BENJAMIN OMOIKE
AMMAN, Jordan – Lagos State Pilgrims, on Tuesday, December 24, Christmas Eve, visited historic sites in the land of Jordan. The pilgrims, having rested on Monday, upon arrival to the holy land, embarked upon visits to the historic sites for spiritual activities of prayers, intercession and attainment of more knowledge about these sites and locations which are vividly documented in the Holy Bible.
Carefully selected into six different groups, each occupying a luxury bus, with a team leader (bus captain), a clergyman, and other executives; so as to ensure proper organisation and direction, the pilgrims set out to have an encounter with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The first port of call for them was a drive to Mukawir (Machaerus), the hilltop stronghold of Herod The Great. A fortified palace overlooking the Dead Sea Region and the distant hills of Palestine and Israel, is 718 metres (2,355 feet 7.716 inches), above sea level. The summit of the mountain can be reached after climbing a steep, winding staircase to the top of the mountain, which many of the pilgrims asserted was a very difficult terrain to navigate, indeed.
According to the Bible, upon Herod’s death, his son, Herod Antipas, inherited the fortress and it was from this location that he ordered John The Baptist to be beheaded, after Salome’s fateful dance of the seven veils, in Matthew 14: 3-11. It was also the scene of a Roman siege during the first Jewish revolt against Rome.
Pilgrims, led by official of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, found this mountain very intriguing, as all manner of prayers were done here. Different prayer sessions were observed by different Men of God, who prayed for and along with the pilgrims, and equally interceded for Lagos State, the governor of Lagos State and his family; the President of Nigeria and his family, as well. The prayer sessions were led by esteemed ministers, including Bishop Ogedengbe Stephen, Revd. Dr. Dele Ajayi, Apostle Fagbamila, and other anointed Ministers of God. They equally prayed for peace to reign in the Middle East and for the peace of Jerusalem, as instructed by the Bible.
Another historic site visited was Mount Nebo. It is at this mount that Moses looked across to the Promised Land, later died and was buried by God Himself. According to the final chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses ascended Mount Nebo to view the Land of Canaan, which God had said he would not enter. He died in Moab. According to Christian tradition, Moses was buried on the mountain, although his place of burial is not specified (Deuteronomy 34:6).
A serpentine cross sculpture (the Brazen Serpent Monument), atop Mount Nebo was created by Italian artist, Giovanni Fantoni. It is symbolic of the bronze serpent created by Moses in the wilderness (Numbers 21:49), and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified (John 3:14). After visiting these sites, the pilgrims went for lunch before returning to their hotel to rest and prepare for the evening’s activities.
Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mrs. Yetunde Gbafe, who was on ground to marshal the pilgrims, did a yeoman’s work of ensuring a seamless and smooth trip to all the sites; equalling adding vibes to the trip withing the bus, by leading praise worship sessions, as well. In her calm and friendly nature, she was able to assert her authority and presence throughout the entire exercise. This act, was well appreciated by the pilgrims, who shared lots of resounding testimonies throughout the journey, to the glory of God, and to the shame of the devil.
For the pilgrims, it was an eventful second day of activities, as they eagerly look forward to entering into the Promised Land on Day 3 of the pilgrimage exercise, on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25.
