Three Days In Israel(Billy Sample) THREE DAYS IN ISRAEL

It’s been 40 years since I visited Israel and that’s a long time, but the memories are still vivid in my mind. In the three days I was there I experienced some amazing things. I saw the excavation site of Jericho, swam in the Dead Sea, took a boat trip on the River Jordan, walked in the Mount of Olives, had lunch in Bethlehem, inserted a note into the cracks of the Wailing Wall, wept at the Holocaust museum and much more. What I remember most was entering the walls of the old city of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem was a very modern progressive city, even 40 years ago. Shops, restaurants, clubs and nice Hotels, but entering through the gates into the old city was like going back in time. Vendors, beggars, camels and donkeys being used for transportation. This was not “Bible Land” in Orlando, not a show for the amusement of tourists, this is the way these people live day after day!

I took a guided tour down the cobble stone street that is almost unanimously believed to be the path that condemned men would take their last walk on their way to execution. So it is certain that this was also the path that Jesus would have traveled. It is not the original stones, those have been long since covered by the sands of time, but during the trip we were led into a building where we were shown a ten to fifteen foot section of rode that has been excavated that dated back two thousand years! It’s very possible that these stones may be the only witnesses’ to that day so long ago.

As I said before, it is almost unanimously believed that the path is authentic, but coming to a “Y” in the road brings disagreement. Protestants believe the journey went to the left, Catholics insist the path went to the right. Over a century and a half ago both faiths sent researchers to the city to try and map out the events. Since there is no historical account of happenings except those recorded in the Bible there were understandable differences of opinion. We went to the left first.

At the end of the road was a hill and if you used your imagination, it did have the silhouette of a skull. There was a peaceful atmosphere in the air, very calming and natural surroundings. A pastor gave a presentation and recounted the events that every Christian knows by heart. We were allowed to walk around freely, touch the stones, meditate unrushed. After some time we left this Golgotha and headed to the next.

At the end of the path that led to the right was an enormous cathedral! Elaborately built and extremely affluent and heavily supervised! Single file we were led inside the building where Priests and security were prevalent everywhere. There was an assemble area where we gathered and were addressed by a representative of the Cathedral. A very nice gentleman who welcomed us to Golgotha! He told us that he was glad we had already visited the Protestant version and advised us in a light hearted manner that when we step into the next room we would be in the presence of the true sacred place and if we closed our eyes with the vision of the other place we would get the best of both!

We then one at a time were allowed to enter through the archway and approach a wall with a portal above an alter. When it was my turn I was instructed to reach through the opening and touch a stone, after a few seconds it was time to move on so the next person could have their turn. I have to admit it was a little underwhelming, no vibes, no out of body experience but, it was pretty cool!

My three days in Israel were a long time ago and I love to relive those experiences in my mind and with my friends. As with all my stories I don’t do research or gather facts, I write from memory and the memories of the Holy Land are some of the best!

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