A life-changing walk for the pilgrims

There was much anticipation (and perhaps an extra heartbeat or two) for this final day because we knew we would be walking the final steps of Jesus—from the Mt. of Olives through the streets of Jerusalem to Calvary and the Garden Tomb.

We assembled at the top of the Mt. of Olives and Pastor Bill showed us the path we would be following, a steep walk downhill into the Garden of Gethsemane, then uphill into the city and along the Via Dolorosa, and eventually to a worship service of celebration.

Pastor Bill gathers us at the top of the Mt. of Olives to explain this eventful day.

The area was busy this day, busier than we had been accustomed to, but these sites are, after all, the most important in Christendom. We first stopped at the Church of Jesus Weeping to talk about the choices mankind made that Passover weekend—rejecting Jesus as the real Lamb of God and the sorrow that our Lord was feeling—with a tie to David's weeping about Absalom on the same mountain many years earlier.

What a beautiful church we viewed; the same architect also designed the next church we saw a short time later, the Church of All Saints, a masterpiece of a structure near ancient olive trees. This is at Gethsemane. Our group was able to escape the crush of people by being let into a small section of the garden, gated off from the public. There we were encouraged to sit under the olive trees, read the story of Jesus in the garden, reflect and pray. An unforgettable time in an unforgettable place.

Meditating and praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The olive trees of Gethsemane.

We were near the bottom of the mount, and we had to climb a bit to get into the Old City at Lions Gate and into the crowds once again. But we turned into a church courtyard after a bit and found ourselves at the Pool of Bethsaida and St. Anne's (by tradition, Anne was the mother of Mary).

The Pool of Bethsaida

Near the pool, we recounted the story of the healing and noted once again the counter-cultural message and manner of Jesus. In St. Anne's, the resonant church sanctuary is open to having groups sing together in the front as a choir, and we listened to glorious hymns and prayers in other languages until it was our turn. Loni led us in "Holy, Holy, Holy" and the voices blended as if heaven-helped. Joyful tears and full hearts came with the "Amen."

Our group made a gorgeous sound singing in St. Anne's Church.

The next part of our pilgrim walk took us through the bustling narrow streets of Jerusalem, stopping briefly along the Via Dolorosa to note the various stations of the cross. Many times we could not linger to ponder the sites because of the large crowds and small spaces, but Pastor Bill had alerted us to that and we were able to observe, reflect and continue on to the next station.

Walking the Via Dolorosa.

At the third station.

When we reached the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we could again assemble as a group. What a crowd, and what ornate surroundings! There were "bells and smells" as some call the formal worship practices and throngs of people waiting in lines to put their hand in the legendary place of the tomb, touch the burial anointment stone slab and walk through the chapel built over what some say is Calvary. Our group stayed close and took this all in, not getting in those lines but thinking about the impact of our Savior's death and resurrection today—2,000 years later.

In the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

 

Pastor Bill took us to a side chamber that contained a burial vault so we could see how people in those days were interred—and get a better idea of the tombs of Jesus's day. By twos were able to duck into the narrow tomb opening and see the burial places. Once we all had a chance to do so, we said the Apostle's Creed together in unison, with others around us pausing to listen.
 

 

Saying the Apostle's Creed together in the tomb area of the church.

There was one more journey to make: to the Garden Tomb. We left the Old City through the congested Damascus Gate, overflowing with vendors with anything from produce and other food offerings to cell phones and toys. We were reminded that even as the Prince of Peace was being sacrificed, for many in the city commerce was going on as if nothing of significance was happening.

Turning a corner into the Garden Tomb area was a welcome respite from the crowds. The gardens were beautiful, the birds were chirping, we felt a welcome peace. The gardens are another of the sites purported by some to be the actual location of Calvary and Joseph of Arimathea's tomb. At least at this site, we could gather, talk and reflect more easily than back at the cacophony of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The area is run by a British Christian agency and Ivan, our tour guide, spoke with British accent and made no apologies for giving a distinctively Christian message. He admitted that there was debate about the actual site of crucifixion and burial, but gave strong arguments for why this site was possible. We all got a chance to enter another tomb, this one constructed by a wealthy man, such as Joseph of Arimathea. It was another special experience and we noted the sign that was placed on the door as we left the tomb: "He is not here. He is risen."

Could this be Golgotha, the Place of the Skull?

Entering the Garden Tomb.

Our time in the gardens ended with an emotional Communion Service. Pastor Bill took us once again through all of the places we had walked together as pilgrims, reminding us of the significance of each—in Bible times and for us today. We went up for communion in small groups—in the "families" that Bill and Lyn had organized us in for keeping track of one another each day. We sang "He Lives," "In Christ Alone" and, of course, our daily pilgrim song,"In the Light of Jesus." It was a special way to end our travels, there, in the Garden Tomb, praising God for sending His Son. Jesus walked the paths we had just walked, and had given a counter-cultural message of peace—what the world needed then, and what the world needs now.

Our closing Communion Service.

Boarding the bus, we headed for the Tel Aviv airport, but not before stopping halfway for a wonderful farewell Palestinian dinner. We got to thank Khalil and Na-El for their important contributions as guide and driver (and leaving the restaurant Na-El showed us his amazing skill one more time). Touchingly, Khalil said we had become his "soul mates" in this short period of time.

Pastor Bill thanks Khalil for a great partnership.

  

As we got our luggage and headed into the airport, we wondered, could this pilgrim journey be over already? Even as we asked, we knew the answer: No, our journey will continue, as pilgrims in the places in which we live—now with even clearer knowledge of the journey of our Lord during his time on earth.

          In the light of Jesus
          May we walk with pilgrim's feet
          Grant us grace along our journey
          Bringing peace to all we meet.

Thank you for sharing this journey with us.
~  Mike Van Denend