View of the Old City from Dominus Flevit Church on the Mount of Olives

Introduction

Please feel free to leave comments at the bottom.

Two years ago, I received an invitation from Louisville Theological Seminary to apply for a funded, continuing education study/pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Sadly, I wasn't able to attend. After speaking to the Reverend Allen Hilton last year, I applied again and learned during my sabbatical that I was accepted for this year's continuing education pilgrimage. I will be traveling with 22 other pastors and two professors to the Holy Land from June 18 to July 2. To prepare for this trip, I have 11 books to read and one map to help learn my way around.

While there, we will study at the major religious sites, dialogue with Israeli-Palestinian relation liaisons, participate in digs, worship in centuries-old churches, mosques and temples, and reflect on the convergences of faith, tradition and conflict.

I would like to invite you to participate in this study pilgrimage with me. I will set up a station near our kiosk for you to write prayers I can deliver and insert in the Wailing Wall (the only remaining part of the second temple). As a way to help a church library in Bethlehem, there is a list of books at the kiosk that you can purchase for the library.

I will be bringing back a rock for the church so we can place it on our communion table to support the peace effort in the Middle East. Upon my return, I would like to share my learning with you all in the Sunday Forum, a Plymouth U class, and a small-group discussion on the fragile Israeli-Palestinian relationship. Please keep me in your prayers for this enriching and educational spiritual pilgrimage.

Sunday before pilgrimage (6/14/09)

In less than 3 days, I will be traveling to Jerusalem for the first time in my life. For as long as I have been a follower of Christ, and especially as an ordained pastor, the desire to experience, smell, taste, walk, touch, and just live in a land where Jesus once called home has always been burning inside me. Now, finally after all these years, I am finally able to go. Yet I go with so many concerns with what I am leaving behind. I am leaving behind my family, wife, and 2 sons. I am leaving behind a congregation in transition. I am leaving behind who I am now, because I know not what may transform me when I walk as a Christian pilgrim in the Holy Land. Fully aware of this possibility, many feelings stir deep within me. Yet soaring above them all is still excitement. I pray to God that the Spirit will walk along me as for the first time in my life, I am to become a pilgrim.

Please see below for the general info of this great company of saints I would be traveling with:

Twenty-two pastors are traveling together from June 18 to July 2 to the land of our faith's beginnings. We will visit, learn, pray, and reflect on the relationship between what we experience there and our vocations at home. This blog will share our day-to-day journey with our friends and family at home. We covet your prayers.Funded through the generosity of the CF Foundation of Atlanta, the pilgrimage is led by the Rev. Dr. Patricia Tull, A.B. Rhodes Professor of Old Testament at LPTS, and the Rev. Dr. David Hester, LPTS's Dean and Harrison Ray Anderson Professor of Ministry.

Travel Days Blog

What is pilgrimage?

Pilgrimage is, described in a proposal written by the Columbia Theological Seminary team, “a journey to visit a holy site as an act of religious devotion in order to deepen faith and clarify a spiritual calling. A pilgrimage is more than a trip.” It has also been described as “a retreat on the move. In this pilgrimage, together with my team of pastors and professors, I will have daily prayer, bible reading, worship, group sharing, journaling, silence, (in this case) blogging, and opportunity to interact with some of the great stories and scenes of Jesus’ ministry.

In this journey, I hope to take a step outside, way outside, the normal routines of life. Furthermore, I hope to deepen my relationship with fellow pilgrims, pastors and professors. In addition, I believe it will offer opportunities to learn deeply about myself, ministry at Plymouth and in general, calling, new insights, and encounter God in unexpected ways.

Finally, in this pilgrimage, I believe the sacred texts will come alive in new and refreshing ways. As MaAfee School of Theology team writes in their proposal, it will become a “geography of prayer” that is engaged with sight, touch, smell, and hearing.

Does this sound like fun to you? It sure does for me. I hope you will journey along side with me through this blog.

Day 1 (first full day)

Today the bible came alive for me! Below are the 4 highlights of my day!

• The cost of discipleship for Peter was larger than we have ever imagined.
• Jesus could have run laps around us and not break a sweat.
• Loaves and fish were the fruits of inspired compassion of Jesus.
• Political archaeology is to dig and find what you want to prove and bury what you don’t anyone else to find.

