JERICHO

JERICHO was so fun! This field trip was Sept 29. Jericho is an oasis that is about 40 minutes north east from Jerusalem. If you remember right, this the path from Jericho to Jerusalem was one that Christ took often. There is a wadi that is near by. 

We also went to Herod's Winter Palace. We learned about his history, and Palestinians were on our tails trying to sell us scarves even though it was a BILLION degrees outside. This is Herod's hot tub that was excavated. 

Pictured below is the wadi that runs basically from Jerusalem all the way over to Jericho. If you look close there is a monastery that was built during the Byzantine period built into the side of the rock wall. 

There is also a spring called Elisha Springs that was a natural spring that they used back in Bible Times. We got to drink from it. :)

And here we have the road to Jericho, close to where Christ would have walked. It is here that the Good Samaritan story takes place. Here the man was on is way to Jericho and was beaten up, robbed and then left on the road like this. After the passing of the priest, and a Levite, the Samaritan passed by and had compassion on him. Took him to an inn, and told the inn keeper to take care of him and the Samaritan would repay him for how ever much it cost. (Luke 10: 24-37)

My favorite part of the day was the devotion by Dr. Chadwick as we read from the Bible about Christ on the Mount of Temptation and His 40 day fast. This is where it happened! Dr. Chadwick talked about how He was probably being prepared and learning from the Father about His ministry that He was about to start. A little MTC if you will. After being there, I can't imagine fasting in that desert heat for that long! 

We all took home rocks. :) Why? Remember the part in the Bible that talks about Satan tempting Christ to turn the stones into bread? Sitting there surrounded by these rocks and thinking about how Christ felt, how hungry He must have been, and how appealing bread would have seemed made everything more real. And how did the Savior respond? Not a chance, Satan. I know what I'm doing. "'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4). And that is how we are fed spiritually! Through the scriptures. I know that fasting is a way to get closer to God. That is how Christ prepared Himself. If Christ, who was the Son of God and had such a personal relationship with God needed to be closer to God and fasted, how much more do WE need to fast to strengthen our relationship with Him. And He will fill us!