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As we are coming to the end of our stay in Israel, we can all look back on some unforgettable experiences.  As we enjoyed the Sabbath rest, after our evening meal we went into town where we saw some Jews listening to a sermon about “partnership with God”.

https://youtu.be/E5zQhKsyJgM

This was followed by a time of celebration and dancing which really brought to mind the reality that God is about creating “One New Man” (Eph 2:14-16) .  You may see some familiar faces in the dance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biA7UAOpI6Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzQMdSADvcU

https://youtu.be/ED5TRNjrgTE

Here is very thoughtful write up from Stephen as he reflected on our time spent the day before in Caiaphas’ house.

Stephen 

Our visit to Caiaphas’ house on day 4 prompted me to take a close look at Peter’s journey with Jesus from the Mount of Olives to Caiaphas’ house. At the centre stage lies Christ’s brutal ordeal before the high priest, Caiaphas. It was here at Caiaphas’ house that Christ faced intensive interrogation, false accusation and imprisonment.  However, the story leading up to Peter’s denial began as Jesus approached the Mount of Olives.

I can now imagine the scenes leading up to Peter’s denial as we are descending from the Mount of Olives and looking down at the beautiful city of Jerusalem. It was just only a few days before Peter’s denial. Matthew 26 provides us a comprehensive account of the events as they unfold. Jesus Christ and his twelve disciples had just finished the last supper and begin singing a hymn. Once they arrived at the Mount of Olives, Jesus began telling the disciples some hard truths. “All you shall be offended because of me this night…,” to this Peter responded; “though if all men shall be offended because of you, yet I will never be offend…” (Matthew 24:30-33). Jesus seeing into the future, responded to Peter, “verily I say unto you, that this night, before the cock crow, you shall deny thrice.” Marks 14:31 particularly tells us that Peter “spoke [all] the more vehemently, if I should die with you, I will not deny you…” At this point, it worth taking a pause and picture Peter’s confession of faith in Christ. What a bold sight it must have been?

How strong was Peter’s faith, or should we say, how strong on self-reliance was his confession? Too soon, we find Peter cutting Marcus’s ear (one of the high priest servants who came to arrest Christ), whilst on the other hand, he proves helpless at Christ’s darkest hour of need at Gethsemane. What a contrast? One clear observation so far as we follow Peter to Caiaphas’s house was that his confession never to deny Christ has not been truly tested, at least not directly yet. Secondly, “why did “Peter follow Him [Christ] afar off unto the high priest’s palace?” (Matthew 26:58).

At the garden where Jesus was arrested, Peter managed to escape unquestioned by the guard. Once we caught up with Peter at Caiaphas’ house, his confession was tested, and what a test it was. Peter failed the test once he was questioned by a maid (he denied), then by Marcus’s close relative (he denied with oath) and later in the midst of a group of people (denied whilst swearing and cursing) (Matthew 26:70-74). The book of Luke’s account of this event really got my attention because it says that Peter had one hour after his second denial of the Lord before he proceeded to his last denial (Luke 22:59). This one-hour gap could have been used to pray, repent or at least reconsider this confession? This moment shines a lot of light onto why Peter wept bitterly after the Lord looked at him as He is lead out of Caiaphas’ house to Pilate (Luke 22:61). His action here also provides some reasons why he followed Christ afar off. Could it be that he had begun doubting his earlier strong confession, in any case, he certainly did not live by his confession of faith. It is very dangerous to follow the Lord at a distance. However strong or weak our faith may be; we should walk steadfastly ever so closely with him, daily.

Following Peter from Mount of Olives to Caiaphas’ house provides me, as it should for many, a revaluation of my confession in Christ, and to ask God for grace to walk with Him and remain faithful to Him. Thankfully, we know that story did not ends with Peter’s denial. Peter did go on to repent and continue to follow Christ and became one of the pillars of the early church to advance Christendom (John 21 and Act 2). Some years later, a more seasoned Peter could say confidently to us today that “…the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto the praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9IBeehrMzs

On day 4 we had some wonderful experiences, seeing how shabbat impacts Jerusalem.  We have blog write-ups from both Nathan and Omar and also some wonderful God inspired songs, one which involves a group which shows amazing creativity to get drum beats from a guitar and use a pack of skittles as a shaker.  There is also a solo from Anthony which can only be described as a modern day psalm.. enjoy (i’m sure you will).