We are staying at the Pilgerhaus located right next the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Even with a later start, we had a full first day. I simply cannot put into words how inspired I was to see, feel, and wiggle my toes in the Sea of Galilee. Just to imagine this was once the stumping ground of Jesus and his disciples. This was where Jesus fed the thousands with the miracle of the loaves and fish. This was where Jesus walked on water, called Peter, James and John, told them to cast down net even after fishing nothing for all night, pronounced Peter as the head of the church, and fed them breakfast after the resurrection. Furthermore, picturing them walking down through the Valley of Doves down from Nazareth to Galilee, the bible came alive in new and fresh ways for me.

Allow me to just share one of the four things I reflected on this morning. As traditional interpretation would have us pictured Peter as a poor fisherman who weren’t good at fishing. After all, we hear them often mending nets. Peter, when Jesus called him, was a wealthy fisherman and businessman. Due to many intentional planting of trees in Israel, the country is far more lush than it ever was, especially in the biblical time. Therefore, trees were rare commodity in this time of the world. Often time, fishermen would stand by the shores and cast their nets out to catch fish. To catch bigger fish, one must own a boat. Yet owning a boat would have meant that you had certain financial resources that many others didn’t. Peter was one of the very few fishermen with boat. When we visited the Primacy of Peter church where John 21 stories took place, the ancient words came alive to all of us. Peter gave up far more than we could have imagined. Not quite to the extent of Bill Gate’s enormous wealth, but Peter was no small fish in his day. Jesus must had made some impact on him and Peter must been inspired more than we have given him credits. After all, Jesus called Jesus to love him and feed his sheep 3 times. The bare rock where the call was given is now part of a church.

Have we ever considered the cost of our discipleship? Have we ever loved God so much that we would give up everything so to follow God? What would we hold back and why?

View from inside the church where the site of the miracle of loaves and fish took place. The original rock is left open with early Byzantine mosaic tiles around the rock.

Day 2

Mount of Beatitude
Capernaum – Franciscan and Greek Orthodox

Our day today began with a trip to the Mount of Beatitude. Beginning with Matthew 5 and all the way through Matthew 7, Jesus lays out the core teaching of his ministry to the thousands. No one knows for sure which particular hillside Jesus taught from. Yet again, by oral tradition, the location of the famous sermon is determined. Franciscan, after the Crusade and during the Caliph rules, negotiated diligently and sensitively to purchase several key properties. To this day, they are the main keeper of many sacred sites. More on the Franciscans later, for the moment, I just had to ask, “I can clearly see the hill side and understand where Jesus would be staying near the bottom and facing up so to produce the best acoustic. What I like to know is where did Luke get the idea of ‘sermon on the plain?’ And where is this plain?” Several of my colleagues quickly asked me to be quiet and just go with the interpretation from Matthew.

Soon after arrival, we gathered for worship by reading the Sermon on the Mount. The worship leader divided the entire passage into 17 parts so 17 sermonic preachers can read them. Sure enough, each of us, with our particular Christian faith tradition, read the passage out loud. It was attending a worship service that incorporated all the Protestant traditions together. From the flamboyant thunder of an African Methodist Episcopalian voice to the decent and orderly Presbyterian voice, the text came alive before out eyes. It hit home for all of us when one of the 5 pilgrims on this trip whose luggage was lost by the airline read the passage on “do not worry about what you will wear and what you will eat…” This particular pilgrim only has one set of clothing for the last 3 days of our trip. Imagining the crowd that would gather to hear Jesus, we experienced the power of Jesus’ word and teaching.

Our next stop took us to the little city of Capernaum. I cannot tell you how close these major holy sites were. Where we are staying, Pilgerhaus, is right on the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee. Just down the shoreline from us is the holy site of the miracle of the loaves and fish. Further down the shoreline is the site where Jesus called Peter and prepared the breakfast for him after his resurrection. Then up from there on the hill is the Mount of Beatitude. Finally, further down the shoreline is the little village of Capernaum, and there we will find Peter’s own home and the synagogue where Jesus once taught and read the Torah. Other than the site of miracle of the loaves and fish, which is owned and maintained by the Benedictine Order, the Franciscan Order maintains all the rest.

