THE TEMPLE MOUNT
May 16, 2012
Tonight, the words are hard to come by. It was a day that simply defies words…therefore any thoughts that I write are guaranteed to fall far short of my experiences.
We began our day in the bright warm sunshine on the top of the Temple Mount. After waiting in a long line of people, we finally entered through the Muslim security gate. Control of the temple platform was given to the Muslims as part of a cease-fire agreement in 1967. This 3rd most Holy Site in the Muslim faith, the Dome of the Rock, dominates the central position of the Temple Mount. It has stood in that place since it was built in the 6th century. Under the Temple Mount lies the rich history of the Bible. It is built on the top of Moriah; the very place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac and where Solomon (and later Herod) built the great temple of worship to the Lord God Almighty.
As we walked along the temple platform we were tasked with having eyes to see our surroundings, not as they are today, but as they were in the days when Herod’s Temple dominated the landscape and Jesus walked through the colonnades.
Immediately I was struck by the enormity of the temple mount. In Jesus’ day the Jews gathered together here from all over the world to worship God and make sacrifices for sin. It was a place of great community and awe-inspiring beauty. I experienced a profound reverence for this most special place that God had chosen to set apart as Holy unto Him.
No matter what lies on top of the platform now, the reality is that the foundation of truth is unchanging. Satan is and always has been the great “usurper”. He is always seeking to glorify himself on God’s throne and he will relentlessly pursue his purposes until he is destroyed after Christ’s return.
As Dr. Laney walked with us around the various temple gates and inner courtyards I imagined what it was like when the great crowds of people used to congregate here. Today, the place was sparsely populated with tourists and appeared vacant and lifeless.
We descended through the gate and walked to the pools of Bethsaida and St. Anne’s chapel. After visiting the ruins where the pagan medicinal pools were once filled with water and crowded with people seeking miraculous healings from their various ailments, we gathered in the church and raised our voices to the Lord in worship. Several of the women in our group are worship leaders in their churches and they led us in a stirring chorus of “As the Deer pants for the water”. The acoustics in the old church made our voices sound like realms of angels singing in heaven….or could it be that the angels actually joined us in song for that brief moment? The sound was an experience beyond description. I am sure I will recognize that moment again when I hear the voices of the saints singing praises to God in heaven one day.
We left the church and wandered down the Via Dolorosa…the street when Jesus carried his cross to Golgotha, (the place of the skull) and where He was crucified. It was difficult for me to connect with the imagery of that event given the hustle and bustle of people who were navigating the streets, along with the garbage tractors that continually forced us up against the wall so they could pass, and the merchants who hollered at us to enter their shops and spend our money. Maybe I will return on a quieter day and see if I can concentrate on the Lord as He traveled up that narrow street 2000 years ago.
One scene I will never forget is the little boy who was looking over the activities down below from an upper window. Is this the new Israelis invention for day care? Priceless!
The Via Dolorosa led us to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where the rock of Golgotha is enshrined beneath a dome of glass and a slab a rock is alleged to be the place where Jesus’ body was prepared for burial. This is also the place where Jesus’ tomb was believed to be and religious seekers can wait in line to place their hands upon an exhibit of stone and receive a blessing from a priest.
I was unprepared for all the crowds, commercialism, iconology, and byzantine décor that encompassed the church. It was deeply disturbing to see merchants laying key chains on the slap of rock (Jesus’ proposed burial slab) and taking pictures so they can bring the trinkets home and sell them as sacred objects. I am sure if Jesus walked into that church today he would have turned over the tables and cleared the place out. I felt very disappointed with what I experienced there. Possibly I need to go back on a quieter day and see things from a different perspective. I am sure there are many people who have a very sacred experience there.
After lunch we explored the archeological digs in “area G”. This is an area on the far end of the Western Wall where we were able to see large stones that fell off the temple during the time of it’s destruction in 70 AD and see the actual road that Jesus walked when he entered through the Dung Gate. Also we were able to climb up the original steps of the temple on the south side of the wall where all the purification baths were located. This is where the people would be physically cleansed before they approached the temple for worship. Seeing these sights bring such life to the pages of scripture.
