Israel | The Holy Land

ISRAEL— y’all. Go. Just go. But only go with Dr. Leonard. I mean that. Seriously. 

This was a once and a lifetime trip. I cant really put a blog post together that would truly do this trip justice. Too much happened and we saw too many things to really give you a full scale recap. Over the next few weeks and months, I plan to put together a more full scale Verizon of this trip, but for now, im going to share some highlights. If you are going to Israel anytime soon, I would love to talk to you and rave about what you have to see and where you must go, but if you’re simply a friend or an internet friend who is reading this for fun, then lets do it. 

Day 1. 
I was so tired when I finally got to Israel. We made it on January 3rd, and left on January 2nd. Straight to bed for me. We spent the night in Jerusalem. 

We left early the next morning for our journey south to Mitzpe Ramon. On our way, we got to stop at the Valley of Elah. This is where David fought Goliath. I got to pick up a few stone from the river where David got his for his sling. surreal. 

We stopped a few more amazing spots and ended our journey at Mitzpe Ramon, where we stayed in Eco-Huts, which were similar to   cabins, but not as big, and with a massive screened in wall that looked out into the desert. This is near where the Israelites walked through the desert towards the promised land. I get it now. It’s so desolate that I would have probably complained and wined too. Actually I know I would have. Manna fell from heaven somewhere near where I was, and that was all I could think about when I was going to sleep. 

Day 2 

We spent the next day hiking. We hiked through Wadi Avdat, which is where we talked about Psalm 23. Obviously we can’t know for SURE where it was written, but this is definitely similar to the imagery that you read about. There’s a great chance that this was where it could have been written. I cried. We all did. I don’t know that I have ever been anywhere more beautiful than that.

Another cool thing about this place is that There are caves up at the top of the cliffs that monks used to LIVE in. ARE YOU JOKING? How cool is that. Ugh.

Day 3. 

We got to go to Masada on day 3. This is Herod the Great’s mountain top fortress. Literally SO cool. I cant wrap my mind around how much work this would’ve taken — like literally how. We went on another hike through Ein Gedi, where David hid from Saul.

We ended our day at Qumran, where they found the first of the Dead Sea Scrolls. I got to see the caves where they were found, which was amazing. There is SO much history in Israel. I had the hardest time trying to categorize the history and time periods we were walking through. 

And to top off this day, we swam in the Dead Sea. Bucket list moment—check. Weirdest feeling ever, also. You can try all you want not to float but it’s impossible. Also DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT get ANY and I mean ANY, in your mouth. #trust.

Day 4

We stayed in Jericho over night which was a really neat experience since it is Palestinian. We woke up to the news that we were going to ride a camel this morning. You can imagine my joy. 

On our way to our hotel on the Sea of Galilee, after a full day of stops, we finished at the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. Talk about gorgeous. 

Coming from the desert in the South, when we got up North we were all blown away by how lush and green everything was. I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. 

We settled in at a Kibbutz on the Sea of Galilee. We were thrilled to know we got to stay here for 3 nights. It felt so good to unpack a little and get in a tiny routine. 

Day 5

I woke up and had my quiet time on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. This is where Jesus called his disciples, calmed the storm, and walked on water. I cried a lot here, bc obvi. We started by touring the ruins of cities nestled in the north, as well as a Massive old kingdom. If you are familiar with the 1st temple period and beyond in the old testament, this is one of the high places of the northern kingdom—and the place where they had the golden calves. It was pouring and starting to storm when we left, and honestly I couldn’t help but think how fitting that was. Darkness over a very dark place. 

Day 6

We went on a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. This was one of my very favorite parts of the whole trip. Dr. Leonard explained that in the Bible, alot of the Jews considered the ocean and sea to be evil, and sorta thought it was where evil resided, like hell. So when Jesus calmed the storm and walked on water, this was the ultimate sign of power. The disciples lost it because they witnessed this man calm the raging storm and press his foot down on the sea and walk right across it. Can you imagine seeing that. The disciples knew Jesus was full of power at this moment, because to them the sea, the opitomy of evil, was tamed right in front of their eyes.  

We saw Capernaum, the hub of Jesus’s ministry, and the mount of beatitudes, where Jesus gave his message found in Matthew. 

