Why Christians Should Go To Israel: Seeing the Bible in Living Color
- Grace Harvey
- Feb 21
- 7 min read
As a Christian, the Bible is our guide to life and godliness.
We know from John that the Word was God—and that this same Word took on flesh in the person of Jesus (John 1:1, 14). Paul tells us that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training, equipping the servant of God for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16). Peter likewise teaches that Scripture provides everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
The significance of Scripture in the Christian life is of no debate. Yet, Biblical narratives can still feel distant or even fairytale-ish.
In 2 Peter, Peter writes, “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). This statement reveals that even those closer to the time of Jesus could struggle to feel the weight and nearness of biblical events. Peter reminds his audience that these are not fabricated fairy tales, but historical accounts of events that truly occurred.
As modern American Christians, we are far removed from the historical, cultural, and geographical world of Scripture. This distance can make the Bible feel abstract, but don’t lose heart... there is a way to bridge the gap: visiting the Holy Land and seeing the Bible in living color.
During our year at seminary, the Lord graciously provided the means for my husband Kevin and me to participate in a study trip to Jordan and Israel.
Seeing the land in which the biblical story unfolded... walking where Jesus walked and ministered... was awe-inspiring. Though we left Israel only two weeks ago, I can already see how this experience has forever changed the way I read and understand Scripture.
Visiting Israel bridged the gap between the Bible and my lived faith.
Though nearly impossible to choose, here are a few sites that left a lasting impression.
THE BATTLE OF LACHISH: God's Sovereignty in Impossible Victory (ISAIAH 36-37).
I’ll admit, in all of Scripture, the Old Testament prophets are the books I have spent the least amount of time in. As we have deeply studied the pages of these books in seminary, I realized I’ve been depriving myself of rich demonstrations of God’s character, covenant faithfulness, and sovereignty. A passage that I once took for granted ended up being one of the most impactful sites in Israel.
When we arrived at this site, we were immediately ushered into a cinema where they played a 10-minute portrayal of this battle in Isaiah 36–37. Sennacherib, then king of Assyria, along with his army, had fortified and taken nearly every city of Judah. He had proven powerful in his endeavor, and from a human perspective, Jerusalem was going to be next beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Tensions were high, and King Hezekiah called out to the prophet Isaiah for insight. From God, Isaiah declared, “Do not be afraid because of the words you have heard… I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.” A promise of victory.
I imagined the story unfolding. The Assyrians approaching and besieging the city of Jerusalem.
No defense that Hezekiah and the Israelites had on their own could protect them from the impending destruction.
But God.
The Angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrians. Sennacherib departed and returned home to Nineveh, where he was struck down by the sword. Israel remained.
A passage that once felt sterile “then they fought a battle, God protected them, and so on” was brought to life. The reality of the miracle, the tension of the siege, the anticipation... it was brought to life.
"Some trust in chariots and horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." Psalm 20:7
God’s faithfulness to protect Hezekiah and save Jerusalem against all odds, and Hezekiah’s faithfulness to call upon the Lord through Isaiah rather than rely on his own strength, beautifully harmonize both sovereignty and responsibility.
Trusting in Yahweh for deliverance.
This was true faith and a demonstration of God’s power.
We ought to fully trust in Him, not in what feels logical or possible.
As I stood at the site of this lesson, I grew in deeper love for the Lord and for the Old Testament.
THE MT. OF OLIVES: Where Glory Departed
& Will Return.
This site brought the emotional impact that I was hoping to experience on this trip to the Holy Land. The Mt. of Olives is crucial to the Biblical Narrative, being the spot where the Glory Cloud departed from Israel, where Jesus wept over the hard heartedness of Jerusalem, and where He sat and cried out the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Earlier this day we had studied the detailed model of the Old City at the Israel Museum, tracing the layout of ancient Jerusalem. But nothing prepared me for seeing it with my own eyes from this perspective... the stone walls glowing in the sunlight, the city rising from layers of history. So many cities from this era exist only as rubble. Yet Jerusalem still stands. God's protection of His covenant people, despite their rejection of Him.
