Day 8:Israel Museum and Bethlehem

After the Jewish tunnel, we traveled to the Israel Museum where we saw some incredible things. First, there was erected a to scale (1 to 50) model of what the Old City of Jerusalem would have looked like in Jesus' day, I have a couple of picture to show you the whole city, but if you want more info you can click on this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holyland_Model_of_Jerusalem

This model really brings to life what Jerusalem would have looked like when Jesus was there and really helps to understand the lay of the land.

Also at the Israel Museum is a display of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Dead Sea scrolls were scrolls of the Old Testament that were discovered in 1947 to 1956, they were in the area of the Dead Sea for over 2000 years, but because of the dry weather, they remained largely intact. They also confirm that the whole Old Testament as we have it in our Bible is accurate.

If you want to read more, you can click on this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea_scrolls

The building we were in is shaped like a clay jar because that is where many of the scrolls where discovered. Couldn't take any pictures in there, so I just have a picture of the outside of it...

There is another wing of this museum which has all kinds of archaeological and historical displays as well as modern art. It's a beautiful museum...

From there we were off to lunch and then to Bethlehem.

When we sing "Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie..." it's not quite what Bethlehem is today. It is a Palestinian city that has had quite a bit of uprising in these last 10 years or so between the Israeli's and the Palestinians...

So much that a huge security wall was erected and a sign as you come into the city says, "No Israeli persons allowed". So our guide, Shlomi, had to leave us and we had another guide, Walit, who brought us through. I asked Shlomi about it, and he said that the Israeli's are the ones who won't allow other Israeli's in because of the tension...

Anyway, you can read more about Bethlehem at these two links if you want:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethlehem
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Intifada

Our new guide was very enthusiastic about sharing about the birth place of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He brought us into the Church of the Nativity where 4 strands of the Christian faith share a facility to commemorate the birth of Jesus...can you imagine how crazy it must be at Christmas!? The good news is that different Christians from other parts of the world celebrate the birth on 3 different dates, so it spreads it out a little...

So, the Greek Orthodox have the main building, built by the Mother of Constantine, Helena. Of course, just like many other sites, it was taken over by others throughout history, but there are many mosaics that still are there from the 4th century.

There is a passage that leads to a cave where they believe Jesus was born...of course it's enshrined and covered in marble...not quite the picture we have of Jesus in a cattle stable, but the area is probably accurate.

Built on to the old church is a newer Catholic church that you see every Christmas Eve on TV as the worship place for Christmas Mass...it's a beautiful sanctuary...

We then traveled to the Shepherds field, just outside Bethlehem where it is believed that the Shepherds received the news of the birth, there are many caves in this area where the shepherds would have received cover if needed. It's about 2 km from Bethlehem...

It's also the field where David would have been a shepherd and learned all the skills of both being a warrior and being a leader. There is a reason why all this is tied together!

We then ended our time in the local shop...of course...:) More later...