Read: Matthew 24:1-2 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/matthew/24.html) Sing: To God Be the Glory, UMH 99 These excavations were begun by Benjamin Mazar in 1968 and were the largest earth-moving archeological projects in Israel. Work continued here until 1978 and was resumed in the 1990s under the direction of Ronny Reich. These excavations are the most important for understanding the Temple Mount because of the impossibility of excavating on the Temple Mount itself. The area of this archeological work includes a small area west of the Dung Gate road, the area around the base of the Temple Mount retaining wall starting at the southwest corner and extending north to the Western Wall Plaza and extending east to the southeast corner of the retaining wall and Ophel Road. During the time of Solomon’s Temple the area along the western wall was the Tyropoeon (later the Central) Valley which formed a steep barrier for Jerusalem. This valley was partially filled during the 8th century BC by King Hezekiah in order to expand the city to the West. But the valley still drained the western side of Mount Moriah and the eastern side of Mount Zion. The water would drain to the south into the Kidron Valley near its confluence with the Hinnom Valley. Herod the Great had the eastern half of the Tyropoeon Valley filled in with the Temple Mount and its massive retaining wall. The bottom of the valley was covered with a street lined on both sides with shops. Under the street was a sophisticated two level drainage system. When the Romans destroyed everything on top of the Temple Mount, in 70 AD, much of the debris was pushed onto the street far below which ran along the base of the western wall of the Temple Mount. This debris remained where it fell for almost two thousand years until the Southern Wall Excavations started in 1968. Some of that debris remains in place today as an example of what happened to the Temple – just as Jesus said.
0 Comments
Read: Matthew 27:33–28:10 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/Matthew/27.html)
Sing: Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, UMH 302 This is THE site for Christians. It is meaningful to see the places where Jesus was stripped of his garments (10); nailed to the cross (11); crucified (12); taken down from the cross (13); and laid in the tomb (14). But the main attraction in this church is the site of Jesus’ resurrection! (The Greek Orthodox name for this church is The Anastasis – The Church of the Resurrection.) The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ makes this place the most important place in the world for Christians. But that does not mean that the other things that happened here are unimportant. Each event had its own place in God’s plan to bring redemption to all of creation. The early Christians had already begun to venerate this site before the Bar Kochba Revolt in 132 AD. After the Romans had put down this second revolt in 60 years the emperor Hadrian was determined to put an end to Judaism and any sects of Judaism like Christianity. Hadrian had the major temple of his new Hellenistic city built on this site. Unwittingly, this helped mark this site and keep it well preserved. In 326 the emperor Constantine I had the pagan temple torn down and the hillside cut away from around Christ’s tomb. He then had a church built around these two sites (the crucifixion and resurrection). Constantine’s church was burned by the Persians in 614 and then rebuilt. That church was destroyed by the Muslims in 1009, including the destruction of the rock tomb, and then partially rebuilt. The Crusaders finished the reconstruction in 1149 and that is substantially the church we see today. This first visit I made to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was rather frantic. The Sunday crowd was large and we were not given very long to see so very much. In my notes from that day I wrote, “I am not sure what I was looking at, but I know who died and rose for me!” I will get a second chance in just a few days. Read: John 5:1-18 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/john/5.html)
Sing: There Is a Balm in Gilead, UMH 375 Bethesda means “House of Mercy” and these pools, which were part of Jerusalem’s rainwater collection system, were known for their healing properties. For centuries Bible scholars searched for the pools mentioned in John 5 without success. Some believed they did not exist until archeologists in the early 20th century unearthed two large water reservoirs separated by a broad rock dike. They were rectangular in shape, with four colonnaded porticos around the sides and one across the central dike. Also found were the remains of a 5th century basilica and a Crusader chapel (which can be seen to the right of center in this photo). Support columns for the basilica can be seen to the left of the chapel and one of the pools is at the base of these supports. This was an incredible area to visit. The archeological work done here has been tremendous. The pool that was uncovered must have been at least 25 feet below today’s street level and they continued on at least another 15 feet deeper. Church of Saint Anne Between the street and the Pools of Bethesda is the Church of St. Anne. On this spot a 5th century basilica that was built by Byzantine empress Eudocia, was named “Mary where she was born.” This was done in honor of a tradition which says that Jesus’ maternal grandparents, Anne and Joachim, lived here and his mother Mary was born here. The Church of Saint Anne is the best preserved Crusader church in Jerusalem. Constructed in 1140 its architectural features give Saint Anne’s a fortress-like appearance. Its simplicity offers a space for prayer and contemplation without distraction. It is also unusually asymmetrical in the detail of its design: opposite columns do not match, windows are all different sizes, and buttresses differ in thickness and height. The Church of Saint Anne is renowned for its remarkable acoustics and reverberating echoes. The voices of even a small choral group can sound like a large congregation in a vast cathedral. We got to experience this first hand as we sang together a couple of songs. We also got to listen to one other group sing a song in a language none of us could identify. I am grateful for the archeologists who kept searching and searching without knowing what they might or might not find. As Jesus said, “My Father has never stopped working, and that is why I keep on working.” Read: Luke 23 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/luke/23.html)
