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"The
Church of Saint John Ba-Harim "
Ein Karem, Jerusalem
Ein Karem, Jerusalem
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Fourth Day of my Holy Land Trip, Mount Zion, Jerusalem
My Holy Land Trip
"The
Church of Saint John Ba-Harim "
Ein Karem, Jerusalem
Herod was king of Judea from around 40 B.C. to 1 B.C. It was during this time that a Jewish priest named Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth, had a child. What made this birth special was the fact that both Zacharias and Elizabeth were very old. This child was Elizabeth’s first.
Among
those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist;
yet he who is least in the kingdom
of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11)
The Church of Saint
John Ba-Harim is dedicated to John the Baptist and built over previous chapels
from the Byzantine and Crusader periods. The Greek Orthodox Church owns the
Church of Saint John Ba-Harim, not to be mystified with the Franciscan church
on the Mount of Olives. It’s very easy to see along the Jerusalem skyline with
its shiny silver dome. It isn’t often open to visitors but worth the travel, as
it is the oldest church in Jerusalem.
A
view of the Church of St. John Ba Harim, Jerusalem and the Monastery is seen
from the North-west Street. The bell tower of the Church is positioning the
center of the village, Ein Karem:
The Church of Saint
John Ba-Harim is located in the Christian Quarter in a small courtyard of
trees. Right next to the Church of Saint John Ba-Harim is the Greek Orthodox
Monastery. If the priest is present, he will let you into see the Church of
Saint John Ba-Harim.
Street, near the Church of St John Ba-Harim, Ein Karem Jerusalem:
Though there have
been measures taken to reinforce the edifice of the Church of Saint John
Ba-Harim, much of what visitors see today is from the original 5th century structure. It is a trefoil
shape and has three apses and a narthex. The dome is supported by four pillars
and makes the central square. The eight windows and painted silver exterior
make the dome the main attraction of the Church of Saint John Ba-Harim. From
the central square of the Muristan, visitors can clearly see the east side of
the church. John the Baptist crypt lays over 6 meters below ground level and
can be seen by descending the steps south of the narthex. The crypt is covered
with a vaulted roof and contains an altar surrounded by an iron grill.
The way to church of St. John Ba Harim:
Empress Eudokia
founded the Church of Saint John Ba-Harim in AD-450. The church could have been
built over the relics of John the Baptist. Another tradition has the site as
the historic house of Zebedee, father of James and John. However, this could
have arisen from confusion between John the Baptist and John the Apostle.
Gate of St. John Ba Harim, A Catholic Church and monastery built over Byzantine and Crusaders chapels, and dedicated to John the Baptist:
The Patriarch of
Alexandria restored the Church of Saint John Ba-Harim after the Persians
destroyed it in 614. This major reconstruction took place during the 11th century. Besides the modern front on
the church and two small bell towers, the Church of Saint John Ba-Harim looks
basically like it did 1,000 years ago.
Gate of St. John Ba Harim, A Catholic Church and monastery built over Byzantine and Crusaders chapels, and dedicated to John the Baptist:
The church became
the headquarters for the Knights Hospitallers. In 1099, Christian knights were
cared for at the church after being wounded during the siege on Jerusalem.
After recovering, the grateful knights dedicated their time to helping the sick
and protecting pilgrims in the Holy Lands. They called themselves Knights of
the Hospital of St. John. Later, the military order of the Hospitallers was
formed.
On the walls of the Church, written in 24 different languages, the
song of thanksgiving by Zacharias, the father of John, after his son was born,
as per Luke 1 67-79. In Latin the song is called "Benedictus"
(Blessed) since it starts with "Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel...",
as seen above the cave of John inside the church:
The crypt of the
church was filled with trash and abandoned by 1187. Once the Greeks regained
ownership in 1660, they began reconstruction, restoration of the crypt,
completed in the 19th century.
The
seal of the Franciscans, above the entrance of the church is with the elements of
the gate (two hands and 5-cross), the dove descending from the spirit of God.
The year of the construction is emblazoned on the right - 1895:
Matthew 11:2-15,
Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by
his disciples and said to him, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we
look for another?" And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John
what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers
are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have
good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at
me."
Inside the Church of St. John Ba Harim:
As they went away, Jesus began to speak
to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to
behold? A reed shaken by the wind? Why then did you go out? To see a
man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in
kings' houses. Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I
tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold I
send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way before you.'
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater
than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater
than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has
suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force. For all the prophets
and the law prophesied until John; and if you are willing to accept it, he is
Eli'jah who is to come. He, who has ears to hear, let him hear.
The birthplace of John the Baptist, Church of St. John Ba Harim:
Who
is the greatest in the kingdom of God?
Jesus praised John the Baptist as the greatest person born. Who can top
that as a compliment? But in the same breath Jesus says that the least in the
kingdom of God is even greater than John! That sounds like a contradiction,
right? Unless you understand that what
Jesus was about to accomplish for our sake would supersede all that the
prophets had done and foreseen in the past.
John is the last and greatest of the prophets of the old covenant. He fulfilled the essential task of all the
prophets: to be fingers pointing to Christ, God's Anointed Son and Messiah. John
prepared the way for the Messiah and he pointed others to Jesus the Messiah at
the River Jordan when he exclaimed, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the
sins of the world (John 1:29) John saw from a distant what Jesus would accomplish
through his death on the cross -- our redemption from bondage to sin and death
and our adoption as sons and daughters of God and citizens of the kingdom of
heaven.
