Passover and Easter

Today is Passover in Israel and everything is very quiet here in Tiberias.  Not so in Jerusalem we understand however.   I want to share some of the feelings we have been having as we tread the land upon which the Savior gave not only His mortal footsteps but His very heart, might, mind and strength in the process of accomplishing the Atonement.

Over the past ten days we have been traveling on and off with the BYU Jerusalem students in the Galilee area close to where we live in Tiberias.  Each of the professors give insights while we are traveling to various spots in this amazing land.  We have heard from S. Kent Brown, Bill Hamblin, Craig Manscill and Chad Emmett. 

We went to Mt. Tabor which is the second tallest mountain in Israel.  It, along with Mt. Hermon are considered possibilities for the place where the Transfiguration took place. 

As you recall, Matthew 17, Mark 9; Luke 9:28-36 recount the events when Jesus, Peter, James and John went “up into an high mountain apart,” and “there appeared unto them Moses and Elias.”  This was a time for conferring the keys of the Priesthood by Moses and Elias (Elijah) upon Peter, James and John in preparation for the forthcoming death of the Savior.  Heavenly Father spoke as a “voice out of the cloud which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” 

 

Both Carl and I assumed this meeting with the Father, Moses and Elijah was for the benefit of Peter, James and John, to receive the keys of the priesthood, but Brother Brown pointed out that in addition Jesus had need of the comfort and strengthening from this experience Himself.  Though a God, yet a man, He bore the frailties of being human.  He got tired.  He had no place of His own to rest His head.  The crowds would press in on Him, wanting Him to heal and feed them.  The apostles would take Him out in the boat to give Him time to rest from the multitudes that came. 

As the time of the atonement and crucifixion approached, Jesus knew that it was coming, but He could not know what it would feel like.  According to Pres. Brown, having the comforting power of His Father, Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John, must have been a time for Him to gather strength and power for what lay ahead.  He also sought the apostle’s strength and comfort during Gethsemane to watch with him.  Three times He approached them, but even then they did not understand what He was going through.  As it says in Isaiah:

He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: He hid not His face from shame and spitting.

 
Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows! He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him. And with His stripes we are healed.

Luke 23:44-46 records “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.  when on the cross, He called out, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me, He must have felt the total weight of humanity without the help of the Father who loved Him.   And then there was the mother that loved Him.

John records 19:25-    Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman behold thy son!  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!  And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. 

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.  Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar; and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.  When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished…

Matthew JST 27:54 records “Father, it is finished, thy will is done.” And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said,  Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit; and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

This picture was painted Mattias Grenwald in 1432

“And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.”  Matthew 27: 51

Because of the approaching Sabbath--then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.  But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.  John 19:32-34

I cannot imagine the horror of these events and the anguish of those that loved Him.  Surely they knew of the events that were to transpire, because he had told them—He was going to Jerusalem to die.  But it was clear they did not understand the magnitude on their lives.

From Mark 15:  43 we learn: Then came Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counselor which also waited for the kingdom of God, came and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.  We learn from the Bible Dictionary that Joseph was also “a member of the Sanhedrin and a rich and faithful Israelite who took no part in the condemnation of our Lord.” 

From John 19:39-42 we also learn that Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred weight.  Then they took the body of Jesus and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.  There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Fortunately for us, it doesn’t end there.  The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.  Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre , and we know not where they have laid him.

They come and see only the linen clothes wrapped together.  John 20: 8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw and believed.  For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.  Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping; and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where body of Jesus had lain.  And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?  She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.  And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus.  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?  Whom seekest thou?  She supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir if thou have born him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.  Jesus saith unto her, Mary.  She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master….then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the dors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.  And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side.  Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

This is a picture we took just last week on the side of the road enroute to Mt. Carmel.  Notice the stone which has been rolled to the side of the tomb.   Amazing to see one still in existence.

The disciples were glad when He appeared unto them.  I am glad that through the scriptures and my own study  of them that being here in the Holy Land is helping me see and feel the gladness that the Savior continues to offer us as we seek Him.

Love from Melanie

The Jerusalem Center

After hearing an uplifting and humorous talk by Dean and Susan Madsen, we collapse into bed while they are taken to the airport.  As a parting gift, Susan gave us her book, The Second Rescue:  The Story of the Spiritual Rescue of the Willie and Martin Handcart Pioneers.  This book recounts the events around the discovery by the Riverton Wyoming Stake Presidency that the temple work had not been done for those who perished on that trek before reaching Utah.  Carl and I are very interested in this because of our involvement with the 1997 Sesquicentennial Celebration of the Westward Migration of the Church from Nauvoo to Utah.  (We organized the reenactment which was held on the BYU campus.) The Riverton Wyoming stake was able to trace all those who died and see that 4,200 temple ordinances were done in their behalf.  It is a treasure to receive an autographed copy by the very author who was able to capture all the events related to this great episode in seeing the Lord’s hand in the lives of His people in this present day.

