Warriors in Israel 2018

Day 8: We finish up in Jerusalem by walking in Jesus's last steps before the cross. Then we headed to Bethlehem to see a cave like the one where he was born. We also visited the fields where the angels appeared to the shepherds to announce the good news. Then we visited Herod's fortress and grave on a mountain outside the city. We did a last bit of shopping before heading to the Valley of Elah to see where David killed Goliath with a stone.

Abby enjoys one last sunrise over Jerusalem from the rooftop terrace of our hotel.

The view of the Damascus gate from our hotel.

Leaving the Damascus gate for the last time

The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu (Palace of Caiaphas)
When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemene, he was brough to the house of the High Priest Caiaphas. Several churches were built and destroyed on this spot, but the underground caves that served as prison cells remain intact.

Jesus was lowed through this hole to spend the night in darkness and isolation.

Rachael read the story of Jesus before Caiaphas and Peter's denial.

Sarah read Psalm 88, a prophecy of the Lord's night in the pit.

Coming out of the pit, everyone was somber and many tearful.

Ropes still show how prisoners were held.

These stone steps date back to the Second Temple era, possible even to the time of Solomon. They certainly would have been in use in Jesus' day. He would have walked down these steps from the Upper Room in Mount Zion to the Garden of Gethsemane. He would have walked back up these steps in company of the soldiers on his way to Caiaphas' house.

A monument depicting Peter's denial.

Upon leaving the pit where Jesus spent the night, Mrs. Starnes was compelled to read Psalm 22 describing Jesus' agony on the cross. This Psalm that Jesus quoted from the cross ends with the promise that a coming generation would be told that the Lord had accomplished it. We are that generation! Christ endured the cross for us!

Sarah smiles as we continue our journey through the Judean desert.

Herodium

Shepherd's Field

Lunch in Bethlehem

Valley of Elah
David defeated Goliath in this valley by choosing 5 smooth stones instead of using Saul's armor. It only took one stone in the slingshot to defeat the enemy and send the Philistines running. This is one of Ellie's favorite stories, so she read it to us from 1 Samuel 17. Then, we each chose our own 5 stones as a final souvenir of the land of the Bible.

Jaffa (also known as Joppa)
We end our journey with the same story that began our journey. We started in Caesarea Maritime where Cornelius became the first Gentile convert. It was in this house in Joppa where God told Peter in a vision not to call unclean what God had called clean. Because of this vision, Peter willingly went with the Gentiles from Caesarea to share the gospel with Cornelius.