Day 7

This day held my favorite stop of the entire trip. Im just going to copy and paste the journal entry I wrote for this class and myself for this day:

“ Our first stop was Kursi. I was actually a little annoyed to be going back to a national park that we had not been able to get into the previous day, because I had this idea that we would be seeing more ruins and that did not feel like a solid enough reason to go back lol. I was dead wrong. Kursi was the best part of the entire trip for me. This was the place where Jesus came from the other side of the Sea of Galilee and cast the Demons out of Legion, the demon possessed man. This story was absolutely life changing for the first time for me. I did not know that it is very scary and “unclean” to be over on the Gentile side of the sea, and that is exactly where Jesus brought the disciples. They were probably so annoyed and fearful with Jesus because as Jews they did not want to get mixed up with that unclean. However, that is what Jesus did. He stretched them to the point that they would never have allowed themselves to be stretched too. I can imagine the disciples staying in the boat as Jesus got out when Legion came running down from the caves immediately when they hit land. 

Skip to Legion: I can only imagine the demons raging inside of this man. We got to take home some of the flint found here, which is the only stuff that would have been able to cut him and make him bleed like the Bible said. He was tormented and filled with the dark. But as soon as Jesus reached land, they knew who was there. They were in the presence of the King of kings, and ruler of all things. They could have run and hid Legion in the caves that were all over Kursi. I can only imagine that the demons knew Jesus was near as soon as He got in the boat on the other side. Legion fell at Jesus’s feet immediately. It was as if Hell was facing Heaven face to face and finally knew it’s place. The very notion that Darkness could hide was impossible, so it did the next best thing: fell at Heaven’s feet, and begged for mercy. “What have you to do with me, Most High God?”. Full of fear, knowing exactly who He was. Even the Jews did not know, but this man did. The demons inside of Legion knew exactly who this man was. And fearful and full of darkness, Legion presented himself to God in the flesh. 

This is the gospel. Heaven came to earth and the Darkness couldn’t hold on any longer. Heaven leaned over and looked upon earth, on the edge of it’s seat, waiting in expectation for the encounter that would set the whole world free. 

Jesus gets out of the boat and meets Legion, meaning “we are many”. And Jesus does what he was sent for. He cleaned up the mess, put the broken things upright, and sent Hell running as fast as it could. 

““For he was saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!"” Mark 5:8 ESV”

Freedom. 

And now the beauty that comes from complete redemption. — “And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had been called legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.”

Mark 5:15 ESV

The once demon-infested man, clothed, and in his right mind. 

Clothed and in his right mind. 

The picture of beauty and redemption. A difference people could tangibly notice. 

Now my very favorite part: the man, once called Legion, comes after Jesus as he is getting in the boat and begs. Begs to come. ‘Please, Lord, let me come with you’ he must have said. ‘Take me with you. You are safe and good and I want to come be with you, I’ve never known something so good.’ He might have begged. 

Jesus said no. How strange and how uncharacteristic of the God who I thought was hospitable all the time. But He said no.

Heaven leaned in as this exchange took place. Did Jesus have too many people in the boat? Was he tired of loving people lesser than him? Not so. For instead of letting Legion come, he said go. Go tell everyone you know and everyone you lay you eyes on. Tell them who I am. Show them the scars from the rocks you used to harm yourself with. Show them the clothes you now wear. Recount to them your old life—and then sing about your new one. My child, he might have said, I need you. This is your destiny. I chose you to tell the world. I came for more than just the Jews. I came for the world. The entirety of humanity. Now go, my son. I chose you to share the good news with the Nations. Without you, Legion, how will the world know?. 

Can you imagine a calling like that? Legion was the first of the Gentiles to meet Jesus. I’m a Gentile. Jesus called the unworthy Worthy. He could have used anyone. Someone cleaner or more eloquent or less savage. He could have used anyone. But he chose Legion: the demon possessed man who fell at His feet, begging for mercy. 

Chills. 

Kursi was my favorite part of the entire trip. You can imagine why. My salvation started there. The exchange between God and a gentile, which now allows me access to the thrown. 