White marble
designs relieve an exemplifying biblical event. A marble star under the altar
has a Latin inscription - Here was born the precursor (forerunner) of the Lord
("Hic precursor Domini natus est").The birthplace of John the Baptist, Church of St. John Ba Harim:
John
the Baptist bridges the Old and New Testaments. He is the last of the Old
Testament prophets who point the way to the Messiah. He is the first of the New
Testament witnesses and martyrs. He is the herald who prepares the way for
Jesus the Messiah. Jesus confirms that John has fulfilled the promise that
Elijah would return to herald the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5). Jesus
declares that John is nothing less that the great herald whose privilege it was
to announce the coming of the Messiah. Jesus equates the coming of his kingdom
with violence. John himself suffered violence for announcing that the kingdom
of God was near. He was thrown into prison and then beheaded. Since John's
martyrdom to the present times the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and
persecution at the hands of violent men. The blood of the martyrs throughout
the ages bears witness to this fact. The martyrs witness to the truth -- the
truth of Jesus Christ and his saving plan for the world. Their testimony and death prove victory
rather than defeat for the kingdom of God. Through Christ's victory on the
cross they obtain the glorious Crown of victory and everlasting life with
Christ. Are you ready to witness to Christ and to suffer violence if necessary
for his sake?
Church of St. John Ba Harim:
Why
did John, while in prison, send his disciples to question Jesus? John wanted them to hear and see firsthand
from the Messiah himself before John would meet his fate, martyrdom at the
hands of King Herod. Jesus says that his miracles and Message about the kingdom
or reign of God are proof enough for John and his disciples to recognize as the
fulfillment of Isaiah's Prophecy foretelling the signs and wonders which the
Messiah would perform (see Isaiah 35).
Jesus in his characteristic fashion also returned one question with
another. What do you see in John the
Baptist? And why does Jesus contrast
John with a reed? Unlike a reed which is
spineless and can be bruised easily, John stands as a pillar of truth which no
demonic force can overtake because his heart is set on God and burns with the
fire of God's truth and love. Someone
who is tepid -- careless, half-hearted, and lukewarm -- is easily swayed by
whatever hits his or her fancy. If our
heart is not filled with the love of God is easily grows cold and our faith
wanes. If the heart feels emptied of God it seeks to fill the void with other
things, which not being God, cannot bring true satisfaction. If we want to be
like John the Baptist, then we must set our heart, mind, soul, and strength on
one thing, and one thing only -- the Lord Jesus Christ and his kingdom of
everlasting peace, joy, and righteousness. There is no room for
compromise. We are either for Jesus and
his kingdom or against it. We either
give him our full allegiance and submission or we hold on to the reigns of
running life as we want it to go.
A Christmas crib inside the Church of St. John Ba Harim:
"Lord,
stir my zeal for your righteousness and for your kingdom. Free me from
complacency and from compromising with the ways of sin and worldliness that I
may be wholeheartedly devoted to you and to your zkingdom."
Church of St. John Ba Harim:
The story of Jesus begins before he was born.
How can this be, you ask?
The answer to this question is one of the most important and profound disclosures ever made to humanity. John the fisherman, and follower of Jesus,
put it this way:
In the very beginning, before anything else
existed, the Word (Jesus) existed. The Word was with God and the Word
was God. All things were made by him. He was the creator of all things.
2. Birth
of John the Baptist
Herod was king of Judea from around 40 B.C. to 1 B.C. It was during this time that a Jewish priest named Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth, had a child. What made this birth special was the fact that both Zacharias and Elizabeth were very old. This child was Elizabeth’s first.
What made this
birth even more extraordinary was the fact that the birth was foretold to
Zacharias, by an angel of the Lord, Gabriel.
The angel not only foretold the birth of
John the Baptist, he also prophesied that
John was going to be the forerunner to the Messiah
in the spirit and power of the ancient prophet Elijah.
3. Announcement to Mary
When Elizabeth was six months pregnant with John, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to Nazareth, a city in Galilee.
Gabriel visited a virgin who was engaged to be married to a man named
Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary.
Gabriel came to Mary and said:
You are highly favored, the Lord is with you.
But Mary was greatly troubled by this greeting, and wondered what it
meant. The Angel told her not to
fear and repeated that she had found favor with God.
Then Gabriel told Mary that she would conceive a son and that she was to
call his name Jesus.
Gabriel continued:
He shall be great, and shall be called the son of the most high.
And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Mary asked the angel:
How shall this be, seeing I have never had a physical relationship with
a man?
The angel answered and said to her:
The Holy
Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the most high will overshadow you,
and the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the son of God.
And take notice: Elizabeth your cousin has also conceived a son in her
old age and is now six months pregnant.
No word from God shall be proclaimed without power.
Then Mary said:
Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it happen to me according to your
word.
The angel left.
Mary
Visits Elizabeth
A
week later, Mary went hurriedly to the hill country, into a city in Judea. She went
into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s
greeting, the baby inside her leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with
the Holy Spirit.
She
lifted up her voice with a loud cry and said:
Blessed
are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why am I so honored
that the mother of my Lord should visit me?
Mary
then began to magnify the Lord and to rejoice in God her savior.
Mary
stayed with her cousin Elizabeth for three months.
5. The Birth of John the Baptist
John’s
father had been struck dumb by the angel Gabriel because
he had doubted the message regarding the birth of John. Once John was born his
tongue was loosed and he blessed God and was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Zacharias
said:
Blessed
be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come back to redeem his people. And
he has risen up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.
And
this child will be called a prophet of
the most high; he will go before the face of the Lord and make ready his ways,
to give the knowledge of salvation to his people, to shine upon those that sit
in darkness.
John
grew up and became strong in spirit. He lived in the desert until the day his
ministry began, which was when he began to declare that the Messiah was
coming.
