the sacrifice altar, brazen laver, and other inner court activities. What an experience to look at the very spot where God revealed Himself in a special way among His people. On a personal note, I think I finally have the Holy of Holies placed!
One very interesting observation about the current Muslim presence on the Temple Mount. I want to speak to the growing voice of those who are less educated about the Temple Mount and its’ true history. There is a thought among many Americans today that this should be a special and holy site for all faiths. In other words, we should not be so exclusive to consider this place as only sacred and relevant for the Jews (and Christians). These people speak as though the poor Muslims should be allowed to have access to their holy sites up there…I mean, after all don’t they let everyone else worship on this sacred place? The answer…NO! I found it very interesting that the Muslims who control the Temple Mount do not allow certain things to take place there. Out of all the things I could have tried to bring up on the Temple Mount, it was my Bible that I was prohibited from taking up there. Yes, you heard me correctly…my Bible! The check point screening area complete with an airport scanning machine has been placed before the entrance to look for Bibles. I cannot pray up there either, but the Muslims have two Mosques’ for their place of prayer. It seems they are not very open to “all faiths sharing that place”. Also, if it is so sacred to them, why have they completely trashed it? There is garbage and debris everywhere. It really made me sick to my stomach to see such disdain and contempt for a site that is holy to the Jews and Christians…but only claimed holy by the Muslims. Oh, by the way, it is also very interesting that all the Archeological finds on and around the Temple Mount from before the Hasmonean period are distinctly Jewish. Israel may not have much history as an U.N. recognized State, but they have all the history there is as a nation who belongs in this land. No matter what people say, feel, or think, this specific piece of land was given by God to the Jews for exclusive Worship of the one true God. The rest is irrelevant.
Well, back to the trip. We went from the Temple Mount to the pools of Bethsaida where Gilla sang to us Psalms in Hebrew at a church with amazing acoustics. It was beautiful. We were all speechless. A couple of people commented later that they could have just sat there and listened to her sing that all day. I agree!
Most of the rest of the day was spent walking every square foot of the surroundings of the Temple Mount. We walked the Rabbi’s tunnel along the western wall, saw the excavated first century community along the southwest corner, worshipped on the southern steps, and watched a video about temple worship.
After a short rest at our hotel, we headed back to the southern slope of the mountain of the temple mount which is the city of David. It was cool to see discovered evidence of the presence many of Israel’s Kings. I guess Israel has much more history here than many people realize. A few brave souls walked Hezekiah’s tunnel which is a water way dug out by King Hezekiah to re-route the water of the spring of Gihon. Larry, Greg, Wendy, and Deana walked the entire 2/3 of a mile in the pitch black with water up to their knees in a very tight and narrow passage way under ground. Terry has affectionately labeled this group the Crossover Swim Team. We all met up at the pools of Siloam to see yet more evidence of the Biblical tie to this land. What a great day! It was very hot, and I think there were a few times where the heat took the energy out of people. However, this journey is surely changing lives.