This might be the most clear picture of the Gospel in the Bible—at least to me. The good-as-dead, restored to good as new. The dark that overcame, overcome. Freedom offered to humanity, and accepted. Freedom that stopped at nothing. 

“As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."”

Mark 5:18-19 ESV

And the disciples who witnessed it. Can you even imagine? Peter maybe looking at John and rolling his eyes when Legion comes running down the hill, or maybe even yelling at Jesus from the boat saying “Jesus please come back! It isn’t safe!” Hahaha. Little did they know that when they got talked into the boat going to the other side other Sea, they would get to witness the exchange of death for freedom—for everyone who ever will be, if they accept. 

All to you, JESUS, the one who saved me.

Day 8 

After staying the night in Natanya, we went to Caesarea. This was was awesome. It is where the Centurion found Peter and got saved, and it’s here that Paul gets tried.

After our ventures here, we went over to Jerusalem where we stayed for the rest of our trip.

Day 9

While I just said we stayed in Jerusalem, we took a day trip to Bethlehem on this day. We saw the church of the Nativity, where they think Jesus was born, and we also go to see the fields where the angels appeared to the shepherds announcing Jesus’s birth. Our amazing local guide goes to church at the church of the nativity every Sunday— can you imagine?

Day 10

We prayed at the Western Wall and walked though Hezekia’s 800 meter tunnel. Both were amazing. I cant fully describe either in a blog post, so you’ll just have to ask. 

Day 11

We spent more of this day touring and walking the Via Delarosa (way of the cross) and walking in the Western Wall tunnels. Touring Jerusalem is one of the most chaotic things ever. The city is so busy and full of both locals and tourists, so it’s hard to reflect in the moment, since you’re hustling everywhere.  Jerusalem is built on top of itself, and so there were many places where we went down a few stories in order to see the old road and ancient ruins.

Free day

My journal entry: saw the Tomb in the Church of the Holy  Sepulchre. It was amazing to pray there. This was where Jesus was buried. In western Christianity, we like to see things in their original state, and are sometimes bothered by the ornate decorations that Eastern churches are known for. As much as I wish the tomb was preserved in its original state without all of the ornate decorations and sacred procedures, what we have to realize is that, without these churches and the way they preserved the sacred spaces, we wouldn’t know where anything was. It was hard to be to wrap my mind around this, but sooo good for me to finally understand why they do things the way they do. 

We had breakfast at the most AMAZING restaurant in The New City. It’s actually in Darling magazine, which is hilarious and amazing at the same time. It had book shelves all around us and a fabulous menu. 

We shopped all morning and met the Jewish Scribe who works at the Moriah Book store and he talked to us for an hour and we loved every second. He was so great. True trip highlight. 

Next was lunch on top of Notre Dame, which wasn’t really lunch, but instead, cheese, overlooking the city. Ok yes. The pesto Gouda blew my mind. Yes please. 

Next we went back to the book store, and got another special hour with Elijah. Then dinner of course! 

We ate dinner at the best recommendation of Dr. Leonard. The Arminian Tavern. Best. Dinner. Ever. 

And then a mile walk to gelato and a mile walk back. Best gelato of my life hands down. Grapefruit Basil and Raspberry. Bury me there please. With those flavors too, if possible. 

Last day:

Journal entry: Today is our last day in Jerusalem and Israel together. I’m pretty sad to be leaving, although looking forward a tonnnn to being home. While my roommate was an absolute gem, and I wouldn’t trade her for the world, I am grateful for my own room and bed and shower very soon. 

Dr. Leonard has a packed day planned for us. 

Our first stop was the Temple Mount. So, this is where the temple of Jerusalem from the Bible was, but in 70 CE it was destroyed.  Now the Dome of the Rock sits on top, an Islamic shrine. It is absolutely stunning. The architecture and colors used in the tiles blew me away. We couldn’t wear leggings, but AnnKelly did not get the memo and was given a skirt to wear, but she rocked it, obviously. Since we aren’t Muslims, we were not allowed inside, but we marveled from the outside. It was amazing to be on the Temple Mount. We stood where Jesus threw the tables and got angry— 

“12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” - Matthew 21:12-13

It was awesome to be standing there, where the holy of holies used to reside in the temple. 

