I left my heart in Israel. Traveling with Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa TerKeurst and 125 other precious people to the Holy Land has been the most meaningful experience of my life thus far. The Bible is now in technicolor. This pilgrimage has made me hunger and thirst for God’s Word like never before. We walked, breathed, ate, worshiped, prayed and sat where Jesus did.
Let me please begin by reassuring you of how safe Israel is. Not once were we afraid. Not once did we hear gunfire. Not once did we witness violence.
The first stop on our nine-day adventure was to the Mount of Olives, the beautiful olive orchard overlooking Jerusalem. We gathered on the breezy mountaintop, expectant and excited.
Lysa TerKeurst welcomed everyone and confidently declared, “Where you are sitting here on the Mount of Olives is where Jesus will return.” Chills ran up and down my body. She read from the Old Testament prophecy.
“On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.” –Zechariah 14:4.
What is even more amazing is that scientists and geologists agree that huge tectonic plates are located under the Mount of Olives, which also serve as a catalyst for splitting from east to west on “that day” when Jesus returns.
The Mount of Olives was one of Jesus’ favorite places to hang out.
“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’…” –Matthew 24:3 NIV
The Mount of Olives was also where Jesus began His famous Palm Sunday Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. We walked the same route Jesus did down the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem.
“When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!'” –Luke 19:37-38 NIV
Amen! May we shout the same praises. The Bible has come alive!
Reflect:
–How do you feel to know that Jesus, the Messiah, will return one day? Are you ready? Please comment.
–What has been your latest mountaintop experience of faith? Please comment.
Renew:
–“This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. They they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath Day’s walk from the city.” –Acts 1:11b-12 NIV.
Respond:
–How will you read your Bible differently after learning more about the Mount of Olives?
Resources:
Danya Jordan