On the Monday morning of Christmas Eve, life here in Jerusalem started quite normal. Stacie and I walked to our Hebrew class, but then we skipped the second half of class, “ran” some errands around the New City, and back to our place for lunch.
About 2pm, six other students from JUC met at our house and we walked to Bethlehem. Yup, we WALKED to Bethlehem. I mean it’s not really that far considering we live in S. Jerusalem and not Nazareth...and none of us were 9 months pregnant. The walk there with friends was pretty fun. I mean, I know it was nothing like the journey made by Mary and Joseph…we walked on a sidewalk along a main road with cars whizzing by us. However, as we walked I couldn’t avoid seeing the massive “Herodian” in the skyline. The Herodian was one of Herod’s palace-fortresses he had built on top of a man-made mountain just to the SE of Bethlehem proper. I have been researching the archeology of a number of different biblical sites over the past couple weeks for this big project I’m working on, and the night before our journey to Bethlehem, I happened to be reading and researching about this massive palace-fortress that stood over Bethlehem. Herod was crazy. But what struck me the most was trying to picture Mary and Joseph on this journey...seeing the enormous Herodian in the background, shining in all its glory, as they approached Joseph’s hometown, the place where they knew the King, and Our Savior, was to be born. Was it during the day or under the moonlight when they finally arrived? And was it really in late December? (Probably not, most likely Sept/Oct but I won’t go into reasons why at this time).
Well we arrived to the welcoming 25-foot cement wall checkpoint of Bethlehem proper after about an hour on our feet. Waited in line. Showed the favored American Passport. No questions, issues or problems. Then we walked about another hour in Bethlehem before arriving at Manger Square/Church of the Nativity, where the traditional site of the Birth or our Lord took place some 2,000 years ago. Most of the main festivities were to take place later at night, including the annual midnight mass service in the church, but we didn’t stick around for that. There were crowds of people arriving when we were there and a group of Christians were gathered together singing some Christmas songs in the courtyard. Christmas music in English and Arabic played through the streets, lights and decorations were everywhere (especially compared to Jerusalem) as well as numerous armed PA soldiers keeping things well under control. We didn’t stay in Manger Square too long, we stopped at a tiny restaurant where we squeezed all 8 of us into the “Peace Restaurant,” ate some 5 shekel Falafel, and drank some Arab tea with sage (not a person) while talking with the two overly kind Muslim men working the restaurant. It was “peaceful.”
Afterwards we stopped on a hillside overlooking Bethlehem and we read the birth story of Jesus in Matthew 2 and Luke 2. I love reading the stories on the site where they took place. Can’t really explain it unless you’ve experienced it. It changes something inside me. Extra special on Christmas Eve too I guess. The story won’t be read the same next year at this time.
Christmas day was spent exchanging some gifts with Stacie and Karin (JUC student and current houseguest) in the morning, enjoying a huge Turkey feast for lunch at the neighbors with about 15 JUC students and then they all came to our place at night to enjoy some desserts as well as some good laughs with a white elephant gift exchange.
It was a different Christmas this year not being in MI, or being around family, not seeing advertisements for things I need to buy, not seeing Santa at the mall, snow or Christmas lights in the neighborhood. But it was a good 1st Christmas with my wife, and we were in Bethlehem, also unique. But most of all, this Christmas, I am thankful for Jesus.
He is Christ the Lord.
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