Our next stop was the possible tomb of Mary. We don’t have any real evidence to suggest that she was actually buried there, but it is a good a guess as any, since the other option is in Ephesus. 

Next was the Mt. of Olives. This was underground in a rock sort of. We reflected on when Jesus went there with the disciples and asked them to pray while he went away, but they fell asleep.  

“Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, ‘Couldn't you watch with me even one hour?’” - Matthew 26:40 

Then we walked “a stones throw away” to the Garden of Gethsemane. While we don’t know the exact location of the garden or most things, in fact, there is a large chance that this was where Jesus prayed, since it truly is a stones throw away from where the disciples would have been on the mt. Of Olives. One of the coolest things I learned here was that En Gedi, the valley of caves that David hid from Saul in, in the Old Testament, is only 20 miles over the hill from the garden, and the escape, if he had chosen to run, would have been perfectly capable. He had every chance to run and hide. He could have completely avoided the cross. But he didn’t. He stayed. Even when he cried out to his father that he did not want to die and if there was any other way, he would take it, he chose to stay. 

ere we also saw the Church of All Nations which is beside the Garden. This church was built by many nations together, offering the name. 

Our next stop was a large group photo over looking Jerusalem. Because, duh! We gotta have that.

We finished our pre-lunch adventures at the Church of St. Peter which was an absolute trip highlight. This is Dr. Leonard’s favorite place of the entire trip. The significance of this place is that it is almost positively sitting on top of what was Caiaphas’s home. Caiaphas was the High Priest in the New Testament that arranged the plot to kill Jesus. At that time, he would have been head of religious and political scene so he could have easily arranged this. Under the ruins, they found caves, not long ago. After tons of research and archeology, they have determined that these cells would have held people who were about to be tried. This means that Jesus would have been held there hours before he was crucified. Cue tears round 10837420203. This was so insanely powerful. I got to stand in the sacred cell where Jesus was almost certainly held and read Psalm 88.

Lord, you are the God who saves me;

    day and night I cry out to you.

May my prayer come before you;

    turn your ear to my cry.

I am overwhelmed with troubles

    and my life draws near to death.

I am counted among those who go down to the pit;

    I am like one without strength.

I am set apart with the dead,

    like the slain who lie in the grave,

whom you remember no more,

    who are cut off from your care.

You have put me in the lowest pit,

    in the darkest depths.

Your wrath lies heavily on me;

    you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.

You have taken from me my closest friends

    and have made me repulsive to them.

I am confined and cannot escape;

    my eyes are dim with grief.

I call to you, Lord, every day;

    I spread out my hands to you.

Do you show your wonders to the dead?

    Do their spirits rise up and praise you?

Is your love declared in the grave,

    your faithfulness in Destruction?

Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,

    or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

But I cry to you for help, Lord;

    in the morning my prayer comes before you.

Why, Lord, do you reject me

    and hide your face from me?

From my youth I have suffered and been close to death;

    I have borne your terrors and am in despair.

Your wrath has swept over me;

    your terrors have destroyed me.

All day long they surround me like a flood;

    they have completely engulfed me.

You have taken from me friend and neighbor—

    darkness is my closest friend.

The words that resound in my ears that probably flashed through Jesus’s mind that hour. 

The church is called the Church of Saint Peter because if it’s location is right, then it is where Peter denied Jesus 3 times, before the rooster crowed. The Church is ACTUALLY called The Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu. Gallicantu means chicken sings (or, rooster crows). This church was a trip highlight. 

After lunch at a kibbutz, we dropped off our guide, Nabil. He was so amazing. Leaving abu George was so hard for me. It breaks my heart to see how small the community of Christians is here. He is the hardest worker I know and he never lets his knees bother him. I think he is a picture of a good father, one that waits and is unwaveringly patient. I would never want another guide in Israel. He is a safe place, and now a dear friend.  

I am so grateful. I’ve been stretched in the way I think, strengthened in what I believe, and softened to people that I did not understand before. 

Our last stop was the steps from Herod’s palace where Jesus would have stood before the crowd, minutes before he took up his cross.

Anndddd to cap it all off— boom. 

Map finished. 

Hip hip Horray for the holy land. 

And three cheers for you, Dr. Leonard. 

I’ll never be the same!