Entering Jerusalem

I want to preface this post by reiterating what a phenomenal time of teaching with Kay and David Arthur we had been having. That fact plus literally walking in the footsteps of Jesus through the Galilee and seeing a little of what the Patriarchs experienced in this beautifully blessed land had certainly heightened our emotions, enriched our faith and deepened our love of the Father and His people.

I am choosing to include a short video taken with my iphone as we entered Jerusalem. I quickly chose to do this as it was apparent we were going to see something special. You can hear the bus straining as we are ascending in to Jerusalem though we have been traveling south. We will enter through the Mt. Scopus tunnel and we were told to look to the left. It is hard to see but looking quickly you can glimpse the gold dome of the Dome of the Rock mosque that sits on the Temple Mount within the Old City.

If you chose to watch this 5 minute video, you will hear one of our women begin to sob. It was a very emotional moment. Many of us on this bus had only ever dreamt of coming to the Holy Land and then seeing for the first time where one day the New Jerusalem will be was in many respects overwhelming! The bus immediately took us to the Hebrew University, on Mt. Scopus, where there was an overlook for us to get still shots of the Old City and the Temple Mount. Remember the Temple Mount is Mt Moriah where Abraham offered up his son, Isaac, to God (Genesis 22:2) and where Solomon built the house of the LORD (2 Chronicles 3:1).

Last night I lay a sleeping I had a dream so fair

I stood in old Jerusalem, beside the temple there

I heard the children singing and ever as they sang

I thought the voice of Angels from Heaven in answer rang

I thought the voice of Angels from Heaven in answer rang

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem!

Lift up your gates and sing,

Hosanna in the highest.

Hosanna to your King!"

And then I thought my dream was changed, the streets no longer rang

As with the glad hosannas the little children sang

The sun grew dark with mystery, and the morn was cold and chill

As the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill

As the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem!

Lift up your gates and sing,

Hosanna in the highest.

Hosanna to your King!"

And once again my dream was changed, new earth there seemed to be;

I saw the Holy City beside the crystal sea;

The Light of God was on it streets, and the gates they were open wide, that all who would might enter, and no one was denied.

No need of moon or the stars by night, or the sun to shine by day;

For it was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away.

For it was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away!

"Jerusalem! Jerusalem!

Sing for the night is o'er!

Hosanna in the highest!

Hosanna for evermore!"