FEBC’s 17th PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND
Mrs Jemima Khoo
The Holy Land Pilgrimage was started by my parents – the Rev and Mrs Timothy Tow – in June 1983, and I was privileged to have participated in that inaugural Pilgrimage. They led a total of 12 Pilgrimages. Since 2008, my husband – Pastor Jeffrey Khoo – and I have been continuing on this good tradition of visiting the land where Jesus walked. This year, 30 years on, from September 4th to 14th 2013, FEBC went on its 17th Pilgrimage. A total of 39 pilgrims from six countries and 11 churches went on this trip.
The Holy Land Pilgrimage is not just like any other tour we go on. We were not there just for sightseeing. Rather, we were embarking on a spiritual journey to draw close to the Lord and learn from Him, to seek His glory and be a blessing to His people. And travelling together as a Christian family, we also have to bear one another’s burdens. With this in mind, the pilgrims went with prayerful hearts and hearts of thanksgiving.
One spiritual lesson I learned is from the walls of Jericho. Hebrews 11:30 says, “By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.” The Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years and had to learn many lessons of faith. Under Joshua, they were to conquer Jericho, not with great weaponry but simply by faith, to do what God told them to do. By marching once around the city for six days and then seven times on the seventh day, the Lord caused the walls to fall flat and the people went up into Jericho and took the city. We may go through many trials in life with large “walls” looming in front of us but if we live by faith, trust in God and do His will, He will grant us the victory.
Another spiritual lesson I learned is from the lookout point of the City of David in ancient Jerusalem. King David conquered the small Jebusite city and made it his capital—the City of David. The ancient city of Jerusalem was built on a hill which was surrounded by mountains. “They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever” (Ps 125:1, 2). Standing at this lookout point, we saw Mount Zion which still is and has not been removed. And as I saw the mountains surrounding us, I am reminded of God’s presence with His people.
A highlight of our visit to the Holy Land is the Garden Tomb which is empty for “He is not here: for he is risen” (Matt 28:6). We are reminded of the Lord’s love for us in dying for us and rising again so that we might have eternal life. Since we practically had the whole Garden to ourselves because there were not that many visitors that morning, we read and meditated on the Scriptures, sang hymns, shared testimonies, and partook of the Lord’s Supper with much peace in tranquil surroundings.
Each place had a special lesson to be learned but there are too many to share. We visited Bethlehem, the place where Christ was born and travelled up to Galilee where Christ ministered to many. We saw the Mount of Beatitudes, and the traditional site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. We went up all the way north to visit Tel Dan, the site where Jeroboam built a golden calf. Then going south, we stopped by Caesarea, a great city built by King Herod. It was here that the Apostle Paul testified before King Agrippa. Back in Jerusalem, we visited Saint Peter in Gallicantu, the place where Peter denied Christ thrice. We saw the Temple Mount which is Mount Moriah, where Abraham sacrificed his son Isaac. We walked in the Old City and saw how the Jews prayed for Messiah’s coming at the Western Wall.
May they realise that Messiah has already come and is coming back again. We stood on the Mount of Olives, the place where Christ ascended to heaven and will one day return, and split the Mount into two halves (Zech 14:4).
We were also in Jordan, which is part of the Holy Land. There we visited the red- rock city of Petra which is traditionally biblical Sela, capital of Edom. The Nabateans who inhabited the place in time past had superb engineering genius in carving beautiful facades into the rock. In the last days, some believe that this area will be used once again as a mighty fortress for those fleeing from the Antichrist. Besides Petra, we went to Mount Nebo, the place from which Moses viewed the Promised Land.
Despite the warm weather, the Lord blessed us with delicious food and fine accommodations and a superb Jewish guide well versed in the history of his country and land. Amongst the brethren, there was warm Christian fellowship and we had a most blessed time. The 11 days slipped by too quickly. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps 133:1)
Although we had a couple of minor incidents of a lost luggage and a lost diamond ring, both were eventually found and all worked out well by the grace of God. We are thankful that everyone arrived back safely in Singapore with much thanksgiving in our hearts to the Lord. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
True Life BPC’s 10th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service will be held next Lord’s Day, October 6, 2013. Please come early and be seated by 9.55 am. The Service will start punctually at 10 am (not the usual 10.30 am). The choirs from Church and FEBC will sing, and pastor will speak on “Our Journey of Faith.” A special commemorative CD entitled “He Being Dead Yet Speaketh” containing the sermons and writings and many other valuable items of our late founding pastor—the Rev Dr Timothy Tow—will be given out freely.
To God be the glory, great things He has done! Let us rejoice in Him!
