Today has been a day of reflecting on this experience. For most of those on this pilgrimage, it was their last day (in fact they are driving to Tel Aviv for their plane trip as I type this.) A few of us have remained to extend our trips in various places. Tomorrow, I will be boarding a bus for a really long journey into the desert with a final destination of St. Catherine’s church at the base of Mt. Sinai.
We slept in a bit this morning and after a nice
breakfast headed out into the rain for a few final stops. Our first stop was probably the most moving – it was the Garden Tomb. Many of the sites we have seen are attempts to place the life and events of Christ and other important figures. Some are undoubtedly THE place where an event happened. Two days ago we visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher which is the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. This Garden is an alternative to that tradition.
This site is much more what you would expect or want to see. It’s really quite pretty (even in the cold rain). It’s wonderfully manicured and the lemon trees and flowers are just gorgeous. On the far end of the garden is an outlook that has a view of a giant rock wall and buses from a depot. But as I stared at the rock wall, I had this impression I was being stared at. Our guide pointed out that in front of us, some historians and archeologists believe is what the Bible calls Skull Hill – Golgotha. A hundred years ago (and there is a picture to prove it), the area was a stone quarry and sure enough it looks like a skull. The nose and eyes are still very much visible thus my feeling of being stared at.
After listening to the research, our guide then took us to a small cave nearby. This was an ancient tomb. It’s characteristics are a perfect match for the Gospel accounts of the resurrection morning. A giant stone slab (though obviously not the original) sits nearby as an example of what a sealing stone would have looked like in the 1st century. It’s really an amazing place. It’s peaceful and quiet and pretty fantastic.
From the tomb, we went for our devotion and shared in communion with our Bishop. I need to say, I really have appreciated the time with our Bishop and his wife. Our conference and state is so blessed to have his leadership. This couple, beyond their role and authority, have become very dear to me (he also baptized my boys, so that’s there too) and since I have no worry about them reading this – no one needs to think I’m sucking up! Bishop served us communion and we sang the doxology in the middle of the garden. It was beyond just special, it was holy in every possible way.
We then headed over to the old Walls of the city. We toured blocks that still lay in a pile from the Roman destruction of 70 AD/CE. We walked deep into the ground and were invited to envision what the place could have looked like. At one point, our guide showed us the remains of a bridge that jutted out from the temple across the valley of the cheese-makers (blessed are the cheese-makers – haha) to a grouping of steps that lead to the gates. Under the ruins of this bridge, a 5th century hebrew engraving was found. It said this, “My bones shake as I come to the house of The Lord.”
This “shaking” is what we see when a Jew will nod forward as they pray. Their whole body is engaged in worship and petition to the almighty.
After an escape from the cold and rain, we drove to a place that could have been the Upper Room. After just preaching on the Last Supper a few weeks ago, the room was certainly interesting. Between that and our communion celebration a few hours ago, I doubt I’ll ever take the meal in the same way (by the way, for my Antioch community, we should switch to matzo bread, just sayin…). We finished the day at a commemorative tomb for King David, where some Orthodox Jews were saying their prayers.
All in all, the day was a lot less speedy. We took our time. We were cold and wet, but we were enjoying these last moments in this Holy Land. After supper, a few of my Louisville friends and I reflected over the week in the quiet of the hotel bar. I said it kind of feels like the moment after a holiday when all the family leaves and you can just breathe for a moment. Of course, for us we get right back at it tomorrow morning.
In processing the day, I’m captured by two thoughts. First, regardless of whether you’re a “church of the Holy Sepulcher” fan or a “Garden tomb” cat, he was crucified and his tomb (either one) is still empty! He’s not there – He’s risen – He’s risen INDEED!
I have believed this for the majority of my lifetime, but for some reason it feels more real tonight. It doesn’t feel emotional-high real, but tangible, earthy, for-real real. I’m thankful for this – I’m thankful that I believed and that reflecting on this is helping my unbelief.
The second piece is the quote from the 5th century Jew who found the bridge remnants to the temple wall. Our guide told us that this pilgrim had come during a “cool down” between Jewish and Christian conflicts. I don’t think about Jewish-Christian conflicts very often – Jewish-Arab or Arab-Christian, but not Jewish-Christian. Of course history tells us that carrying the banner of Prince of Peace has often come at the violent expense of Jewish people of deep faith. That makes me sad.
That phrase of that pilgrim is what’s striking me – “my bones shake as I come to the house of The Lord”. I’ve heard of David’s cry that said “I was glad when they said unto me let’s go to the House of The Lord”, but my bones shaking is new. I’ve had moments like that – where my bones are shaking in God’s presence – not out of fear, or terror, but out of the overwhelming presence of God in a moment. The ancient Hebrews had those moments and commemorated them wherever they occurred by setting up a holy place of remembrance or altar.
I wonder if that’s the point of community worship? What if it’s not about the style of music or whether the preacher did his/her job that day? What if it’s not about the “performers” up on the stage (by the way, sadly, I’ve known several performers of sunday services – maybe even been one on occasion)? What if it’s not about the junk you and I bring into the building? What if it IS about pushing all that aside, no matter how tired or distracted we may be, to stop and praise a God who would come and die that we may live? What if we started every worship gathering with a moment to say – God, shake our bones with your presence and holiness. Shake us that we may be awakened to your Glory and can worship you fully!
I think I may try that – would you join me?
(Quick note – I don’t know how available my internet connection will be the next few days as I travel to Egypt. I’ll keep writing and will post as able! Thanks for following me on this journey.)
Shalom for now…
Grace and Peace –
Jim