BUT the highlight of the day was still to come! In the evening we enjoyed an amazing tour into the tunnels of the Western Wall. We had a zealous young Jewish tour guide who taught us the history of the Western Wall and the making of the Muslim quarter of the city. Then he led us down under the city streets toward the bottom of the 34 layer stone wall. It was amazing to see how the city had been constructed layer upon layer and to see the massive stones that make up the base of the wall. Most striking were the women who were inside the tunnels with their Torah’s beseeching God in prayer for their personal needs and for the restoration of the temple. It’s truly astounding to experience the passion of the Jewish people for their scriptures, and for the restoration of their city. As Americans we can barely drag ourselves out of bed for a 10 minute devotional time – and here these women come to the Western wall every day to pour out their hearts to God and plead with Him for their needs. I fear that we are so deluded by our comforts – we have lost touch with the deep reality of our need for prayer and worship. God forgive us and revive us before it’s too late! Even a young Jewish couple will come before the underground gate of the wall and mourn for Israel before they enjoy the festivities of their wedding day. The people here never forget that their lives are incomplete until their temple is rebuilt. Of course, we know that Jesus will come back one day to restore Jerusalem and today, we are the temple of His Holy Spirit. If only we will live with such devotion, passion and thanksgiving to God every day. I fear we are far too apathetic about our faith. We can learn so much from our friends here in Israel.
Mary Ann Noack 
Mabe you can help me understand why people believe that Jesus died and was buried under the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The church was built inside the walls of the city…from what I understand from the bible, this did not happen inside the walls of the city. There is a rock cave on the hill over the local local bus station, outside of the city wall, (and at the end of Via Del Arosa), that is called “the Skull” – or Golgotha. Right next to the bus station is a garden and a tomb. We toured this area and our guide told us that there is a dispute as to whether this is the site where Jesus died and was buried (in the garden tomb) or under the church. This area made more sense to me and I definitely felt His presence in the garden area…but not in the church. Did you tour the Garden and Garden Tomb? What are your thoughts? I have thought about this since I toured Israel in 1998.
Hi June, Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think the answer to your question lies in the fact that the city walls of Jerusalem didn’t extend past the hill of Golgotha when Jesus was crucified. Indeed, Golgatha was outside the city gates at that time. The wall that we see today was built after that time. The rock with the “skull like image” that has also been associated with the place of Jesus’ death was a tradition that came about at a later time when an british explorer discovered the “look alike skull” in the formation of the rocks. I imagine that much of the controversy over these two locations is somewhat related to creating a draw for tourists. As we have viewed each sight, we remind ourselves that “tradition” has held to these various locations as being “authentic”. However, the only true authority we have for the locations of these events is the Bible…and many sights are not so specifically named. Possibly because the Lord knows that mankind is so prone to worshiping idols. 🙂 Thanks for following our journey. It’s great fun to ponder and discuss these events.
Hi Maryann:
I wrote to thank you so very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my question. I really appreciate it. Am not sure my thank you was sent, because my computer froze up. Just in case it didn’t “go”, this is my thankyou.
Really enjoying your taking us all along with you!!I understand the solemn devotion thing but remember David dancing almost naked before the Lord! I think God was smiling at his devotion–a heart after his own heart!
Hello Maryann. Thank You for taking the time to bring us along on your journey. I spent the whole day today in a retreat led by Corrine Stanley re: the Tabernacle. The day was filled with talk about all the rich symbolism in the Old Testament fulfilled that leads us to Jesus. My heart was touched and aches at the thought of how common we have made our LORD and how entrance into the tabernacle and the Holy of Holies is our great privilege through Jesus. May you continue to be blessed in your daily walk through the land of our Savior. I keep you in my prayers for stamina, the ability to soak in the experiences clearly, and for peace at your home. Your Sister in Christ, Nancy