Our pilgrimage guide shared with us an insightful historical and political analysis of the archaeological expedition, or lack of it, of the Franciscan at Capernaum. I filmed the entire sharing, and as soon as I am able to upload it (after conversion and editing), I will have it ready at the end of this entry. For the time being, I learnt how Peter, used his wealth, to support Jesus and his ministry. Yet, as our pilgrimage guide told us, the Franciscan Order only dug up what they wanted to find, Peter’s home, part of the town center, and the synagogue, and they left the rest totally covered up under the ground. Instead of furthering the research and continued the excavation, they stopped and forbid any further research and excavation. The reason was, “we found what we were looking for and we need no go any further.” Right next to this site, across the original wall, the Greek Orthodox Church built a church for their pilgrims and other pilgrims to come after that part of the land was claimed back by the 6 Days War in 1948. Clearly, politics, religions, and personal and national agenda are still alive today.

I like to leave you with a question. The first day was simply incredible. Yet today, it was difficult. Part of me really just wanted to see the hillside that Jesus might have taught. Instead, it was a huge, yet beautiful compound with stunning ground. Our guide told us that in order to keep this ground beautiful, large amount of water was pumped upward everyday, especially in this drought. Secondly, a church was built on the top to remember this event. Why? Was that necessary? Didn’t Jesus refuse Peter’s intent to build three dwellings for him, Moses and Elijah when Jesus transfigured? Lastly, along the same line of previous question, while it was just wonderful to see Peter’s house, it was very difficult to see a church built over it with the center glass floor? Why? Could they not just leave it along? And why stop the digging? What are they afraid to find?

Franciscan Mount of Beautitude.

Synagogue in Capernanum where Jesus once taught. Wow!

Lastly, please see below for the bibliography of my pilgrimage reading:

• David S. Ariel. What Do Jews Believe: The Spiritual Foundations of Judaism
• Armstrong, Karen - Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths. New York: Ballantine, 1997.
• Boys, Mary. Has God Only One Blessing?: Judaism as a Source of Christian Self-Understanding. Paulist Press, 2000.
• Davis, Ellen. Scripture, Culture, and Agriculture: An Agrarian Reading of the Bible. 2009.
• Eck, Diana. Encountering God: A Spiritual Journey from Bozeman to Banaras. Boston: Beacon Press, 2003.
• John Esposito. Islam: The Straight Path (3rd ed, 2005)
• Gershom Gorenberg. The End of Days: Fundamentalism and the Struggle for the Temple Mount. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.
• Hilliard, Alison, and Betty Jane Bailey. Living Stones Pilgrimage. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1999.
• March, Eugene. God’s Land on Loan. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2007.
• Wilken, Robert. The Land Called Holy: Palestine in Christian History and Thought.

Day 3

After 2 days on the land, we spent today on the water. What a great change! For today, water becomes the main theme for us to consider.

We began the day by visiting the “Jesus boat.” Due to the lack of the rain in the last few years and conflicts in the northern water sources for the Sea of Galilee, the Sea of Galilee has dropped below safe level. Two men while walking on the beach discovered ancient nails and after tracing the area, they discovered a first century boat buried deep in the mud. Fight against time and decay, an ingenious and enormous salvage and removal effort launched and eventually successfully re-preserved the boat for generations to marvel. As part of economic and religious attraction (I am being a bit cynical), they named it the “Jesus boat.”

Then from there, we got on a boat and slowly drifted down from the northern shore, around to the east to the ancient site of Beth-saida, and then finally to the southern end. While on the boat, we read the passage where Jesus calmed the storm. We gained a new perspective of how close these holy sites were in relation to one another. Capernaum, where Jesus taught and Peter resided, was no more than a mile east along the shoreline from where Jesus performed the miracles of feeding. Then up the hill from there, Jesus gave his sermon on the mount. From the water view, we can see how Jesus traveled up and down and across the Sea of Galilee.

Finally, we went to the southern end of the Sea where Israeli tour ministry has blocked up both end of the Jordan River so to create an artificial depth for the river. Why? So that Christians pilgrims can go there and be baptized or re-affirm their baptism. I was stunned to see this human made memorial of Jesus’ baptism and huge enterprise that was created to accommodate this desire to be baptized in the Jordan River.

