Yesterday i visited the Southern Steps. It was the best part of my trip by far...i was the only person at the southern steps for 1 hour,I was able to sit on the steps and think, and sing as loud as i wanted to. I felt like i could reach up and touch the mount of olives! I had never seen Jerusalem from the perspective that i did yesterday, it was glorious...
As i was sitting on the steps i turned my iphone on and played a song called "hosanna"...the opening words go like this..."I see the KING of glory, coming on the clouds with fire, the whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes...Hosanna"
As i was singing along to the song,i looked to my left and there was the Mt of Olives...where the King of Glory will come and the whole earth WILL shake...powerful is an understatement...
If you were to walk up the Southern Steps to the Temple Mt in Jerusalem and turn directly around and just stand there, the view is incredible.
The Mt of Olives and Kidron Valley is on your left.
David’s City is right before you.
The Hinnom Valley(Valley of Hell) is off in the distance left to right.
And Mt Zion is to your right--looking at Zion from the steps was awesome because i was able to see the how it is perched up on a mountain top...
It’s an incredible place to stand and just take in the surroundings -- like you’re standing on top of the world. And, it’s very possible that Jesus taught from this location!
According to Matthew chapter 23 Jesus is speaking to the religious leaders in Jerusalem toward the end of the Passover week prior to His crucifixion. In doing so He actually makes reference to the landscape in the immediate area to help illustrate His disgust of the leadership in Jerusalem.
For example Matthew 23:27 references to the tombs on the Mt of Olives: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly bit inwardly are full of dead men’s bones ...”
MAtthew 23:29 references the tombs of the prophets in the Kidron Valley: “Woe to you .. you build tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous ...:”
Matthew 23:33 references perhaps the Valley of Hinnom: “How can you escape the valley of hell?”
Then Matthew 24 begins, “Jesus went out and departed from the temple ...” Matt 24:3 “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him ...”
I really hope you get to visit this spot one day...its spectacular.
Love to you all
Sarah
Excellent! Felt like I was there with you ...
ReplyDeleteI adore you,
Dad:)
Incredible insights and colorful commentary. Thank you so much Sarah! We can't wait to have you home. We love you!
ReplyDeleteDear Sarah,
ReplyDeleteYou were singing on the Southern steps to the Temple Mt. and you were not coughing!!!! That's a good thing!!! The Lord is faithful! His love for you did not keep you from the best experience of your trip!
Good morning to you. Have another Wonder filled day !
Marsha- still in the night BUT there's an almost full moon. Did you see it last night?
Glorious ! thank you Sarah for your post. praying for you and sending love, auntie k
ReplyDeleteYou are coming home:)
ReplyDeleteAwesome sarah!!! i was blessed that you gave perspective of the surroundings.. made me feel like i was back in israel!
ReplyDeleteLove you can't wait for you to get home!,
Pete :)
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteYour mother and I cannot wait to have you back at home! We have read your blog EVERY DAY and have been amazed. You are our beautiful "first born girl!!" Enjoy your last day as you prepare for home and when your feet step on the plane remember the Lord's wonderful faithfulness to you and the wonder of who He is and that every minute that passes once on that plane is closer to home.
We love you!
Mom and Dad
I hope we can get together when you are back home so you can share more about your time in Israel, more pictures, more details, just more. Each time I read the blog entries of yours I wished they wouldn't end. I will put on a pot of SB French Roast and we will visit!!
ReplyDeleteI love you Sarah! We will see you soon! :)