We reflected on Ezekiel 8-11… the departure of the glory cloud from the temple. I pictured the temple where the Dome of the Rock now sits and my heart was saddened. The glory of Yahweh filling it. Then the heartbreaking vision... the glory cloud lifting, lingering at the gate, moving to the edge of the city… and finally resting over the Mount of Olives before departing.
God had been patient with Israel. He had sent prophets, blessings, warnings, pleas. Yet their hearts remained hardened and judgment eventually came. Seeing the city while reading those chapters made the sorrow of that moment feel tangible. The departure of glory was not impulsive, it was just. My heart ached for the Jewish people today who God is still patiently waiting for.
As somber as this reflection was, I was simultaneously filled with hope. Not only is the Mt. of Olives where glory departed, but it is where Christ will return (Zechariah 14:4). I pictured the moment when He will again descend on this mountain! He will come over Bozrah (Isaiah 63), where we visited in Jordan, on His way here. I could picture it, this crucial eschatalogical anticipation of the Christian faith, now having
been there. What a blessed scene that will one day be. There is so much hope amidst the sorrow. Hallelujah.
The Mt. of Olives is also where the garden of Gethsemane is. I had all of the emotions sitting here and taking in the moment where Jesus cried to the father "“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” A heart that we seek to model in all facets of life as believers.
There are two debated sites for Christ’s crucifixion: Gordon’s Garden and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. As we walked and listened, the biblical evidence for one unfolded... the proximity to the city, the ancient quarry, the Gospel detail that Jesus was buried in a new tomb near the place of crucifixion. When you stand inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, that detail suddenly feels incredibly concrete. This is where Jesus truly died and rose again.
When we approached the church, I expected a hushed reverence but was met with a very different scene. It is chaotic, under perpetual noisy construction. It’s divided between traditions of Roman Catholic and Orthodox, they were quite literally having opposing services and singing over each other. I was actually quite bothered by the scene. This is the most sacred place in the world. The place where our Lord Jesus was crucified. The place where He was buried and rose again. It deserves reverence that reflects the magnitude of what happened there.
Putting my dissatisfaction with the commemoration aside, I stepped in and looked at a metal chain that marked exactly where the cross had been.
This is the place, and all of my other thoughts faded. I felt mezemerized at the sight. This is where it happened... the crux of my faith, where Jesus was buried and rose again. I was in pure awe and reverence.
To stop at these three locations feels blunt. There were so many others that brought Scripture to life with depth and understanding, but as the author of Hebrews says... "And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—
From Faith to Sight: Why Should Christians Go To Israel
You don’t have to visit Israel to be a faithful Christian. Scripture is powerful on its own, and God can teach and transform us anywhere.
But standing where the events of the Bible actually unfolded: walking the streets of Jerusalem, standing on the Mount of Olives, taking in the airspace of the cross at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and witnessing sites like Lachish, changes something deep in your soul. Faith moves from abstract knowledge to tangible reality. The stories you’ve read your whole life suddenly have color. This is why Christian's should go to Israel.
Visiting the Holy Land ignites a fire to continue learning and loving Christ more. It builds intimacy with God, reminding you that His word is not a collection of stories to admire from a distance... it is history, declaring God's character and purposes for all time. Going while you’re young, or early in your Christian walk, will shift your perspective on the Bible for life, and I could not recommend it enough.
The Holy Land has a way of making believers more serious about sin, more zealous for truth, and more in love with the Savior. And isn’t that exactly what we need to do as we seek to live set apart and beat the culture?
A Personal Note:
This trip has been surreal. I am feeling all of the emotions taking off... not wanting to leave the holiness of the land and all that we learned from it behind.
I pray that what we learned would stick with us, changing the way we read and understand our Bible for the rest of our lives. That we would steward this trip well in the coming weeks, months, and years. I pray that we are able to come back again, restrengthening the muscles and stewarding the knowledge well for the Lord.
I am beyond thankful that the Lord provided the means for this trip to happen and give Him all of the glory.
Thank you to Clayton, Drew, Dr. Bookman, Dr. Goeman, and all of the Shepherds Theological Seminary staff for putting this together for us. Truly life changing!!
Holy Land Highlights
And lastly, you can watch my stories in real time from this trip with these links: