CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGE IN ISRAEL

Since the days of Araham God chose The Promised Land to be the dwelling place of His people. The Israelites were led by Moses and Joshua to Israel after God delivered them from Egyptian slavery.

After David conquered Jerusalem the city grew in importance and became the "dwelling place of the Lord" when the Ark of the Covenant was brought there.

Model of the Temple in the time of Jesus

Then Solomon built the first temple on Mt Moriah in Jerusalem. When the Jews returned from exile in Babylon many of them went back to Jerusalem.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem and His footprints can be found all over Israel.

That is why Israel, and in particular Jerusalem, is today the focus of Christian pilgrims.

Jerusalem, seen from the Mt of Olives

Besides the important Old Testament related sites pilgrims travel to in the Holy Land, the numerous sites related to the life of Jesus on earth speak to Christian pilgrims in a special way today.

Pilgrims travel to Bethlehem and experience the humble birth of The Saviour at the Church of the Nativity. They feel like fellow citizens of Jesus when visiting the town of Jesus, Capernaum.

Christian pilgrims "see" the heart of Jesus when they visit the Dominus Flevit Sanctuary on the Mount of Olives where Jesus wept for the city of Jerusalem.

A pilgrim lights a candle at Calvary

Pilgrims stand in awe in the Garden of Gethsemane or the Church of All Nations when they sense the agony Jesus went through before He surrendered Himself to walk the Way of Sorrows. And when they see the empty Garden Tomb and read on the inside of the door "He is not here, He is arisen" they know that their faith in a Living Saviour is real.

Christians from all over the world have gone on a pilgrimage to Israel. That experience left them with a much better insight when they open The Bible and read about God's way with man on earth.