Pastor Steven Teo

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Trip to the The Holy Land

After 9 years in ministry (and being a Christian for more than 40 years) and having traveled to 22 countries and more than 60 cities, I finally visited Israel. The country is amazing!

We may not love the politics or the policies of the Israeli government or that we may not love the behaviours of the Jewish people but the fact is God has a covenant with them, just like he is covenanted to Christians via the cross. God is a covenant keeping God!


Ps Steven, Dorothy and friends in Jerusalem (the background is where the Dome of the Rock and the Temple Mount are).	With wife, Dorothy at the River Jordan

Dorothy and I visited the Holy Land in the first week of January 2012 - it was a great way to commence the Year of the Lord's favour. We are looking forward to an phenomenal year in health, work, family and ministry, indeed in all of life.

City of Joppa

This Old City was the port where the Prophet Jonah tried to avoid his calling to Nineveh, jumped into a ship and ended up in a whale's tummy, was our first site to visit.

A modern city now, charming but full of history....


Joppa, or as is known in modern times as Jaffa	The port of Joppa, facing the Mediterranean Sea


Joppa Centre	A historic city, Dorothy posing with sign board for City


Tel Aviv at the background (A city grown out of Joppa)	Tel Aviv; a very modern city. Was hit by a Scudd missile during the 1991 Guff War.

Bethlehem, The Birth Place of Jesus

Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus is in the West Bank. It is in the control of the Palestinian Liberation Authority (PLA). This is about the only place where Arab Christians are in the majority - elsewhere areas controlled by the PLA are largely if not all Islamic.

The land extending north to Nablus, Jenin, west to Jericho, south to Hebron and Yata controlled by the PLA has the potential to cut Israel in half; the nearest point between the Mediterranean Sea and the West Bank controlled by the PLA is only 14 km. In strategic terms, this is most vulnerable to the nation. Hence it is understandable that Israel is most unyielding to the PLO on the matter of land.


City of Bethlehem. Can you see display of Yasser Arrafat in the background on the wall of the mosque?	Church on the birth site


They said this is Jesus' birthplace	Our group at the underground site


Passage way leading to the birthplace	Dorothy taking a rest whilst listening to the Messianic Jew guide


With friends from Singapore at the Nativity scene in Bethlehem	The West Bank view to the Israeli side

Mount of Olives

We had a perfect view of Jerusalem and all its walls and surrounds from the top of Mount of Olives. This most famous place is where Jesus said he would return one day!


with friends - Jerusalem with its Dome of the Rock and Temple Mount in the background	Dome of the Rock, together with the mosque complex now occupies where once Solomon's temple was.


The Old City of David (next to the south west wall of Jerusalem City)	Graves everywhere...people wants to be buried here on the slopes of Mount of Olives because Jesus said he would be back here!!

Jerusalem - the City of the Great King

This amazing city is the center of the world. It is astounding. It has all the Biblical history and is today still making history. Jerusalem is now the capital of Israel. The seat of government is there; the Knesset (Parliament of Israel) is there.

The same narrow streets are there today as it was in years gone by. It is just as diverse with Orthodox Christian, Muslim and Jewish quarters.

The Via Dolorosa (Latin for "Way of Grief" or "Way of Suffering") is a street, in two parts, within the Old City of Jerusalem, said to be the exact path that Jesus carried his cross on the way to his crucifixion. The winding route from the Antonia Fortress west to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre — a distance of about 600 meters (2,000 feet) — is a celebrated place for Christians to "walk" the path that Jesus did!


Narrow streets of Jerusalem - a place of markets and lined with stores of every variety	Jaffa Gate - where the Tower of David was said to be standing


Old Jewish Quarters - very modern and great infrastructure	At a Jewish bakery/coffee shop where we were "ripped-off" by a nice looking Jewish girl. She must have thought that Asians cannot think or count! Of course, we took our correct US$ change back.


A model of Jerusalem as it was - with Solomon's temple in its original construct	Another view of the same model

Dome of the Rock and the Temple Mount

This site is huge and magnificent. Where Solomon's Temple once stood, now stood the Dome of the Rock (said to be the 3rd holiest place in Islam) and a Mosque. We had limited time to Q and get into the Temple Mount and unable to enter either of the mosques. Those in charge could not care less if we get in or not and security was very tight; no Christian emblems such as jewellery with a cross allowed...

Some said the temple will be rebuilt.....imagine the ramifications!


Dome of the Rock and view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives	With good friends posing with the Dome of the Rock at the background


Dome of the Rock; apparently the Dome is made of pure gold	With friends from CLIC Church at the Temple Mount/Dome of the Rock


Close up view	Mosque at the Temple Mount

Garden of Gethsemane

It was in this garden that Jesus prayed and explored his options - If it be possible take this cup away but nevertheless not my will but thine be done! Awesome God!!


At the Garden where very old olive trees are still fruitful. These there are like 400 years old....	With my wife, Dorothy at the Garden of Gethsemane


Beautiful Garden	Church of the Nations at the site of the Garden

Wailing Wall

Also called the Western Wall. This site was chosen by Jewish people to cry for the lost of the Temple. The reason is simple: The Temple was said to face East. As the Holy of Holies is set deep inside the temple, it location is therefore West. Hence, the Jews opted for this wall as the nearest point to a lost temple - and the presence of God.


