HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE TESTIMONIES
A Spiritual Journey
Testimony by Brother Teck Meng
Praise be unto the Lord, I feel so blessed to be given this opportunity to be
part of the pilgrimage (Israel & Jordan) with fellow brethren. This is
certainly not a tour, but a spiritual journey of a lifetime and I am sure it
has impacted each pilgrim in their own special ways.
Our pilgrimage started with our arrival at Jordan. Since then, not a day has
passed without someone falling ill or feeling unwell. The rough terrains
and the scorching heat refused to show us any mercy, some days at a high
of 43 °C. These challenges on the contrary, helped us to bond closer
together, as we showed concern and care, and helping and encouraging
one another along the way.
We travelled to several places like the Dead Sea, Megiddo, Sea of Galilee,
Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem and many other important biblical sites.
There is so much to say about each site but I would like to share some
memorable moments here.
Some of us trekked up the Sermon on the Mount where the multitudes
heard the discourse from the Lord. Pastor Clement then recited the
Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), while we were standing afar up the hill. The
uphill landscapes with the winds from the Sea of Galilee served as a
natural amplifier and we could vividly hear pastor’s recitation. It was an
amazing experience for us.
We also visited Mount Nebo. This is the place where Moses lived out his
last days and was shown the Promised land. The view from Mount Nebo
is a sight to behold and it reminded us of God’s promise and men’s
disobedience (Deuteronomy 32:48-52).
In Jerusalem, we retraced the path taken by the Lord Jesus to Golgotha
known as Via Dolorosa (The Way of Suffering). There are 14 stations
from the Lord’s condemnation to death, till He is laid in the tomb. While
we may not know for sure the accuracy of some of the locations as well as
the monuments (some are passed down from traditions), it does provide an
idea of how the Lord Jesus had suffered, treading through the streets with
the cross, bearing the full sin of mankind, yet mocked by men, was
crucified and died on the cross, all because of His great love for sinners
like us. More importantly, we witnessed an empty tomb – because we are
serving a risen and living God (Luke 24:6-7).
This trip has created new meanings for me and it is not the same now
when I read the Bible. I feel that I am able to better relate to some of the
events stated in the Bible.
The above write-up does not do any justice and will not fully explain what
we have seen and felt throughout this pilgrimage. There is always a lesson
to learn from each site. Each site reminded us of God’s love for the world
and how we are to live a life dedicated to Him. Glory be unto God.
Jesus’ Presence All the Way
Testimony by Sister Doris
Never have I thought I would be able to make it for the Holy Pilgrimage.
God has been gracious to me, He has been with me last year as I bat-
tled cancer and has now given me this opportunity to visit Israel and Jor-
dan. All praises be unto His name. I was concerned of my health and stam-
ina and worried that I may slow down my brothers and sisters during the
trip so I did pre-trip preparations like brisk walking many times a week in
Singapore’s hot and humid weather. I prayed and entrusted myself to
God. In the end, I made it and really thank God for the safe and successful
12-day journey without falling sick. It has been a wonderful trip for me
with physical (for sure I believe the salad we had every meal will make us
healthier) and spiritual food as well as the great fellowship with the broth-
ers and sisters in Christ.
My heart is still warmed as I recall the experiences or when I look through
the photos and videos. Some of the greatest moments for me were the
visits to Petra, Wailing Wall (Western Wall), Nazareth Village and the
Garden Tomb.
Petra
I was amazed by the ancient city of Petra (Rock in Greek). To get to Petra, we
had to walk through walls of red rocks (SIQ) in a rocky terrain. The scenery was
beautiful as I could see the changes in the colours of the rocks at different angles
of light. This was one of the first physically demanding hike for me. The lesson I
learned from this site, as per our devotion that evening by Pastor Clement, is to
trust the right Rock and this Rock is Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4).
Wailing Wall (Western Wall)
When we reached the Wailing Wall, I saw many Orthodox women praying
passionately before the wall. I came to understand later that they were praying
for the coming Messiah. But to us, the Messiah, which is the Lord Jesus Christ,
has already come and the prophesy has been fulfilled. It saddens me that the
Jews have rejected Jesus as the Messiah, just as some of our loved ones have
also rejected Christ as their Saviour and I ought to pray for them earnestly.
Nazareth Village, the Potter’s House
The visit to the Potter’s House reminded me that life can be hard at times but we
have to remember that we are in the hands of our Lord. Our Lord is a good Potter
and He knows how to shape us. Sometimes, we can feel the pressure like the
clay or sometimes we feel like we are in the fire when things are hard. At the end
of the process, in the hands of God, if we allow Him to shape us, we will be a
beautiful and useful vessel. He had placed me in a special furnace which is the
fire of life and turned me into a strong vessel. I realised that God allowed me
to be diagnosed with cancer because He was molding me in a certain shape,
which could be better for me or that He has a better plan for me. So I need to
depend on Him fully, like clay to a potter. Isaiah 64:8, ‘…. O LORD, thou art
our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy
hand.’ I would not complain or resist as I need to be soft and to be molded easily.
Jeremiah 18:6, ‘…. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand ….’
Garden Tomb
We entered the Garden Tomb whereby we believe that Jesus was buried there
and rose again on the third day. John 11:25, ‘….. I am the resurrection, and the
life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.’ Pastor
Clement gave a devotion from Luke 9:23, where I am reminded to always
remember how Christ had suffered for us and so I have to fully surrender my all
to follow Him daily and to look to Him at all times with the right heart. It was a
privilege to partake the Lord’s Supper at the Garden Tomb to conclude the visit.
I had a blessed time and we returned home safely. It was indeed a memorable
trip together with the other pilgrims, with the Lord watching over us throughout
this pilgrimage. Praise the Lord for His help as we know, ‘with God all things
are possible’ Matthew 19:26.
Finally, I want to thank God for Pastor Clement and Sister Yu Jie who have
worked hard in the planning of the trip, and the love and concern showered on
us, therefore making this trip unforgettable and thoroughly enjoyable!
“Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be,
and it shall be well with thee.”
(Ps. 128:1-2)