Sing: Ah, Holy Jesus, UMN 289 “The Way of Sorrows” is the traditional route that Jesus carried his cross to his execution. We were on part of the Via Dolorosa as soon as we stepped onto the street where we could see Hadrian’s Arch. At that point, the Way of Sorrows stretched in front of us and behind us. Each Friday, Franciscan friars lead a procession beginning at 3pm (4pm in the summer) and starting in the Al-Omariya Madrasa (Station 1). The procession moves west and ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Stations 10-14). Each procession is accompanied by Muslim guards in Ottoman uniforms. The route, and the number and location of stations, has changed over the centuries. But walking the Via Dolorosa has been a Christian tradition since the 4th or 5th century. Today’s route was established in the 18th century with the present 14 stations, though some of the station locations were changed in the 19th century. Though we did not get to follow the entire route of the Via Dolorosa on this day, I think that it is a wonderful devotional act. It began as a way for people who could not travel to Jerusalem to experience viscerally, the sorrow of the first Good Friday. You, too, can walk The Way of Sorrows right now where you are. Chapel of the Flagellation (Station 2) The Chapel of the Flagellation is (in my opinion) the most striking of all the churches, chapels, and basilicas we visited. It is, of course, a somber place that evokes quiet and contemplation. The inside of the chapel is dominated by browns, grays, and black and the lighting is subdued. As you enter your eyes are immediately drawn to the three stained-glass windows behind the altar and on either side of the sanctuary. Viewing clockwise, they show Pilate washing his hands, Jesus being scourged, and Barabbas expressing joy at his release. Then, as you absorb this tragic scene while walking up the center aisle, your eyes are drawn upward. On the ceiling above the altar, a mosaic, on a deep golden background, depicts Jesus’ crown of thorns pierced by stars. The affect is absolutely stunning! As I stood surrounded by these light-stopping windows and over-shadowed by this diadem of pain I felt the power of his sacrifice for me in a way that I never had before. The architect was Antonio Barluzzi. This place is a wonderful example of the power of art. Chapel of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross (Station 2) Across the courtyard is the Chapel of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross which is the traditional site where Jesus was condemned to crucifixion and where he was compelled to take up the crossbeam on which he was to die. As we walk the Way of Sorrows we need to remember that no one took Jesus’ life from him, he gave his life so that you and I might live. Jesus took up his cross and started toward Golgatha from this place. But he had been on his way here since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Read: John 19:8-16 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/john/19.html)
Sing: To Mock Your Reign, O Dearest Lord, UMH 285 During the construction of the Ecce Homo Convent in 1857, the stone pavement from Aelia Capitolina’s eastern marketplace plaza and Hadrian’s victory arch was uncovered. Some think that this stone pavement is what is mentioned in John 19:13. The Greek word “lithostrotos” means “stone pavement” like the Aramaic word “gabbatha.” These paving stones were not laid here until 100 years after Jesus’ trial before Pilate. But it is possible that these paving stones were moved here from somewhere else in the city. Below that stone pavement a large cistern (about 180’ x 50’ x 15’ deep) cut from bedrock was found. This was once an open pool that Hadrian had vaulted so that his market plaza could be built over it. The name “Struthion” means “sparrow” in Hebrew. This pool was part of a chain of reservoirs providing water for the citizens of Jerusalem. The pavement over the Struthion Pool also stretches to the east toward the Antonia Fortress. This vast military garrison was built by Herod the Great and named in honor of his patron Mark Antony. The fortress was built against the northern wall of the Temple Mount and rose above it, giving the Roman troops a commanding view of the Temple Mount and putting them in a position to quickly quell any trouble around the temple. Part of the site of the Antonia Fortress is now occupied by the Al-Omariya Madrasa, a school for Muslim boys and men. Many people recognize this school as the site where Pilate condemned Jesus to be crucified and thus the first of the fourteen stations of the Via Dolorosa. Others say that it is more likely that Jesus was taken to Pilate’s palace which was on the other side of the city near what today is called the Citadel of Jerusalem. Read: John 19:4-16 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/john/19.html)
