The following story is but
one of the many wonderful experiences I had while on my journey to Israel.
Others can be found in my autobiography titled, Journey of a Disciple,
published by Amazon.com:
I had a spiritual
experience upon exiting our bus when it stopped at the Mount of Olives. As I
stepped onto the ground, I could feel the presence of the Lord, warm and gentle
throughout my body. I was made aware that I had set my feet on holy ground.
I walked down to the
Garden of Gethsemane and saw the narrow paths flowing through the garden. One
path was lined with flowers and olive trees. One of the trees looked very old.
I asked our guide about the tree. She told me some have believed the tree was
here 2,000 years ago, however, scientists at the Hebrew University have
determined the tree’s age to be only about 1,500 years old.
The name Gethsemane means
“olive press.” The garden sits toward the bottom of the Mount of Olives. There
was a small stone bench in the garden that I sat on. I rested there in the peace and quiet of the
morning and stayed for a while to pray and meditate, absorbing the beauty of
the garden around me. I was the only one in the garden at the time. The early April
day was warm and sunny, and above me I heard a bird singing sweetly. I thought
of Jesus kneeling to pray to the Father on the Friday evening before He was
crucified. How he must have suffered then, knowing what lay ahead.
“And he said, ‘Abba, Father,
all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will,
but what you will.’”—Mark 14:36, NIV.
Higher up the on Mount I
walked to the Abbell Synagogue at the Hadassah University Medical Center,
famous for its 12 magnificent arched windows around the four stone walls. There
are three windows on each wall, each one depicting symbols of one of the 12
tribes of Israel. The stained glass illustrates animals, fish, and flowers. The
view is breathtaking, overwhelming by their beauty and powerful imagery. The
windows were created and given to the synagogue by world-renowned artist Marc
Chagall.
"This is my modest
gift to the Jewish people who have always dreamt of biblical love, friendship
and of peace among all peoples. This is my gift to that people which lived here
thousands of years ago among the other Semitic people."—Marc Chagall,
February 6, 1962.
The stone floors of the
synagogue reflect the light entering in through the windows, creating a
beautiful and colorful glow inside the sanctuary.
After sitting down and
silently praying for a while, I arose and walked outside and into the fresh
April air.
My spirit and soul were
lifted high above, with the awareness of God’s presence and grace upon this
land and its people, Israel. And then I prayed for the peace of all people
everywhere, and for the return of Christ and his kingdom.
I believe with all my
heart in the return of Jesus Christ. Every day I wait for him. He will come
again, just as he promised, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven
with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.” (1
Thess. 4:16)
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