Lakeside Christian Church Blog

On Sunday we will have a free day in Jerusalem. You will be free to set your own schedule and choose your own adventure (see suggestions in the email). International travel can be exhausting, and our itinerary will be moving us through many exciting historical and religious sites, therefore we have worked in a day of leisure for you to recuperate as needed. Being a Sunday, you may choose to visit a local church in the Old City and experience worshiping in places where pilgrims have been worshipping for centuries.  Worshiping at Christ Church    Overlooking Gehenna Valley As we consider a “free day,” I thought I would focus this devotional on  sabbath  rest. On Day 6 we will experience parts of the city completely shut down as the Jewish believers honor the Sabbath day (Friday night at sundown until Saturday at sundown). Those who observe the Sabbath on the seventh day are Sabbatarians. Most Christians are semi-Sabbatarians, meaning we set aside a day of worship but do not hold to the a

Day 6 – In the Steps of Jesus   How does one even begin to reflect in a single day, one brief devotional, about “the steps of Jesus”? But that’s what we will do on day 6.   So, here we go (in chronological, not actual visitation order) … in one day we will walk the steps of a miracle during Jesus’ ministry. We’ll stand in the Garden of Gethsemane and reflect on his last night on earth. We’ll see the locations that tradition thinks would have been where Christ was crucified. We’ll step into a couple first century tombs, one of which may have been the tomb where Jesus conquered death.    I found Peter’s words helpful to keep perspective – “ But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8)   The steps we will walk in just one day changed the course of human history, not only for a thousand years, but for eternity.   As I was reflecting on the key texts for day 6, a couple themes jumped out to me.

Day 5 – Jerusalem’s Heritage   What captures your heart in wonder? Dictionary.com defines Wonder as “a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.” Perhaps the vastness of the ocean, or the majesty of the Rocky Mountains, or holding a newborn baby provokes your heart to wonder. Gazing at the sky on clear night prompts me to recall  Psalm 19:1 :                The heavens declare the glory of God,                         and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.   The question of wonder may provoke memories of taking your children or grandchildren to Disney World and seeing the wonder on their faces as their imaginations seemed to come to life. Sadly, wonder is often considered child-like and is suppressed in adulthood. One of my prayers for you, as you prepare for this trip, is that a sense of wonder and amazement grows as you anticipate traveling to the land of the Bible.   A reconstruction of the Temple Mount b