Anchor Your Life

Together We Can Make a Difference

Marji "Mike" Kruger

Watch and Pray

By

Our location is the house of Caiphas, the High Priest during Jesus’ time. From where I’m sitting, I’m looking east to the Mount of Olives. To my left is the Temple Mount – I can see the Dome of the Rock through the Southern Wall.

We are sitting in the courtyard. I expected the courtyard to be large, but in fact it is realitively small. Our group of 150 are tight in the area. I’m guessing that it’s maybe 45 by 30 feet. This is where Peter denied Christ 3 times.

Peter's Denial

When the cock crowed, Luke tells us that Jesus “turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, ‘Before a cock crows today, you will deny Me three times.'” (Luke 22:61). Peter had been asleep in the garden. He had not watched and prayed.

Roosters

How about you…are you keeping a watch through prayer? or are you asleep?

Share

Garden of Gethsemane

By

Garden of Gethsemane
Garden of Gethsemane

When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, into which He Himself entered, and His disciples. (NAS) John 18:1

Garden of Gethsemane
View of the Temple Mount from the Garden of Gethsemane. It overlooks the Kidron Valley towards the temple during Jesus days.
Olive Tree
Olive Tree

The larger the trunk of an olive tree the older it is. Some of the trees in this garden would have been in the garden during Jesus time.

More pictures

Share

Path of a Triumphant Entry!

By

Path down to the Mt of Olives
Path down to the Mt of Olives

This path down the Mt of Olives is steep and winds down the mount. It was a path similar to this that Jesus rode on a donkey on His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Conquering kings rode a white horse…kings looking for peace rode a donkey. He is our Prince of Peace!

Reflections on Jesus Triumphant Entry

View pictures at: Israel Pictures
Anchor Your Life website

Share

Jerusalem

By

Jerusalem
The view that I have overlooking Jerusalem

This is wild! I am sitting on a rock at Hebrew University writing all of you as I am overlooking Jerusalem. From where I am sitting I have a clear view of the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount. I can see the walls that surrounded the city. Below the wall is the Kidron Valley which Jesus crossed before He went into the Garden of Gethsemane.

I’m sure that I have no idea what I will experience here, but I am looking forward to what I see here and what I learn. I will keep you up to date!

View additional pictures

Share

Hungry?

By

We are at a site on the Sea of Galilee that is similar to where Jesus fed the 5000. The following is an except from a Thought for the Day

The crowds had gathered. There were 5000 men in the crowd, conservatively figuring, there was somewhere between 10-15,000 people, including the women and children, possibly as many as 25,000, who had come to see and hear Jesus. Jesus did not have to advertise to attract a huge crowd. Word had spread that His teaching was refreshing after all the rules that their religious leaders had piled on them. And word had spread around the countryside about this Man from God who heals the sick, casts demons out of the possessed, cleanses lepers, heals the paralyzed, restores sight to the blind.

All during the day Jesus and His 12 disciples gave themselves to the crowd, because the crowd was hungry. . . they were hungry for healing. . .hungry for help. . .and hungry for hope. Are you hungry for the healing of your broken body? Healing of your broken marriage? Healing of your broken family? Healing of your broken dreams? Healing of your broken life? Healing of a broken friendship?

Are you hungry for help with your finances? with your work situation? with your chaotic life? Are you hungry for hope? Hope to find the meaning of life? Hope to fill the emptiness inside? Hope in finding Love that is uncompromised and unfailing?

Eventually the crowds become hungry for food. Jesus miraculously feeds this huge crowd with just 5 small loaves of bread and 2 small fish. All the people eat and are satisfied. Jesus took control of the situation and met their need. Why not let Jesus have control of your situation and allow Him to meet your need?

“That crowd of Jews would have followed Christ at that moment because He was giving them what they wanted [bread], and they wished to use Him for their plans and dreams and purposes. That attitude to Christ still lingers in men’s minds. We would like Christ’s gifts without Christ’s Cross; we would like to use Christ instead of allowing Him to use us. ” … William Barclay (1907-1978), The Gospel of John (Vol. 1)

Are you a half-hearted follower of Jesus? When have you followed Him because it’s convenient? Because you think you will have a life of ease? Because you think you will receive what you want? How do you “use” Jesus for your own advancement or purposes? Would God say you are more eager to use Him than to be used by Him? We all have trouble dying to ourselves, why not ask Jesus to answer the following prayer: “Lord, may you become greater in my life. . . and may I become less.” (John 3:31)

Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger

Israel Pictures

Share

© 1997-2024 Anchor Your Life All Rights Reserved