As we awake the next morning, we look out at the beautiful scenes that surround us.  The Temple Mount, the walls surrounding Jerusalem, and the BYU Jerusalem Center itself.  How marvelous that on this outstanding piece of property the church was able to bring about this building and all it stands for.  Look closely at the middle of this picture.  You will see an arches on a building. That is the Jerusalem Center. 


Here we are looking out the window into the city. 
















We are overcome with the beauty of the Jerusalem Center and the quality of its workmanship.  The architecture reflects this very land and stone at every vantage point.  The windows in the large hall give a view of the whole of Jerusalem both day and night.  It is breathtaking.  Inside the stone, the woodwork, and the light that enters in everywhere reflects holiness.  






When you stand on the outside looking into the building through the large windows, the glorious organ just turns your heart to heaven.  Then when you enter in and hear the music played by world renown, Walter Whipple, it goes beyond words.

Here we are meeting Eran Hyet.  He is the local Director of the Jerusalem Center.  He is very astute in what he does--negotiating between the needs of students, the Center personnel, the country demands and restrictions, etc.  He is Hebrew and works alongside many who within the center are Arabs.  It is a wondrous balance.  

Next we join in a Pray Meeting with the Center couples who lead tours, care for the medical and physical needs of the students, watch over financial needs, support humanitarian needs, etc.  

Then we party with the rest of them at a going away party for the Allens.  Food like you wouldn't believe.  And of course, following which we collapse into bed, again! 

Day Three in Tiberias

Recognizing that once again I am sharing things that are a month old, I will pick up events where I left off last week.  (Over time I may catch up to actual time rather than DMT—delayed monthly time, but who knows, events are happening so fast, I will have to find another means of communication, but certainly not texting!) 

Recall that we arrived in Tel Aviv on Jan 27, was escorted to Galilee by the Madsen’s, spent the next day touring sites along the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee.  Here is what took place on the next day-- 29^th of January.

The Madsen’s took us on a quick run through town so we would know where the bank and post office were.  How to find a grocery store.  Which roads to take to get back to the Branch house when we approach Tiberias from the west and the south.  (It looked like it was following a cow trail!) Of course, they pointed out their favorite bakery and immediately our mouths began to water.  Then they headed for Nazareth where they had done their outreach projects doing English classes and teaching orchestra.  We met two administrators from St. Joseph’s High School, the Director from Na’amat Girls High School as well as two English teachers, and a College Administrator from Nazareth Galilee Academic Institution.  In some cases we think we could offer what skills we have, in other cases maybe not.  

We are now focusing our outreach skills on ridding the Branch House of Black Mold, deep cleaning 28 window wells that have 3 sets of trays holding the glass, a screen, and a metal shutter protection and 2 sets of floor to ceiling windows, 12 x 20’, not to mention the glass on the stairwells.  This modern design is wonderful, but those little hands that go along the stairs find that the glass is a wonderful medium for art.  (I just checked my blog and I already wrote about the windows, but as there were no pictures I am including them here for lots of sympathy about the size, number and complexity of this project!) Now I can't the window frame picture... so no sympathy needed.

The next outreach is locating the people in our branch who are spread from Tiberias where the Branch is to Haifa to Nahariya to Tal to Ha-glilit with Nazareth, Migdal Ha-Emek, Tamra, and Safed in between.  Many speak Spanish and very little English, others Russian, and others Hebrew.  It is at least a drive of one hour to the closest and 2 hours for those furthest—one way, of course.  They seem to love being visited even if we don’t speak any of their languages because there contact is very limited with church members.  They have many stories to tell us of their adventures in this land.

But I digress, back to the rest of the day with the Madsen’s.  After our visit with the administrators we head for Ramzieh’s, where a feast awaits us.  This dear lady is an administrator in a school district.  She introduced us to her beloved daughter, son-in-law and baby, fed us like we were kings and queens.  Sister Madsen had interviewed her for a short life story and delivered it on this day, so it was tender to see the love shared between them.  This baby is so beautiful.  She has big black eyes and the most endearing smile when her grandmother sings her a song from her own childhood.  Makes me homesick for our grandkids.  Fortunately, I got see one of our grandchildren on Skype not to long after this visit which made us very happy.