View from the wooden bridge (access to the Temple Mount) to the Wailing Wall	Wooden bridge - the subject of much contention between Israel and the Arabs. The bridge was closed for a while because the Muslims would not allow Israel to repair it or to put up a modern one for fear of losing control.


Bird's eye view of everything; Dome of the Rock, the wooden bridge and the Wailing Wall	Jews praying at the Western Wall


Pastor Steven at the Wall but first you must wear a yarmulke	More Jews praying

Golgotha

The place of the skull - ever wonder what that is?


Place of the skull - then	Place of the skull - now


The Garden Tomb (next to Golgotha)	Pastor Steven conducting the Lord's Supper at the Garden Tomb - it was a wonderful time of reflection.


An empty tomb	This type of tomb is common to the time of Jesus - a resting place for the rich

Holocaust Museum

An incredible museum - very telling of Jewish history of prosecution by Western Christians...

As you moved through the Museum you can feel the sadness and can't imagine how the Germans could be so cruel....children, women and all were being killed like animals....so much for Western liberal ideas and culture!

A MUST visit...


Final Exhibits - a picture that was not supposed to be taken!	Museum entrances

Jordan River

It was an exciting trip to the River Jordan, such a historical river from as far as Old Testament times. Our visit takes us close, very close to the country of Jordan. At its closest point, it is less than 100m apart from Israel.


Others having their baptism in the river!	The 2 pastors with Israeli soldiers guarding the border


Strict Border control; many surrounding places are still mined	Pastor Steven taking a photo shot with a young Israeli female National Service soldier


The Other side; Jordanian border post just across the river	Dorothy touching the water

The Dead Sea

This is a most interesting place - way below sea level. Beautiful yet desolated. The Sea is known for its health benefits to bathers. You can buy Dead Sea cosmetics that are supposed to make your skin really good. Needless to say the ladies (wives) were on a buying spree!


Sign post telling you that you are below Sea Level	Part of the Dead Sea from a distance; a most beautiful place


Having a bath! The water is really salty; you stay afloat effortlessly because of the heavy salt content	Basking and caking with the mud; supposed to be good for your skin


After the dip, a cold, cold shower!	Ps Steven & wife, Dorothy at the Jordan River just before the Dead Sea visit

Ein Gedi

This desolated place, part of the Judean Desert is most interesting from a Biblical history point of view - it was here that David found King Saul resting in one of the caves. David had an opportunity to kill Saul but he withheld, not wanting to hurt the anointed of God. A waterfall here is now named David's Waterfall.


Ps Steven resting near the spring after a good hike	It was a long climb indeed...

Mount Carmel Assembly

We attended Shabat service on Saturday morning at Mt. Carmel Assembly. The Messianic Jew congregation was founded by Ps David Davies, an American missionary. It was a good service with many Hebrew songs in worship, dancing, flags, sound of the shofa, among others...

Mt Carmel is where the prophet Elijah contested with 400 prophets of Baal....


Meeting up with Ps David Davies	Ps Peter Tsukahira giving us a welcome and explaining why we need to connect and support Israel, the covenanted people of God, just as we Christians are covenanted with God thru the Cross


The congregation with our attendance	Celebration; they know how to dance!

Sea of Galilee

One of the most wonderful experience of worship, tranquility and peace. We had worship, songs on board the ship. The Sea was calm but the guide said that often the sea would be very rough. Matter of fact, every year they lost people, experienced fishermen to the rough sea.

The Sea is surrounded by mountains, to the East the Golan Heights and to the West the mountains of Judea. When the wind blows, these mountains act as channel effectively giving a tunnel effect to the place hence the rough weather, as experienced by Jesus and his disciples on the boat.


On the worship boat	With friends at the bow of the boat


Ps Steven and wife emulating the Titanic!	Boatman tried fishing; caught nothing!


Friends reflecting God's glory	The Golan Heights, strategic high places taken from Syria during the 1967 June War


Time for soul searching and sharing at the beach	This is a typical beach by the Sea of Galilee; one in which Jesus made breakfast for Peter

Caesarea,Philippi

This ancient port city in its ruin still manifest the glory of King Herod and his immense wealth. He built this city and named it such to please the Roman Emperor. It was a great city complete with break walls out at sea to ensure a calm harbour.

It was from here that the Apostle Paul made many of his missionary trips and also the one to Rome as a prisoner.


Caesarea Philippi, the ancient port; a past glory of the Jewish king but named after Emperor Caesear	The stadium was built for many big speeches, some say including those made by Paul.


Incredible ruins, testimony to its past glory and greatness	Built for grand chariot races like that in Ben Hur!

Conclusion

I have many more photos and other places as well that we visited, such as Capernaum, Banias, Tiberas, Meggiddo, the Yizrael Valley (also known as the Armageddon Valley) and Nazareth (where Jesus' parents hailed from) - there is just so much to say and show....

This trip has been an amazing one. I have a recommendation for all my readers, if you come this far....take a trip to Israel. You will be blessed.

Ps Steven Teo
Melbourne
31st January 2012