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"The Church of Saint John Ba-Harim "
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

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 5^th 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 11^th 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 19^th 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

When Elizabeth’s time came she delivered a boy and they called him John, as the angel had directed.

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.