A Little Thought from Jerusalem

Our pilgrimage tour group spent Christmas with two very different people that, had they not known Jesus, would likely be mortal enemies. We celebrated Christmas Eve with the Messianic Jewish community of Yad HaShmona. The food was great, and the cellebration was excellent, particularly as it featured a homemade film made by the moshav's "treasures", the children. I was so impressed I plan to volunteer with them later this year. The next day, Christmas Day, we celebrated a service with a group of Palestinian Lutherans. It was amazing to hear the Lutheran service spoken in Arabic, and we also got to know the pressures faced by Palestinian Christians, both from the Palestinians and the Israelis.

So, one day we celebrated with Jewish people, the next with Palestinians. What was most amazing was that these two peoples are today supposed to be mortal enemies, but are united by one commonality: their faith in Jesus Christ (although they probably have never met each other). And what was even more amazing was that not only did their faith in the Prince of Peace gave them brotherhood, I also got to meet them on the celebration of His birth. This helped to make it my most memorable and profound Christmas so far.

The following is an excerpt from my travel journal entry on Christmas Day (somewhat edited to make it readable).

Christmas Day. Christmas celebration with Palestinian Lutherans, a group so persecuted and rather impoverished. This was my first Lutheran service. Very memorable. It was similar to Catholic liturgy but with noticable doctrinal differences.

This is interesting. Last night we communed with Jews, today with Palestinian Arabs, each the traditional enemy of the other. But in a very essential way they are united by one: Yeshua HaMashiach, Yeshu AlMassih - JESUS.

And to observe this on Christmas of all time is something so special. It is worth more than all the money in the world. Jews and Arabs, usually an association linked to one of the most fundamental conflicts in the world today. But this Christmas they are united in the hope that the Prince of Peace has brought.