Sing: Be Thou My Vision, UMH 451 In 130 AD the Roman Emperor Hadrian began transforming the ruins of Jerusalem into a Hellenistic city named Colonia Aelia Capitolina; a Roman colony named for Hadrian’s family and the three gods to be worshiped there – Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. After the Bar Kochba Revolt Hadrian intended to stamp out the practice of Judaism and barred Jews from entering or coming within sight of this new city. The only exception to this rule was the holy day Tisha B'Av. Hadrian also renamed the Roman province surrounding Aelia Capitolina from Judea to Syrian Palestine. The arch (see the attached photo) was the center span of a triple arch built at the western end of the eastern marketplace and served as the Western Gate of the new city. This triple archway served as an arch of triumph commemorating the Roman victory over Jewish rebels led by Bar Kochba from 132–135 AD. In the mid-19th century, the northern arch was incorporated into the interior of the Convent of the Sisters of Zion and the southern end was destroyed to build a mosque. Today the center arch is topped by a small room which is used as an office and the northern arch can be seen inside the convent chapel. The name “Ecce Homo” is Latin for “behold the man,” words spoken by Pontius Pilate when he presented Jesus to a hostile crowd. At one time it was believed that this was the place where Pilate brought Jesus out to the people. Hadrian’s marketplace plaza was mistaken for “The Stone Pavement” of John 19: 13. (“The Stone Pavement” is Gabbatha in Aramaic and Lithostrotos in Greek.) So Hadrian’s Arch became known as the Ecce Homo Arch and the convent was named the Ecce Homo Convent. This is part of the Via Dolorosa, “The Way of Sorrows,” the traditional path of Jesus from his trial to his crucifixion and burial – where thousands of pilgrims come to see the man! Read: 2 Samuel 5:6-12 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/2-samuel/5.html)
Sing: Blest Be the Tie That Binds, UMH 557 Today we are going into the heart of Jerusalem: The Old City. The Old City is defined by the wall that surrounds it. The wall we see today was built by the Ottoman Turks in 1540 AD. In some places it was built on top of the older walls. In some places it was extended outward from the older walls. In some places it was brought in from the older walls. In fact the oldest part of Jerusalem, the City of David, which King David captured from the Jebusites a thousand years before Christ, is not within today’s wall. Since David’s capture of the original Jebusite city there have been five major expansions of the city walls: during the 10th, 8th, 2nd, and 1st centuries BC and the 1st century AD. The two major contractions of the walls came with the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and the earthquake of 1033 AD. Inside the wall The Old City is divided into four quarters: Jewish, Christian, Armenian, and Muslim. The practice of dividing the city into quarters goes back to the days when Jerusalem was destroyed and rebuilt as a Roman city in 130 AD. The Romans built in the form of their military camps – with two main streets, one running north and south and the other running east and west, meeting in the middle. These quarters are separated only by a line on a map and it is easy to move from one quarter to another; as easy as walking across a narrow street. The Muslim Quarter is the largest and includes the northeast corner down to the north end of the Western Wall, west to the Damascus Gate, and all of the Temple Mount. The Christian Quarter is second in size and includes the northwest corner east to the Damascus Gate and south to the Joppa Gate. The Jewish and Armenian Quarters are about the same size and occupy the southern side of the city and are divide by Habad Street which roughly follows the ancient Roman north/south street. There is a different feeling in The Old City. Whether that feeling comes from entering through the narrow gates, crossing through the wall, or by what lies inside, or by a combination of all three I am not sure. The narrow streets and alleyways of the city reminded me of being in Astroworld, an old theme park in Houston. At Astroworld I had learned my way through the short-cuts but in The Old City of Jerusalem I was always on the verge of being lost. I would like to go back to The Old City some day and stay long enough to lose the feeling of being lost. If it does not happen in this lifetime then it will in the next when we will be residents of The New Jerusalem. Read: Mark 14:32-42 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/mark/14.html)
Sing: I Stand Amazed in the Presence, UMH 371 Located within the Garden of Gethsemane is the Church of All Nations, also known as the Basilica of the Agony. This edifice was completed in 1924 and is the third church built on this site. The main feature of this church is the rock rising through the floor in front of the altar. It is not surprising in a country with exposed bedrock almost everywhere you look that rocks would be used as markers for many important events. This, of course, is not an ordinary rock. It is the rock on which Jesus knelt in prayer the night he was betrayed and just hours before he gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins. On this rock Jesus asked his Father to take the cup of suffering from him. But like his mother, Jesus was willing to do whatever God wanted him to do. Just yesterday I was in Nazareth where Mary told Gabriel, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” Now I am at the place where Jesus prayed, “But do what you want, and not what I want.” How could we not be moved as we knelt and touched this holy stone? What prayer could we utter that would express how we felt to be in this place? “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for being what we cannot be; thank you for doing what we cannot do. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Please help me to be just a little bit more like you.” Just a few yards away Peter, John, and James could not keep awake and pray with Jesus. I love the fact that the Gospels show us the Apostles with their human frailties. Their weaknesses and their miss-steps give me hope that I too can be redeemed and useful to Jesus. “Lord, forgive us and help us to be alert and pray according to your will.” Read: John 18:1-11 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/john/18.html)
