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Mar
08
Walking the Steps of JesusOn Friday morning we begin the day on the Mount of Olives overlooking the city of Jerusalem. This is the same view that Jesus saw on several occasions with one great exception. At the time of Jesus, Herod's temple stood on the top of Temple Mount where Jews would come to worship and offer sacrifice to God on a daily basis and where Jews from all over Israel would come tocelebrate the festivals that God had instructed the nation to carry out. We remember when Jesus was 12 years old He took the trip with His parents from Nazareth and when it was time for the family to return home, they actually thought that Jesus was with other friends but they realized after some time that He was not with them so they returned to the Temple courts to find Him speaking to the Pharisees and religious leaders who were astonished at His Words. Now of course there is an Islamic Mosque that sits on the top of Temple Mount. It is the golden dome that you seen in pictures of Jerusalem and it stands as a constant reminder that the Jewish Temple was destroyed in 73 AD. Now since the Jews can not sacrifice and have not for nearly 2,000 years, Jews from all over the world come to the Western Wall, Some have called it the wailing wall because men and women have come here to pray and ask God to restore the Temple and bring the Messiah. The western wall is actually one of the retaining walls that Herod the great built to hold temple mount. Now Jewish people come and offer prayers often written on small pieces of paper and tucked in the crevices of the huge rocks that make up the wall. Literally Millions and Millions of prayers have been offered at this place where signs near the wall say "The Divine Presence Always Rests" There are many thoughts about this place but each time I come it reminds me that God is always with us. I love praying at the western wall and last night a few of us did and will plan on doing it again tonight as we participate in Saturday Night Prayer from Jerusalem. We were praying last night for you and for Cornerstone, that God would allow His Divine Presence to rest heavy upon us. There is something about praying at the Western Wall and knowing that you are standing where so many others have stood and talked with God. One day very soon the Messiah that you and I know and love and have accepted will return again and the Word says that the nation of Israel will look upon Him and weep because they have missed Him all these years. Will you pray with me that God would bring the Jewish people to a full knowledge of the truth and that they eyes of their heart would be opened so that they will see the Messiah has come and is standing with open arms waiting for them. This Saturday Evening will you join me in praying and asking God for His presence to Guide Cornerstone in the days to come. More Tomorrow. |