Nathan

Yesterday Morning, we went to the walling wall underground tour, which was showing us some history which was still with us in the present, from around 2000 years ago. It was very interesting to see that some rocks are still present even from Jesus times one that weighed over 600 tons and to this day modern scientists still have not figured out how such a heavy stone could have been placed here.  There was other small stuff that was still there also, this was a real eye opener to see that God’s glory and creation is still around from a long time ago and that his glory shall always been among us and that his presence is still very strong when we ask for it. It’s been a great few days to come together as young men and walk where Jesus walked and king David was and a lot of other great people in the bible, its been a wonderful time to really take it all in, a real intimate setting to really ask God to change our hearts and to bring us closer to him and also to be a light in our generation.

Omar – 16 Years of age – 1st time to Israel

Yesterday we went to the Wailing Wall twice; the reason we went twice was as it was Shabbat many Jews were heading there to pray. In the evening we saw the Jews come by the hundreds, and witnessed their dedication first hand. We saw a lot of people out partying the night before but this night was different as the crowds were gathering to pray.   Could it be that many Jews have become loose in their religion, and only really keep the Sabbath? Before I came to Israel I thought it would be a very Holy land and everyone would be respectful are follow their religion 100%, but we’ve seen that it is still a decision for the individual to live a holy life before God.

My experience in Israel so far has been that it is very tense, as we see Soldiers all over Jerusalem (men, women, boys and girls). I also understand the Bible more and wonder why some of the people of Israel are so stubborn as they have all the evidence that Jesus was the Son of God, and that what happened 2000 years ago really did happen. I cannot really describe the general atmosphere of Jerusalem, as you must travel here yourselves.

Yesterday Pastor spoke to us about praying for each other and loving each other as brothers as we were outside Caiaphas’s house, this turned our attitudes not just to praying for our own needs but for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Reflections from the Western Wall:

https://youtu.be/G7NxNMwnhrw

Anthony’s song:

https://youtu.be/dYc36ciatmA

Jerusalem Song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTxx00hWhCc

A review by Miles of the events of our 3rd day in Israel

This is my third time in Israel and I feel just as excited as I did the first two times. To be in the nation which God has chosen with His own finger is a real privilege.

Today began with the group travelling to the garden of Gethsemane with a Jewish tour guide who would be with us the whole day. His knowledge of the scriptures and the Jewish history was excellent; he emphasised and explained things in a way that I had not heard before. Apart from this allegedly being the very garden that Jesus had wept in, our Guide shared with us that his grandparents had been buried not so far from there on the Mount of Olives and that this land was once under Jordanian rule. It is Jewish custom to regularly visit the graves of passed family; however, when the land came under foreign rule, his family were not able to visit the grave for 19 years, until the Reunification of Jerusalem in the success of the 1967 6 day war. Apart from the fact that the land has been allotted to Israel by God Himself, it is reasons like these why they do not give in to sharing or dividing their land despite receiving pressure from other nations under the pretence of “peace”.

Following on from this, we went to Masada where a large group of Jews had fled to escape Roman rule 2000 years ago. Sadly, the Romans caught up to them with the intent of destroying their Jewish customs and enslaving them. For this reason, these Jews felt obliged to resort to mass suicide even though the Torah clearly teaches against this and the Jews who do this or who have tattoos are not permitted to be buried.  Although this could seem as heroism on the side of the Jews, this does express a lack of trust in God’s ability to preserve His people. The fact that they had the ability to kill themselves, their children and their wives shows that they definitely would have been able to bear slavery whilst continuing to obey the commandments of God regardless of any opposition or threats they would have received from the romans (Not that there is anything good about killing your wife and children). Nevertheless, 2,000 years on, Rome has dissolved and the Jews live on and once again occupy Masada as well as the whole of Israel. Thus, despite the Jews previously losing land to Jordan (the garden of Gethsemane) and Rome (Masada), they have had both of these territories restored to them and of course they would, it has been given to them by God! Funny enough, this was in our bible reading plan on our first day here (See Numbers 33:50-34:29).

