At the Jordan River
Today, we met and heard from four very intriguing people. One was a secular Israeli educator and political scientist who explained to us how different Israeli democracy is from US democracy. In a nutshell…it’s REALLY different.
We met Three Palestinian Christians. One was a lay educator, one a clergyman and the other a tour guide. All spoke of the declining numbers of Christians the West Bank. All felt a strong sense of identity with the Arab world and believed that Arabs and Israelis could co-exist. One, the tour guide who lives in Bethlehem, spoke of “quiet persecution” of Christian Arabs by Muslim Arabs. Christians are leaving the West Bank in large numbers. We also met a Syrian Christian businessman whose faith was contagious. He recited the Lord’s Prayer for us in Aramaic…but I have no way to verify that.
Manger Square
We visited Bethlehem today and I saw the fields where the shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night. We saw the wells of King David and the tomb of Rachel, wife of Jacob. We also visited the Church of the Nativity which is built on the sight that Helena, early 4th Century mother of Emperor Constantine, identified as the birth place of Jesus. It’s not likely, however, that over 300 years after the birth of a baby that anyone would be able to identify the site.
The Place Venerated as "the birth place"
Not to be critical, but as I go into these traditional sites covered by ornate cathedrals and filled with pilgrims looking for miracles and blessings, I don’t think Jesus would be flattered or pleased by all the images, statues, iconography and the like. I think Jesus would be in the streets or the homes of poor Palestinians or Israelis, sharing bread and life. Should we not do the same?
I’m about ready to come home. Tomorrow, Wednesday, we’ll have a full day and then leave on the “red-eye” flight that departs from Tel Aviv and arrives in the US on Thursday morning. Until then, pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
