I recently went on my second pilgrimage to the Promised Land. My first pilgrimage was about 10 years ago.

I urge everyone to make this pilgrimage at least once in their life.

The words that come to my mind are “Come and see.”

These words appear again and again in the Scriptures.

For example, when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus both asked his disciples to come and see him pray and Jesus came to see how well the disciples were keeping watch.

As you may remember, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane during those dark, depressing hours between the Last Supper and the arrival of Judas Iscariot with soldiers to arrest him.

Near the end of the Last Supper, Jesus prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. . . . .

I will remain in the world no longer, but [my disciples] are still in the world . . ..

[P]rotect them . . ..

While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe . . ..

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them . . ..

(John 17:11-12,15).

After the Last Supper, Jesus and his disciples walked more than a mile downhill towards the Mount of Olives to reach the Garden of Gethsemane. When they got there, Jesus was still worrying about protecting his disciples. Jesus told them: “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” (Luke 22:39-40).

As you may know, the Greek word in the New Testament meaning “temptation” includes the meaning of the English word “trial”. For example, in James 1:2-3 the King James Version says “temptations” but the New International Version says “trials”.

So Jesus was asking his disciples to pray to be protected both from trials (such as being arrested and crucified) and from temptations such as betraying him (as Judas Iscariot did) and denying him (as Peter did).

Next, Jesus asked Peter, James and John to come with him a short distance. (Matthew 26:36-37).

Jesus “began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me.’” (Matthew 26:37-38).

Jesus “fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will’” (Mark 14:35-36).

In anguish, Jesus prayed so earnestly that “his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Luke 22:44).

After awhile, Jesus returned to his disciples.

He found them sleeping!

In the preceding days, Jesus had reminded his disciples repeatedly that they must be watchful. (Matthew 25:13; Mark 13:32-33,35-37; Luke 21:34-36).

Nevertheless, at this dangerous moment when Jesus urgently told his disciples to keep watch, they fell asleep! (Matthew 26:40,43,45).

Jesus roused Peter and said, “[A]re you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:37-38).

A short time later, Judas and the soldiers approached the Garden of Gethsemane.

They had not been praying or sleeping. They had fallen into temptation. They were arresting Jesus, leading to his crucifixion and death the next day. (Mark 14:41-46,53).

On our pilgrimage, we visited the Upper Room (as reconstructed in the Middle Ages) where the Last Supper took place and where Jesus prayed that the Father would protect his disciples.

We also visited the Garden of Gethsemane, including the adjoining church that displays the rock on which Jesus prayed. Some of the trees in the Garden of Gethsemane are descended from those that were there when the disciples slept while Jesus prayed in anguish.

It’s an example of how a pilgrimage to the Promised Land helps bring Bible stories to life. Makes them more real.

I could envision the temptation for Jesus to disappear into the darkness of the Mount of Olives rather than to endure the trials of being arrested, tortured and crucified.

I could envision the anguish of Jesus as he steadfastly accepted “the cup” that the Father asked him to endure.

I could envision the exhaustion of the disciples from the food and wine of the Seder at the Last Supper, topped off by the long walk to the Garden of Gethsemane. No wonder their spirit was willing, but their flesh was weak!

I could envision the treachery of Judas Iscariot as he kissed Jesus in order to show the soldiers who they should arrest.

I could envision the joy of Jesus as he saw that the disciples were not being arrested—that the Father was protecting them.

I could envision the love of Jesus when he knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father—the hour when, “[h]aving loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end”. (John 13:1).

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT

When have you known you need to protect people who you love?

When have you known you need to pray not to be led into temptations and trials?

When have you known you should watch and be with someone who is sorrowful and in trouble and in anguish?

Were you faithful?

Did you protect people who you love?

Did you overcome temptations and trials?

Did you pray and keep watch?

READ MORE

For other blogs arising from my pilgrimage to the Promised Land, please read my blogs “The Immense, Towering Rock Overcomes the ‘Gates of Hell’”, “Moving the Temple Mount”, “Come and See the Promised Land: Desolations”, “Come and See the Promised Land: A Place of Abundance”, “Come and See the Promised Land: Where Jesus Stayed”, “Come and See the Promised Land: Jesus of Nazareth”, and “Come and See the Promised Land: Jesus Weeping”.