Journey through the Holy Land: A life-long dream fulfilled

February 12, 2018 / By Pastor Andy Anderson / 2 Comments

My trip to the Holy Land was a life-long dream fulfilled. It was indeed a blessing for me to be part of the group from the Upper New York Annual Conference on such pilgrimage. The beginning to the end was an awesome, spirit-filled experience.

One of the highlights of the trip for me was on the very first day. Bishop Webb led worship and preached on the bank of the Jordan River and part of the worship experience was witnessing one of our guests in my group being baptized in the Jordan River by his pastor. It was a moment of awe as I reflected on the Scripture of Jesus’s cousin John the Baptist, baptizing those who repented of their sins and also baptizing Jesus, the Savior of the world. I was reminded that it was on that occasion the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus and he heard the voice of God commending him and offering assurance of love.

It was after that inspiring moment, that Spirit-Filled moment that Jesus was heading to a gruesome experience that ultimately led him to Calvary. Having touched the water of the Jordan, being with the entire group in a boat sailing on the Sea of Galilee, worshiping and praising God as the rain poured and as the thunder rolled, was a powerful reminder and visual to the story of Jesus calling his first disciples by the Sea of Galilee. Having visited the Garden of Gethsemane, walked the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross), the traditional pathway Jesus took from the “Hall of Judgement” to Calvary and seeing the different stations where it is believed Jesus fell, has touched me deeply. The privilege to walk such path has opened up for me a whole new perspective and understanding of the life of Jesus Christ.

This trip was one in which the Bible came alive for me in varying ways. The rich history and important sites of the Holy Land was well appreciated. This dream fulfilled has left an indelible impact on my Christian life. Thanks God!