To top the day off, we were able to visit the 24-hour worship centre. I had heard many awesome testimonies of this place and had a strong desire to go as I had never been. Whilst being there, I soon realised that the testimonies did not exaggerate at all. We had an extraordinary time in the worship centre as the presence of The Lord was there so strongly. As we worshipped Him we could literally feel the weight of His glory and presence upon us. I thank God for today and I’m looking forward to the rest of my time here.

Here are some short clips from day 3:

Day 2 of our trip has seen us getting out on the streets of Israel.  The day started with praise and worship at our hotel followed by a visit to the friends of Zion museum.  We saw some familiar faces on the walls as members of our church (Including Pastor) were on pictures which were taken from a previous visit.  From there we set out to the “Old City” where we were treated to the now famous “Lamb Burger”, this went down a treat for everyone who partook.  See a short clip and some others from throughout the day:

https://youtu.be/P_mOtyvklPU

https://youtu.be/pW8cZufQxpM

https://youtu.be/j8_7he_JB7A

https://youtu.be/oxQgQW-Am7s

In the afternoon we visited the garden tomb and relived the events of Calvary, as we were shown the signs of why this could have been where it all took place.  As we looked at the place of the skull, it is almost unrecognisable  from how it looked even a year ago, this being due to either bad weather or building works taking place very close to the site.  For those of us who have been here previously, we should never underestimate how blessed we are to have the experience of seeing this as it was before.  This made me think how good it is now that we can capture these precious signs and moments not only in our hearts but also in a media format so that should The Lord tarry, a generation to come will be able to see the evidence that was once so clear.

There is a real battle for truth, and for those who choose to walk in it there will be opposition. This was made very clear to us when one of our young men began to read a passage of scripture only to hear a different kind of prayer call.  God had it that the reading would outlast the foreign prayer call, in the Christian journey we are called to be overcomer’s who can endure.  See the clip below:

https://youtu.be/FqtDNa9Xly0

Here is a overview of Anthony’s experience in Israel so far, in this he mentions a song that God has put on his heart, this will follow in a future blog:

https://youtu.be/rziWY2_3QBw

Today we set out for Israel, a day after our annual passover conference, which was powerful and the best preparation we could possibly have had before setting out on this journey.  For many on this trip it is a first time to Israel and for some a first time of travelling altogether.  We interviewed Sameh on his expectations of his first trip to the Holy Land.

What has made you want to go to Israel? 

For many years I have had a burning desire to travel to the land of Israel. Every time the church takes a trip to Israel, when they arrive back to England on a Sunday evening service they are given the opportunity to share their experience. Each and every time I have heard testimonies of Israel changing people’s lives, they over emphasise that it’s not cliché. My mother has had the privilege to travel to Israel over 5 times! About 2 years ago I asked my Mum if I could go Israel. Because my Dad had never been to Israel either, she replied by saying when your dad goes you can go too! However my Dad has been 2 times, I still haven’t been!

Have you told any of your friends that you will be going to Israel? What has their response been? 

I have told a few close friends that I am going Israel! Some have reacted, in a good manner “wow that’s a blessing, you’re going to the holy land.” He was a Christian. On the other hand some people have just reacted neutrally and just said “cool.” However some had the shock of their life, reacting in fear, “isn’t there bombs dropping there all the time, it’s not safe Sameh!” They’re being sincere, but I reply saying, the only reason why you react like this is because of the media, I tell them that Israel is one of the safest countries in the world, research it!

With all the media attention that Israel receives are you not afraid of travelling there?

Not at all, I know that if I follow instructions carefully from pastor nothing will happen to me! Because God would not take us to Israel for us to die or to get hurt.

What do you most hope to get out of this experience?

I want a life changing experience so I will not come back to London the same. Especially that this is a key period of my life because I will be sitting my GCSE’s in a month time, this trip will give me the opportunity to put everything aside and to only seek the Lord as well as to be in prayer. Lastly I want to be able to read the bible with a wider picture, I believe if I go to Israel and see the places that we read in the bible. That when I come back to London, when I read the bible it will become so vivid to me as if it became a movie.

Psalms 122:6 commands us to do what? 

The command is to pray for peace in Israel, it also says to bless Israel so we can be blessed.

Why is this important? 

This is important because Israel are under constant attack all year round, and we need to cover them in prayer for it is Gods chosen land!

This blog will be updated for every day of our trip to Israel this March (2016)