Boker Shabbat Shalom

Some new pictures...

Boker Shabbat Shalom (Shabbat Morning Peace),

I’m waking up this morning to a beautiful Shabbat here in the city. Yesterday was a day full of more exploring Jerusalem, from the Mount of Olives to the Via Dolorosa.

I began the morning with a view East of Jerusalem- fromthe West Bank on into Jordan. Mount Scopus, the hill I live on, has commanding views of the Old City and surrounding areas (it was once used as a Roman garrison, I’ve been told, and has been utilized by many invading armies to conquer Jerusalem). At the outlook point were some German(?) believers singing “He is Lord.” There was also an Arab shepherd-boy riding around on a donkey, offering the tourists the chance to take pictures. I didn’t want to patronize him, but I did take a few pictures when he wasn’t looking.

From Mt. Scopus I went over to the Mount of Olives, where I visited the Auguste-Victoria Church of the Ascension. Built at the turn of the previous century by the German royal family, the church has one of the highest towers in all of Jerusalem and offers commanding views of the region. After buying the ticket to climb the tower, I raced up its steps to see the view similar to the one Christ saw when he ascended, and the one similar to the one that he will see when he returns a second time (Acts 1:9-11). When I got to the top, I didn’t receive so much of an epiphany as I did sore legs- it was quite hike. Still, the song that came to mind was “When He Cometh:”

“When He cometh, when He cometh
To make up His jewels,
All His jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Like the stars of the morning,
His brightness adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty,
Bright gems for His crown.”

After seeing the Tower-Church, I went over and visited the Church of the Beatitudes (also on the Mount of Olives), the traditional place where Christ gave his Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). On the walls of the compound was the Lord’s Prayer in countless languages.

The second phase of my day was with Christian friends doing the Via Dolorosa, the traditional path that Christ took through Jerusalem carrying the cross. We began at the first station, which has two chapels- one remembering the condemnation of Christ, and the other remembering the flagellation. We continued from there with a group of around 70 pilgrims, led by some Franciscans who spoke on the significance of each station (Check out this site for a fuller explanation). In between each station many of the pilgrims said the “Our Father” and “Hail Mary” prayers, which I didn’t participate in because 1) they were in Latin and 2)I don’t care much for Mary. Still, it was a really meaningful experience. We ended up in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher for the final stations, after which we joined a Catholic procession (led once again by Franciscans) that went around the church touring the significant area therein. They chanted and sang in Latin, which I attempted to follow and sing along with, but it was very difficult. I was able to pick up some of the things they talked about but my ignorance of Latin was pretty clear.

After leaving the church, we walked back to Mount Scopus through the Christian and Muslim Quarters. Along the way, I saw a shop with a Christian dove sticker and a Palestinian sticker right below it. I met the Evangelical owner of the shop- he is a pastor and goes to the Arab Christian Missionary Alliance Church. He said that God is doing great things among the Palestinians, and that the Holy Spirit is really moving. He invited me to his church service, which is done in Arabic but offers headphone-translation. I plan to visit soon.

Meeting the Palestinian pastor made me wonder what his view of Israel is. As a Palestinian, does he believe that Israel is an unjust oppressor? As an Evangelical, does he believe Jews are God’s chosen people (not that all Evangelicals believe this, but let’s assume that now for the sake of argument)? Furthermore, as his brother in Christ, how do I approach him if he is a Palestinian nationalist? When it comes to my perspectives on the Arab-Israeli conflict, to whom do I owe my allegiance? Do I take the perspective of my Arab brothers and sisters in Christ(assuming they are pro-Palestinian), or that of God’s chosen people who have largely rejected the Messiah (assuming they are pro-Israel)? An interesting question, but I’ve decided to take up neither viewpoint. I, like the Apostle Paul, am “determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1Cor. 2:2). If Christ is my number-one passion and the Holy Spirit is my guide, I cannot go wrong.