Jesus began his ministry at Capernaum for a perfect reason. It was situated at the crossroad of the main Roman road that ran from the north to the south and to the west. On top of that, it was right on the Sea of Galilee. Water, though portrayed as a form of chaos in the creation story, was vital for all things. It was vital for life especially in this desert like and barren terrain. It was vital for religious practices for purification and sanctification for the Jews. It was vital for renewal and new life for the Christians. It has been the very cause of conflicts as old as time. Water is the very commodity that plays into the current day conflicts between the Israeli and Syria and Jordan. Water, as vital as it is, as often as it has given us life, is being misused and mismanaged for further conflicts. From the north, Israel currently controlled two out of three water sources (reclaimed from the 1948 war from Syria) that feed into the Sea of Galilee. By blocking the southern end, it not only created this artificial “Jesus’ baptismal memorial” but also prevents a single drop of water to go into Jordan. Not only land is being fought for, but also water is another reason for wars. Isn’t this just sad?

As pilgrim of this land, I was beginning to develop further disillusionment with the trip until one of the professors invited us to look into ourselves and asked why were we bothered? What about us, inside of us, that was triggered? Why were we pointing finger at the politics of this land and not looking deep inside the politic of our hearts?

The first century boat found in the Sea of Galilee.

Day 4

Can you imagine what Jesus was like when he was a little boy? Several years ago, NBC produced a mini series called “The Boy Jesus.” In this mini series, the main advertising scene was Jesus healing a dead bird in his hands while his friends surrounded him with excitement and awe, while Mary stood in the far background watching the whole event. Can you just picture what he was like?

Today we visited the Roman city of Sepphoris where Herod made his capital for his Judean kingdom under the Roman Imperial rule. This major city was located 4 miles away from the little backwater town called Nazareth. Biblical archaeologists have surmised that the first family likely made several trips from their little town to the big city for work, for supplies, for worship at the synagogue, and for community. Jesus as a boy likely ran through the streets in this city with his friends. Very likely, Joseph, the carpenter, or better translated as stone worker, must had sought work in the big city. What strikes in you when you consider Joseph, Mary and Jesus might very likely had roamed through this city?

The city continued to thrive to the late 5th century. Due to the dry climate, much of its antiquity mosaic floors survived and as the Roman power weakened, the Byzantine power strengthened, the mosaic floors also reflected the shift of powers. Archaeologists have discovered several layers dating from the 5th to the 4th and 2nd and 1st century.

From there, we traveled to the city of Nazareth. Through the centuries, the prominence shifted. Nazareth is now teeming with a thriving population of 175K people while Sepphoris is zero, unless you count the archaeologists and daily supply of pilgrims.

In its center, the Annunciation Church sits prominently with its high central steeple/dome. A basilica now stand high above the original cave of Mary, the supposed spot where Angel Gabriel visited Mary and called her “The Favored One.” On this location, a church was built, according to an unnamed pilgrim and her journal. Later, the Crusaders also built a church. Now, the basilica stands over all the previous structures. The Greek Orthodox Church has its own interpretation of the annunciation event at a spring near by and thus it commemorates the occasion with its own church.

Again, one of the professors with offered us a reflection question at the beginning of the day. He asked, what sacrifices have you had to make in your call? Mary’s sacrifice to the call of God began with a scandalous birth and, in the end, endured the death of her son. What sacrifices, what challenges we, as pastors, have all encountered, and overcome in answering God’s call to ministry? My question for those of you who are reading this blog is this: what sacrifice(s) have you endured to the call of being a Christian disciple?

Mary's cave where Angel Gabriel called her to be the mother of God and now the inner part of the Annunciation Church.

Here are the pilgrims!

Day 5

“Are you shopping for a new god?” I said to my two professors as they walked up to the ancient promenade of Caesarea Philippi.

“Your god is not working for you?” My professors said to me.

Today we traveled to the Golan Height. Now, you know I will make my share of political analysis, but hold on, let me share a spiritual reflection first. Historically, it was called Paneas, naming after the god Pan because of the natural spring that flourished the valley below. Then for a short period of time, it was called Caesarea Philippi during Jesus time when the son of Herod, Philip, made the city his headquarter. The Arabic name for this beautiful spring is Banias. At the height of this city under Philip during Jesus time, this was the supposed location where Peter professed the Lordship of Jesus in Matthew 16:13.

