“Lord, you brought me to Israel, what did you want me to see?”
Israel is a place where all believers long to visit, including myself. I have never imagined that the Lord would open the way and bring me here so quickly though. In August 2015, through the International Exchange Program of the Beijing Jiaotong University, I studied for one month in Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. The University is located in the city of Haifa, on the slopes of Mount Carmel. I thanked the Lord for this opportunity.
Before coming to Israel, I was really excited, yet perplexed. I was afraid that I would only be able to see the scenery and the outward things only. In Luke Chapter 7 the Lord Jesus said to the crowds, “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? … But what did you go out to see?” These words came up within me from time to time, “Lord, you brought me to Israel, what did you want me to see??”
During this one month, I visited many places, and almost all of them were about Him – Jesus. Now I could appreciate more of this saying: “The greatest Man in history is Jesus. He had no servants,yet they called Him Master. He had no degree,yet they called Him Teacher. He had no medicines,yet they called Him healer. He had no army,yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles,yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime,yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb,yet He lives today.”
I visited many churches: Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Church of All Nations, Dominus Flevit Church, Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth… They are typically dark inside, absorbed in a deep and kind of bizarre religious atmosphere. Pilgrims from all over the world come to offer their pious worship. All these reminded me of Isaiah Chapter 66, “Heaven is My throne, and the earth the footstool for My feet. Where then is the house that you will build for Me, and where is the place of My rest?”, as well as what the Lord says in John 4 “… those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truthfulness.” Thank the Lord for revealing His heart desire to us; He desires that we do not worship Him in vain religious practices, but in spirit and truthfulness. I echoed the sharing of a brother, who said, “When you are in Jerusalem, you see the material aspect of this city, yet behind there is the spiritual warfare going on. Many dead souls of the Jews were awaiting resurrection in the Kidron valley between the Mount of Olive and Jerusalem. In Philippians Paul said, ‘To know Him and the power of His resurrection … if perhaps I may attain to the out- resurrection from the dead.’ Praise the Lord, today we can enjoy the reality of resurrection, and perhaps that day we can attain to the out-resurrection.”
Israel is a place where all believers long to visit, including myself. I have never imagined that the Lord would open the way and bring me here so quickly though. In August 2015, through the International Exchange Program of the Beijing Jiaotong University, I studied for one month in Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. The University is located in the city of Haifa, on the slopes of Mount Carmel. I thanked the Lord for this opportunity.
Before coming to Israel, I was really excited, yet perplexed. I was afraid that I would only be able to see the scenery and the outward things only. In Luke Chapter 7 the Lord Jesus said to the crowds, “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? … But what did you go out to see?” These words came up within me from time to time, “Lord, you brought me to Israel, what did you want me to see??”
During this one month, I visited many places, and almost all of them were about Him – Jesus. Now I could appreciate more of this saying: “The greatest Man in history is Jesus. He had no servants,yet they called Him Master. He had no degree,yet they called Him Teacher. He had no medicines,yet they called Him healer. He had no army,yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles,yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime,yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb,yet He lives today.”
I visited many churches: Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Church of All Nations, Dominus Flevit Church, Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth… They are typically dark inside, absorbed in a deep and kind of bizarre religious atmosphere. Pilgrims from all over the world come to offer their pious worship. All these reminded me of Isaiah Chapter 66, “Heaven is My throne, and the earth the footstool for My feet. Where then is the house that you will build for Me, and where is the place of My rest?”, as well as what the Lord says in John 4 “… those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truthfulness.” Thank the Lord for revealing His heart desire to us; He desires that we do not worship Him in vain religious practices, but in spirit and truthfulness. I echoed the sharing of a brother, who said, “When you are in Jerusalem, you see the material aspect of this city, yet behind there is the spiritual warfare going on. Many dead souls of the Jews were awaiting resurrection in the Kidron valley between the Mount of Olive and Jerusalem. In Philippians Paul said, ‘To know Him and the power of His resurrection … if perhaps I may attain to the out- resurrection from the dead.’ Praise the Lord, today we can enjoy the reality of resurrection, and perhaps that day we can attain to the out-resurrection.”
The photo was taken in the famous Western Wall (Wailing Wall), considered by the Jews as the place closest to God. Behind lies the Dome of the Rock built by the Muslims. Our tour guide said that every Friday and Saturday Muslims will also come to the Dome of the Rock to pray. When they lose themselves in their prayers sometimes they will even throw stones at the Jews below. Then the defense force will go and stop them through the long passageway on the right side of the photo. I listened to this with a heavy heart, wondering when the religious conflict will come to an end. Jerusalem is a city that should be built on “the foundation of peace”. After years of ravages and devastation, people have not given up hope, but looking forward to the coming of real peace. “And I will shake all the nations, and the Desire of all the nations will come.” Come Lord Jesus!
In cultural classes, I learned that 75% of the population here belong to Judaism, 17% Islam, and the Christian population is only 2.1%. As a minority, Christians living and working here may not reveal their faith. May the Lord raise up more saints to pray for Israel. Lord, strengthen your testimony in Jerusalem. Build your churches in other cities in Israel.
One month passed by very quickly. I had a sense of reluctance to leave this country. It is the Promised Land, seems to be well-known yet not with many things unfamiliar. One month was too short for me to know this Land. I will remember a sister’s charge when I departed, “May the Lord preserve you to love Him!”. I long to visit this land of flowing milk and honey again.
(RY, 2015)
In cultural classes, I learned that 75% of the population here belong to Judaism, 17% Islam, and the Christian population is only 2.1%. As a minority, Christians living and working here may not reveal their faith. May the Lord raise up more saints to pray for Israel. Lord, strengthen your testimony in Jerusalem. Build your churches in other cities in Israel.
One month passed by very quickly. I had a sense of reluctance to leave this country. It is the Promised Land, seems to be well-known yet not with many things unfamiliar. One month was too short for me to know this Land. I will remember a sister’s charge when I departed, “May the Lord preserve you to love Him!”. I long to visit this land of flowing milk and honey again.
(RY, 2015)