Sing: Go to Dark Gethsemane, UMH 290 We traveled back into Jerusalem to the base of the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane. The olive trees seen below are probably over one thousand years old but no one knows for sure because olive trees have growth rings that a very difficult to distinguish. We know these are not the trees from Jesus’ time because during the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD the Romans cut down all of the trees around the city to use as building materials or as fuel; though olive roots are known to survive continue to grow. Of course much else has changed in two thousand years. What really matters as we visit these different sites is not whether they are authentic or accurate or just the way Jesus experienced them. What matters to us as pilgrims is that we are growing closer to Christ and we feel the presence of Christ with us as we walk in his foot-steps. This garden and the church next to it definitely helped us feel the presence of Jesus. We had time to spend among the olive trees. The name “Gethsemane” means “oil press.” Here, on the western slope of the long ridge called The Mount of Olives, there would have been olive trees and a place or places to press the olives into oil. This was also a place where Jewish pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem for Passover could stay overnight. Because Jerusalem would get over-crowded during Passover the chief priests had given a special dispensation which allowed pilgrims to eat the Passover meal outside the city walls within a certain distance and still be considered to have eaten Passover “in” Jerusalem. That might have happened here. The garden was a peaceful place despite rush hour traffic going by within ear-shot. The look of the ancient trees was very soothing and being able to look up and across the valley to see the temple mount filled me with a sense of awe for where I was. This is a special place, a sacred spot, a holy land. Thank you, Lord, for making times and places sacred to us. We feel your presence. We hear your still, small voice. We ask. We seek. We knock. Bless us, O Lord, so that we might be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Read: Matthew 2 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/matthew/2.html)
Sing: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, UMH 110 In 40 BC Herod (the Great – I don’t like calling him that because there was nothing truly great about him except his ego) had to flee from Jerusalem and his enemy Antigonus who caught up with Herod southeast of Bethlehem. A desperate battle followed and Herod escaped and made his way to Rome where the Roman Senate crowned him the King of the Jews and sent him back to rule Judea. Three years later his kingdom was secure under the Romans. To commemorate the battle that changed his life Herod built a governmental and administrative center that was also a palace and a fortress on this site at the edge of the desert and named it after himself. The first feature that catches your eye is the double-walled circular tower palace-fortress surrounded by a man-made mountain. But this is only one of the three main parts of this unique ancient wonder. There is also a ground-level entertainment and administrative center north of the tower/mountain. And on the northeast slope of his artificial mountain Herod built his funeral complex which included his tomb and a royal theater. During our visit to Herodium we found the down-side to seeing Israel in the snow – snow melts and makes mud! Jerusalem is approximately the same latitude as Palestine, Texas – so snow and ice don’t last very long around here. We could still see some snow in places on the north-facing ruins of Herodium but it was a muddy slog up the hill to the top. From the top we had a good 360-degree view. We could see Bethlehem and hear the afternoon call to prayer from the surrounding villages. If it had been clearer we might have been able to see the Dead Sea. The story of Herodium did not end with Herod’s death in 4 BC. His son Archelaus, mentioned in Matthew 2:22, used it for about a decade before the Romans sent him into exile. The Romans then used Herodium until Jewish rebels captured it in 66 AD. The rebels at Herodium were expelled in 71 AD by the Romans. In 132 AD, the Jews leading the Bar Kokhba Revolt took Herodium as their secondary headquarters. The Romans retook Herodium in early 135 AD. Upper and lower Herodium were occupied and used until the 7th and 9th century, respectively, and then abandoned. Archeological excavations began on Herodium in 1962 and today it is part of Israel’s National Parks Authority. It was amazing to see to what extremes Herod would go in order to feel safe and comfortable in his own kingdom. It seems that every palace that Herod built was also a fortress. Herod also had fortress/palaces at Masada, Machaerus, and Hyrcania. But I guess it is not necessarily paranoia if lots of people really do want to kill you. Thank God that we have a fortress which will never fall into ruin. |
AuthorIn matters of faith, we at First United Methodist Church, Sealy put primary reliance on the Bible. In scripture, we understand that we are all God’s children; therefore, we will be a church that cares for the needs of our church and local community through prayer, deeds, inspiration, and love in the spirit of Christ. Archives
July 2020
Categories |
Location |
Our MissionCaring for the needs of our church and community through prayer, deeds, inspiration and love in the Spirit of Christ.
Sunday Worship: 10 am Adult & Children & Youth Sunday School 9 am First Kids Mother's Day Out (Tuesday & Thursday; 8am to 2pm; Ages 1-3) Rev Pat Bell, Pastor First United Methodist Church Sealy
200 Atchison Street Sealy, Texas 77474 979.885.2223 |
Contact Us |