In a time when a person can walk down the main promenade and literally shop for a new god or go worship one god to the next, Jesus asked his disciples “who do you all say I am?”

When we have many gods, god of wealth, god of comfort, god of health, god of fame, god of victory, god of relationship, god of ____ (you can fill in the blank), how many gods do we worship? How many gods do we follow? And if the god we worship were not working to our liking, would we go shopping for a new god? What would you and I say to Jesus if He asks you or me “who would you say I am?”

In this picture, you can imagine what the main promenade may have looked like ... 7 temples, 7 choices!

Switch the gear a bit … as we traveled upward to the Israeli “controlled” territory of Golan Height from the Sea of Galilee, nearly all of us started to ask, “How is this related to the Israeli Palestinian situation?” As you know, through the 6 days war of 1967, Israel took back the Golan Height from Syria and thus completed the biblical territory under King David’s rule from “Dan to Beershiba.” Dan was one of the 12 tribes of Israel and its territory was in the Golan Height. Furthermore, by taking this land (back or not), Israel also gained control of the main water spring of the Jordan River, thus gave Israel control of 2 out of 3 water springs to the Jordan River. Land and water are once again the cause for warfare.

In this “controlled” territory, we witnessed a land rich with agricultural growth and potential. One can easily understand why this is indeed the disputed land between Syria and Israel. As a foreigner to this land, I am learning to be slow to judgment and quick to learn and understand. Yet I find it very hard to agree to the hostile take over of this land of one nation from the other nation. Yet, we from the west, while enjoying the privilege and power, must not forget our contribution to this conflict. After all, see below the picture of the Israeli solider guarding the boarder with all the arms we have supplied them with. By the way, we also made money from selling those arms to them.

Israeli solider guarding the boarder and keeping an eye on their Syrian neighbors.

Day 6 Blog

Today is the first of our two days that we get to choose to visit previous sites or choose couple nearby sites. My co-compatriots, Rev. Ruth and Jack and myself, decided that we would take a bus to Tiberias and rent a car to visit Mt. Tabor, the traditional site of Jesus’ transfiguration and then to the 6000 years old city of Bet-She’an.

Why Mt. Tabor? Well, Jack is a pastor of Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church and also a police chaplain. He simply just had to go to this site. On the top of this mountain, oh after 13 hairpin (scary) turns, we found a wall separating the Franciscan and Greek Orthodox churches. According to Luke 9:23-33, Jesus took Peter, James and John up to a mountain and there he revealed his true form to them. This crucial passage validates the duality of Christ. I have several beautiful pictures to share with you. Sadly, either we miss the time or for whatever reasons, the Greek Orthodox Church was closed. We couldn’t get it. I thought about climbing up the wall and just look over, but I don’t think you need to read about me being arrested by the Israeli police.

The Franciscan church. 

Transfiguration mosaic.
The Greek Orthodox Church.

Afterward, we had the choice to go up north to visit Zefat and learn about the Jewish mystic prayer Kabbalah and an artist community or we go south to a 6000 years old living city of Bet-She-an and the Roman ruins. We chose the latter due to time and travel distance. Again I have several pictures to show you. In its tel, over 5 civilizations have been there. It dates back to the Canaanite era, the Egyptian era, the Roman era, and to today. Today’s main town center resides directly over the old Roman town. Due to its natural springs and location off the main north and south Roman roads, it became a thrilling city of both cultural and strategic importance. Sadly, due to earthquakes, the city never bounced back to its former glory after the 7^th century.

The ruins of Bet-She'an.
Roman public toilets

The Sea of Galilee in the late afternoon.

Enjoy the pictures.

Day 7 Blog

What do all the apocalyptic texts all have in common? Destruction, rebellious people and angry God, judgment, death, fire, war, famine, and disease. Yet as much as churches that emphasize on apocalyptic and end time theology, one thing they often neglect, which is the most important theme, HOPE, as depicted in Daniel and Revelation! Daniel wants to tell his people, yes you have been rebellious, God is angry, and destruction is coming, but most of all, HOPE in your God for God will deliver you! Revelation, again, is the same in John’s interpretation and writing. The four horsemen are coming, but God will deliver you and the New Jerusalem will have no tears! Sadly, end time sensationalists often forget the most important point.

