Day 10 Israel Museum Thu 11/21/2019

THE NEW CITY / ISRAEL MUSEUM / BETHLEHEM

We will visit the New City of Jerusalem and the Israel Museum to see the Dead Sea scrolls and the model of the Second Temple. Depart for Bethlehem to visit the Shepherd's Field (Lk.2:8), Rachel's Tomb (Gen.35:20; 1 Sam.10:2) and the fields of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 2:3). As time permits visit Christmas Lutheran Church and tour their facilities and observe their many ministries. Spend time shopping at a large Palestinian Christian Olive wood store. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

I was up early this morning so I looked out our hotel window and found some gems...

On my way to the elevator I stopped by a window looking north and found this:

Length: 00:00:08 sec.

Then I went outside and found this:

The light of a rising sun in Jerusalem.

We are staying here at the Ramada for three nights.
Our room is on the top floor at the corner by the scaffolding.

To prove our room is by the scaffolding, here's a picture from inside the room with the scaffolding in view.
It's not the most ideal setting, but the sunrise is still beautiful, isn't it?

I thought this was a cool picture.
There was a decal stuck on the window so I took a picture of that with Jerusalem in the background.
I like it!

Before departing for today's activities I took another picture of the decal on the window.
Still pretty cool.

Our Opening Devotions:

Psalm 119:160 "Your words are true from the start, and all your laws will be fair forever."

John 17:17 "Make them ready for your service through your truth; your teacing is truth."

Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are too small to be among the army groups from Judah, from you will come one who will rule Israel for me. He comes from very old times, from days long ago."
All Old Testament prophecies have or will be fulfilled because GOD's Word is true!

First stop: Bethlehem New Store

The Nissan Olive Wood Shop
www.nissanbros.com

Christian owned among the Arab Muslims

Here is John, the owner of the shop.store.
He will pray the LORD's Prayer in Aramaic for us before we depart on the bus.

The name of the shop where they sell many items from Jewelry to trinkets to hand made olive wood carvings.
Pretty spectacular stuff!

Listen and see John prepare us to hear the LORD's Prayer in Aramaic

Length: 00:00:17 sec.

The LORD's Prayer in Aramaic - the language Jesus used

Length: 00:00:29 sec.

The LORD's Prayer written in Aramaic

Final thoughts...

Length: 00:00:22 sec.

Next stop: Church of the Holy Trinity

But first, we meet our guide, Ramsey.

Ramsey is an Arab Muslim who appreciates our visit. 85% of their income capital is from tourism.
He definitely has a vested interest in our visit.

The Church of the Holy Trinity.
Three different religious organizations lay claim to this site.
Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian.

We took a group shot here...

Yes, we had a "photo bomber" in our group shot.
How rude! Well, we took care of him...all in love!
Otherwise, what a great group picture.

Entrance to the Church of the Holy Trinity

This shows the entrance to the oldest active church in the world dating back to 300 AD
It also shows the three different levels of arches used as entry ways during it's many days of active service.

This video shows us inside the Church of the Holy Trinity.
We're looking down at the mosiac floor from the 12th century.

Length: 00:00:18 sec.

This is a monastary attached to the Church of the Holy Trinity.

We waited in this church - it's a different church near by - for our guide while he ran a quick errand for Kathleen.

 Next stop: Shepherd's Cave

Then we set off to the Shepherd's Cave where we sang again.

Reading:

Luke 2:8-20

The angel of the LORD appeared to the shepherds to announce the birth of the Christ.

He'll be lying in a manger (where animals stayed).

GOD keeps His promises.

Next stop: Lunch at Tent Restaurant

A typical Mediterranean Meal.
Small plates of toppings to go in or on Pita bread followed by a plate of meats, veggies, french fries?

 Next stop: Israel Museum

On the way...

The shepherd's fields.

Bethelem is in the West Bank and separated from Israel with security fences and this road that passes in the middle of this photo.

Looking back on the hillside with homes one one side and olive trees on the other side.
A typical Israel hillside in a growing city.

I took this picture to show the large scale soccer stadium on the left and a basketball arena to the right and rear of the stadium.

Remember the video I took of that long white pole with sweeping colors?
Well, here it is in the day time, near our hotel.

 First exhibit at the Israel Museum:

A model built in 1960 of Jerusalem.

This would be a similar view we had when we were standing in the Mount of Olives overlooking the Kidron Valley into the Temple Mount.

Here you can see the south stair steps where we sat when we visited the south wall yesterday.

Here is the pool of Siloam.

Caiaphas Office where they took Jesus to be questioned before his trial.

 Next stop: Inside the Israel Museum

We didn't know we weren't supposed to take pictures, but we did get one in before we got in trouble. Here's the one picture we did take of one of the Dead Sea Scrolls parchment.

After visiting the Dead Sea Scrolls Exibit - some people went back to the hotel on the bus, a few others stayed behind to catch up on other exhibits. Inside we found this familiar sight...

Yes, this is Caesarea Philippi where we saw temples to the god called Pan.
We also saw a display room set up for Peter Pan. I didn't take pictures, but I should have so you could see the connection.
Not sure what it is, but it sure seemed like there was a pre-Disney view and a post-Disney view of Peter Pan.

 And finally, what a sight!

We started today with the sunrise.
We end today with the sunset.
What a treat!

A sunset video...

Length: 00:00:10 sec.

A panoramic video of the Jerusalem model at dusk...

Length: 00:00:07 sec.

And finally...
...what a grand way to end this day!

Happy Birthday, Pastor Reiner!!!