Finishing a Sabbatical
In 2021, I had the awesome privilege of taking a sabbatical to rest and recharge after 16 years of ministry at SRBC. That sabbatical was a huge blessing to me and my family and definitely re-energized me for outreach and discipleship with our youth over the past 2 years. Part of that sabbatical included a future trip to Israel, which would be scheduled for the following summer in 2022. Amber and I, alongside Jim & Jane Kramer, decided to put together a trip to which our church family was invited. In 2022, our trip to Israel was postponed due to Covid restrictions in Israel. Fast forward to this past month and the end of my sabbatical finally happened! We had 23 other people from our church (and family/friends) attend with us, for a group total of 27.
I had talked to lots of people who toured the Holy Land, but I really had no idea what to expect. I can honestly say that it was a trip of a lifetime and truly exceeded all my expectations, including group travel, food, lodging, our tour guide, and of course, stops at some of the holiest sites imaginable. Some have asked what my favorite stops were along the way. I started with 5 but quickly surpassed that! If any of these specific locations stand out to you, let me know and I’d love to discuss these memorable stops in more detail.
The Temple Mount
While the Bible has some things to say about Herod the Great (during the time of Jesus’ birth, etc.), I was amazed at the impact of his building campaigns during his time in charge. His restoration of the Temple and expanding the mount that the Temple sits on, was an amazing feat. While the temple was destroyed in AD 70, it was neat to walk on top of the Temple Mount, which later empires would rebuild time and time again. This included a picture at the Dome of the Rock, currently controlled by Muslims.
Western Wall Tunnels under the Temple Mount
Since the destruction of the temple in AD 70, the temple that Herod built and expanded is no longer visible above ground. The Western Walls tunnels sit beneath ground level, where stones from Jesus’ time (Herod’s building efforts) are still visible. The size and engineering used were truly amazing and a neat thing to witness.
Sea of Galilee
Jesus did so much of his ministry in the northern parts of Israel, specifically surrounding the Sea of Galilee. A boat ride on the Sea of Galilee brought back many of the stories that I’ve read time and time again while Jesus was in a boat. A visit to the Mount of Beatitudes that overlooks the northern part of the Sea of Galilee was meaningful as well. I’ve spent 18 years teaching youth the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, so to imagine Jesus teaching on a hill similar to the one we walked on, was pretty neat. While sitting here on the Mt. of Beatitudes, our guide spoke the Beatitudes in Hebrew, which was quite powerful.
The Garden Tomb
Most scholars believe that the Garden Tomb and a rock formation that still exists and looks like a skull (Golgotha) is most likely not the actual location of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus (that would be at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher). It was neat to see a family tomb, still preserved from the time of Jesus. I also had a chance to lead communion for our group in the Garden, which was a quite powerful experience for me.
Jordan River Baptisms
I had seen plenty of pictures of people getting baptized in the Jordan River over the years. When I saw the pictures, it looked like things were extremely rushed and filled with commercial gates and fences of where the baptisms could take place. Upon entering the area, I was surprised to see a quiet place for our group to enjoy a baptism ceremony. I baptized 2 believers that had never been baptized and 5 others who made rededications to Jesus through the symbolic act of baptism. I was also grateful to not be bitten by fish, which I had read is oftentimes the case.
The City of David
This was an addition to our travel plans midweek, and I’m sure glad our guide suggested the change. So many events in the Old Testament and New Testament happened right here in this small city. David’s palace was here and was a significant fortress throughout the centuries. This stop, as well as many others, helped me see how close everything is in Jerusalem. From the temple mount to the Mt. of Olives to the place of the cross and the tomb, really helped me see how events unfolded during the last week of Jesus’ life on earth.
Situated inside the city of David is Hezekiah’s Tunnel. This man-made tunnel dates to the time of King Hezekiah, around 2700 years ago. 2 Kings 20:20 (NIV): “As for the other events of Hezekiah’s reign, all his achievements and how he made the pool and the tunnel by which he brought water into the city…” It also says in 2 Chronicles 32:30 (NIV): “It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David.” The spring still runs through the tunnels today, so we had the chance to walk the very narrow 1,800-foot tunnel. At the end of the tunnel is the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed the blind man with mud.
Garden of Gethsemane
This was quite a somber experience to think about Jesus’ final hours with his disciples in the Garden after the Last Supper. So much anguish and tension surrounding these last hours and ultimately, Jesus’ betrayal by Judas. To read the account again in this place and take 15 or 20 minutes of personal prayer was transformative. Faith Journeys, who booked all our daily tours for us, had the garden reserved for just our group, which made it even more special.
From Amber and me, thank you, thank you, thank you. We just simply can’t thank you enough for giving me the time off to finish out my sabbatical and allowing a group of our size to attend with us, which made the trip free for the both of us. What a blessing! And a huge thank you to Jim and Jane Kramer, who co-hosted the trip with us, planned and executed a great preparatory Pathway Class, and did much of the leg work to make the trip a great experience for everyone!
It may sound cliché and one you’ve likely heard from others you know who’ve experienced the Holy Land, but as I’ve been reading the Gospels since our return home, everything is in 3D. Thank you for the investment in me and I look forward to passing my experiences and interaction with Scripture on to our youth and the entire church family.
Blessings,
Bryce