Today, we concluded our time in the Galilean hills and lake of Jesus’ life and ministry and traveled downward to Jerusalem by visiting Megiddo and Caesarea. Again like Bet-She’an, Megiddo sits on the major crossroad. Unlike any other cities in Israel, Megiddo had been built, conquered, destroyed, and rebuilt 25 times. Destruction was very part of the story, but hope and resilience were the highlight. Solomon also built his military post here. The archaeological excavations have revealed layer upon layer of civilizations dating back to Canaanite era. John, in the book of revelation, took on the theme of destruction and hope and prophesized that the end time would take place at Megiddo, the final Armageddon.

As we continued further south, we headed toward the Mediterranean Sea where the ancient port city of Caesarea. With the grand vision of Herod, Caesarea, naming after his Caesar Augustus, Caesarea was the largest port next to Alexandria. From that city, Paul sailed toward the new land and launched his ministry to the Gentiles. From this port, Pontius Pilate made his home and left his mark as a historical person and governor. From this port, eventually Crusader made one of their last stand against the Muslim fighters. Based on archaeological excavation, this city, in the height of its commerce, was an incredible city with towering lighthouse, enormous hand made barriers and ports, and connected Israel to the rest of the Mediterranean Sea. Finally after several crusaders left their marks of destruction and eventual earthquakes, the city was reduced to a small city until modern time. 

Herod's lighthouse and home, well, what's left of it. 

Pontius Pilate was here!

Day 11 Blog

I can't tell you how hard the last 3 days has been for me. Words, images, ideas, sounds, and visions are still swirling in my head. My heart is broken by the security walls that Israeli government has chosen to put up against the Palestinians. My faith is challenged by the humiliating suffering of Christ as we walk through the stations of the cross. My mind is inundated with images, and visions of cruelty, injustice, disgust, division, and finally together with hope. My body is exhausted by the overwhelming  heat and travel. Yet, over all, I am so grateful for Trish and David (our professors on this trip) and every single saint on this 2009 Holy Land Pilgrimage. I am inspired by the 3 speakers that have imparted their wisdom, passion, and activism with us. I am delighted by the tour guides and tour bus drivers for their knowledge, humor, and generous hospitality. Thank you all. I look forward to slowly peel back each layers of this incredible and transformative experience. I await eagerly to continue this path of change with my fellow pilgrims and to see what God has in stored for the next phase of my walk with the Living and Holy God. 

I plan on circling back and review each of those three days. For now, here is the general outline. 

Day 8 - Our first day in the Holy city of Jerusalem. We are staying right outside the "New Gate" of the Old City. My first day began with the morning run in the Old City where I accidentally found the Church of Holy Sepulchre security check point for the Western Wall, check point for the Dome of the Rock, tower of David and all four Christian, Arab, Jewish, and Armenians quarters. It was our first day through the stations of the cross and our first day in the Church of Holy Sepulchre. It was sensory, spiritual, mental, and emotional overload. 

Day 9 - With the overload, reflection and clarity, thank God, follow with the first of our three speakers. Hanah, who works in the Jewish Christian relation office, came and shared her wisdom and insight with us about the unimaginable challenging of the Christian groups in the Church of Holy Sepulchre and the challenges of the Arab Christians with Jews. Then in the evening, Dr. Mustafa, professor in Islamic studies, came and enlightened us about the meaning of pilgrimage in the Muslim practices and understandings. 

Day 10 - Then the whole trip hit the wall with our visit to the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. There we witnessed, and experienced the $3.5 billion dollars "security walls" that the government has put up. By the way, some of it came from your pocket (more on that later), but with heavy, heavy heart, we visited the church. Then we met the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. of the Palestinian Christian. I will say more there too. 

Today, we visited the Masada, the fortress of Herod and site of the unyielding spirits of the Jewish rebels against their Roman oppressors. Then we visited the famous Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Finally, in the unbearable heat of 105 degree, we spent 45 minutes in the Dead Sea. Let me tell you, it tasted terrible. 

All and all, the last few days have been, I don't have words yet. For now, allow me to share a few pictures. 

On this spot, where the star is, is the "traditional understanding" of the birth spot of Christ. The God who would empty himself/herself to be among us. 

Just the wall and the security post that divide this Holy Land into swiss cheese. 

The Church of Holy Sepulchre.