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Day 6 in Israel: Jerusalem Tunnels, Mount of Olives, and Bethlehem

Our time here in Israel has started it's way down to the end, but today was a long one, as we left the hotel at 7:15 making stops at the Jerusalem tunnels before going to the Mount of Olives, and Bethlehem to visit Bethlehem Bible College (BBC), The Church of the Nativity, and The Shepherd's Field.

A portion of a road from the 1st century, during Jesus' time
We began early with a special treat. Our guide Doran was able to secure us a spot visiting the old tunnels that go under the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The Western Wall (which we will visit later in the week) is the only remains of the Jewish Temple which was destroyed in 70 A.D. Today on the site sits the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim holy site. These tunnels were dug by Jewish rabbis who were attempting to make their way under the old Temple Mount site before they were discovered, and the digging promptly ceased. Today these tunnels offer glimpses to the first century Jerusalem which lies buried beneath present day Jerusalem. 

An old water reservoir deep in the tunnels beneath present day Jerusalem.

Standing on the Palm Sunday road overlooking Jerusalem.
The tunnels took a good bit of the morning and when we finished there,we traveled the short drive to the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is where Jesus ascended into heaven. It also offers a great view of Jerusalem where we had our official group photo taken. Next we began walking down the Palm Sunday road, the same path Jesus took when he road the donkey into the city just days before he would be crucified. Dr. Jorgenson, CUDS theology professor said it best when he noted how the entire time Jesus was coming down this path he would have been looking at the Temple the entire way. At the end of the pathway, we went into the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was arrested after a meal with his disciples. 

The Garden of Gethsemane 

Next we drove to Bethlehem where we went to BBC. BBC is a school inside Bethlehem which seeks to educate and prepare Arab Christian leaders to serve in and around the Middle East. We were able to share lunch with some of the folks from BBC and were treated to a tour of the school and presentation from the school's dean of students. We also were able to drop off many items that we brought to donate to BBC such as school supplies, first aid items, and bedding. 

Inside the Church of the Nativity
After BBC we went to the Church of the Nativity. This church sits on the site traditionally believed to be the birth place of Jesus Christ, complete with markers for both the location where Mary gave birth, as well as the manger where he would have been laid. This was probably the most intense moment of reflection for me as I entered the cave beneath the church holding these markers. I was able to pray and give thanks to God for his son in the place believed to be where he was born. 

The location of where Mary gave birth to Jesus according to traditon

Lastly, we made the two mile drive to Shepherd's Field, the location believed to be where the angels appeared to the disciples with the good news of Jesus's birth. Here we saw the caves where these shepherds could have lived, and we could see the Church of the Nativity sitting high on the hill just as the shepherds would have, looking toward the location of Jesus's birth.
The view of the Church of the Nativity from Shepherd's Field (its the dome in the middle)

This has been a long but exciting adventure. Our group is starting to wear down some but we are excited about the last three days that we will be spending in the Holy Land. Do keep us all in your prayers as tomorrow is a big day with visiting the Western Wall, Hebron, and the most exciting thing, walking the Via Dolorosa, the path Jesus walked heading toward his crucifixion, before reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site of Jesus's crucifixion. 

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