Visiting Tabgah where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes could be on another day. Peter’s house and the synagogue where Jesus preached can be seen also. A Christian pilgrimage could also include the Mount Of Temptation where Jesus spent forty days in the desert; some pilgrims take the old Roman Road towards Jerusalem, passing St. Georges Monastery in the deep gorge of Wadi Kelt.
Other places which could be visited on a Christian pilgrimage is Bethany which is the home of Martha and Mary and it is also where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Bethlehem can also be visited because the Church of the Nativity and the grotto marking the site of Jesus’ birth and also the Shepherds field.
At Easter time the ‘Via Dolorosa’ or ‘Way Of Sorrow’ is crowed with pilgrims, this is believed to be the route that Jesus took while he carried the cross to the site where he died. This helps Christians understand and imagine what happened to Jesus. Pilgrims go to the site of Calvary where Jesus was crucified, died, buried and rose again. There is a Church Of Holy Sculpture, which stands on the traditional site of calvary.
Many pilgrims have entered the ancient Appian Way, tracing the route taken by the apostles Peter and Paul nearly 2000 years ago. Some Christians even see much of Classical Rome, including the Coliseum, Constantine’s Arch, the Roman Forum, the Circus Maximus where Christians were martyred at the games, the capitol hill and the Mamertine Prison where the Apostles Peter and Paul were held prisoner. Many pilgrims visit The Garden Of Gethsemane which is at the foot of The Mount Of Olives, this is special because it was where Jesus knelt on the night he was arrested.
Some Christians go on pilgrimage because they can understand and it makes it clearer for them how Jesus lived when he was a member of human kind. Christians can also go on pilgrimage because they feel it is their duty to God to go to the Holy Land. Some Christians may even go because they believe that God has called them. There are trips by special pilgrimage Tour Companies and many people sometimes come together to experience the pilgrimage with other serious Christians.
Some people find it heeling being in a community of people being there for the same reason. Some Christians want to re-act what Jesus did e.g. Re-newing their baptism vows in the same River where Jesus was baptised. This makes them feel closer to god.
“Come let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord and to the God of the House of Jacob and he will teach us his ways and we will walk in his paths” (Micah 4:2) this quote is an example of why some Christians go on pilgrimages. It is easier to understand from the text, “He will teach us his ways and we will walk in his paths.” This tells us that some Christians believe that if they walk and visit where he spent his life and created his miracles then they will learn more about God. Christians may feel that they can pray and feel closer to God being in the place where he used to pray, suffer and be happy.
“There are more important things for Christians to do than to go on pilgrimage.”
I believe that this statement isn’t true because if walking in the footsteps of Jesus makes Christians feel closer to God then they should do it. I think that Christians which go on pilgrimage get a lot out of seeing where Jesus used to live and also seeing where he was born might bring inspiration to a person to be a better Christian or even to do something good in their life e.g. Charity, Samaritans. The Holy Land can be a very inspiriting place and also very special to a Christian and going on pilgrimage there and places connected with Jesus could give Christians a glow of happiness and togetherness with God. Also being with people who have the same eagerness towards God could be an enlightening experiance i feel.
Other people believe that going to the Holy Land just crowds the area and make it less special and Holy. They think that it ruins the environment and the peaceful surroundings of where Jesus once lived. They think that being in your local church and praying has the same effect as if you were on pilgrimage and in a Holy Country. They believe that it isn’t important to go on pilgrimage and Christians can create the same closeness with God with the Christian community at home.
Most Christians believe that going on pilgrimage is important for understanding in more depth where Jesus once prayed and worked when he was a boy. They feel a special closeness when being in the Holy Land and they feel it is a once in a lifetime experience that all Christians should experience.
