Msg #2313 Visiting Israel HS#03 Journal Excerpt

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

While Pastor Rice and Bev are touring Israel with Pastor Lee Pickett from March 16^th – March 31^st, here is an entry from their journal of last years trip: (view the whole journal by visiting our website and clicking “Journaling a Preacher's Pilgrimage to Israel”)

From Half Shekle Journal Entry #03: As we gathered at the north end of the Temple Mount our guide Joe, and then our guide, Pastor Charlie, addressed what was once standing in the empty lot before us. To address Jerusalem's vulnerability from the north a citadel was placed on a rocky plateau just outside the north west corner of the Temple Area. “The fortress served as a headquarters for the Roman army in Jerusalem… The close proximity of its high towers to the temple complex enabled Roman guards to keep watch on any disturbances that developed. Herod had built underground passage ways that allowed Roman detachments to enter the compound if deemed necessary.”¹

This fortress was used for the Roman's judgment hall and Mark 15:16 says of Christ on trial, “And the soldiers lead him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they called together the whole band.” An old Arabic proverb says, “He that speaks well turns ears into eyes.” As Pastor Charlie spoke we could see the Roman Praetorium² standing in the open lot before us. We could see Jesus in the hands of the mocking soldiers; we could hear Pontius Pilot say to the crowd, “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ (Messiah)? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified” (Mat.27:22).

It only took a moment really; mere minutes of our time standing at the north end of the Temple Mount. The Muslims had made sure that we had no Bibles to open. Our guide Joe, with just a few worded brushstrokes had painted the towers of a Roman citadel, filled with soldiers, and housing a judgment hall called Praetorium. Our guide Pastor Chalie had made that hall echo with God‘s word, Pontius Pilot’s words, and soldiers with a purple robe and crown of thorns. Our guide, the Holy Spirit of God now flooded my mind with holy words: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2Cor.5:20). (Ref also Isa.53:6, Jhn.3:17-18, 36,5:24). It is a horrible thing that man did in that judgment hall, that Praetorium that once stood only a few feet from where we now listened to Pastor Charlie.

The law was given in 1492 BC and for 1,500 years man was tried and tested for his ability to keep that law. He was supposed, by keeping the law, to come through the dark veil and stand in the presence of a holy God. He failed, man was, and is incapable of keeping God's law, incapable of standing in God's presence through law. In this judgment hall, the verdict for man is forever in; here man condemned the only begotten Son of God to death on a cruel cross. That guilty verdict for man cries out, “the heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked…” (Jer.17:9). … “As it is written there is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. … For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:10-11, 23). ...

The trial whereby man must keep the law of God is past. That dispensation, or test of stewardship, is ended, that case cannot be reopened by any religion. A new dispensation is now opened and springs on the world as a new dawn. “For by grace are ye saved through faith” (Eph.2:8-9, 7).... We somberly walked by the Praetorium which stood in our minds eye, and began our departure from the Temple Mount. It is a marvelous thing to be saved by grace.

Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank you, Lord, for making me whole.

Thank you, Lord, for giving to me, Thy Great Salvation, So Rich and Free.

An Essay for week #13 - Mar 26, 2023

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs230326.mp3

A Holy Land Tour Journaled at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/israel22

1see www.christianevidences.org accessed 11/22/2022

2Pictures of the Roman Praetorium by the author at the Israel Museum

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