Heading home, the Madsen’s prepare us for what is in store on the following day which will be Saturday, and is the Sabbath or Shabbot in Hebrew.   As we share a birthday pizza with Yaron on his 15^th birthday, we hear that we need to prepare a pot luck dish for after our church meetings, then pack our bags for traveling with the Madsen’s back to the Jerusalem Center where they will deliver a fireside for the BYU-JC students and then hop on a plane.  How can we pack a bag?  We haven’t even unpacked anything yet!  We don’t know where anything is!

 We will remain at the Jerusalem Center for several days, meeting the other volunteer couples, taking a short tour of the Christian quarter in Jerusalem, hearing a concert, taking a tour of JC Center, signing papers, meeting administrators about security, cars, banking needs and then finding our way home back to Tiberias!  WHAT!  We actually have to drive out of here?  HELP!  We can’t do this, somebody else should drive us.  HELP!  Tune in for the next exciting episode.

Sites Along the Galilee

It is so unusual to feel so comfortable with people we’ve just barely met.  The Madsen’s made us feel right at home.  They moved all their belongings downstairs so as to finish their packing and moved us right into the apartment in the Branch House, however, that left them to sleep on a mattress on the floor.  They said that it was what the couple that trained them did, so they were following suit.  Pres. Madsen showed us how to switch the solar water heater on so we all could take a shower, how to get heat in each room using an electric heater in each room.  But I still haven’t learned how to use the Branch phone.  Next morning Sister Madsen cooked us German Pancakes in between answering her email and we were off to see the sites around the Galilee. 

We passed by Migdal, which is the birthplace of Mary Magdalene.  Right close to this is Kibbutz Ginnosar.  As you may already know, a kibbutz is a collective where Israeli’s have gathered to live as a community.  Originally, it was based on agriculture.  Nowadays, they have been privatized.  This Kibbutz runs a museum around the theme of “Man in Galilee.”  The centerpiece of this exhibit is the remains of a fishing boat dating back to Christ’s ministry.  It was discovered by local fishermen in 1986 when the lake level dropped.  I loved the way the process of preserving the boat was captured in film and still shots.  It was quite a process which took nine years. 

Tabgha is the site of seven springs.  There are two churches from C20 and two from C5 Byzantine churches commemorating two New Testament events.  Check out Luke 9:1-17, John 6:1-14—by multiplying 5 loaves and 2 fishes, Jesus fed the 5,000.  Then John 21 and 1 Peter 5.  “Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias, shared with them a meal of fish and bread, then commissioned Peter to “Feed my sheep.”  There is a marvelous mosaic in the basilica commemorating the miracle of the loaves and fishes.  It is hard to take in that what we are seeing is from many time periods and events. 

First touch of Sea of Galilee-Entering Capernaum ruins-Ruins in foreground, New church in background over ruins from Peter's house

The last stop was at Capernaum where Peter’s house provided the base from which Jesus preached.  These events are then memoralized by different groups of people throughout the ages by building their own churches on top of the prior one, then along come others tear down what is there and build their own church.  Next come the archaeologists who try to sort it all out.  Then there are accounts in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John which add details that you have to put together to get the total picture.

Here are the things that happened at Capernaum:

*”Leaving Nazareth, He (Jesus) came and dwelt in Capernaum.”  This was after he announced himself as the Son of God at the synagogue at Nazareth and the priests drove Him away.

*In Capernaum, Jesus was based at “Simon’s house or the house of Simon and Andrew.”

*Peter’s house was often called simply “the house.”

*Jesus preached to crowds from the door of the house.

*In Capernaum’s synagogue, Jesus cast out an unclean spirit.

*In Peter’s house, Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law.

*At Cana, Jesus healed a nobleman’s son in Capernaum.

*Jesus healed a Roman centurion’s servant in Capernaum.

*Jesus healed many others at Capernaum.

*The centurion had built a synagogue in Capernaum.

*In Capernaum, Jesus raised Jarius’ daughter from death and healed a woman having had 12 years issue of blood.

*Jesus often taught and performed healings in Capernaum’s synagogue.

*Jesus taught His discourse on the bread of life in the synagogue at Capernaum.

*Jesus condemned Capernaum for failing to acknowledge the “mighty works” done there.

It has never been clear to me before now that all these things took place at Capernaum.  I was thinking more about it being in Jerusalem or thereabouts.  Many things are just soaking in.  Of course, I am writing this almost a month after it has taken place, but so much is happening it is hard to process it all in less than a month!  Nevertheless, there is a spirit of reverence that pervades these places and it is a relief to be here when this is so.  We understand as the spring approaches and more people come to see these places it is hard to find a space to contemplate.  We have had sweet moments never to be forgotten.