The highlight of the day for me was the house of Caiaphas. Caiaphas' house is marked by a Catholic Church called the Church of the Rooster. The church is built on a much older church from the Byzantine Empire. On the walls of this church are pictures that tell the story of Peter denying Christ three times before the rooster crowed.
The story has always haunted me. Peter didn't want to deny Christ. The dialogue in look is especially insightful into the struggle Peter had in his three denials of Christ. In Luke 22:31-34, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. [32] But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." [33] But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." [34] Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." Peter's selfish desire to protect himself would be bolstered by Satan's work and IN SPITE OF HIS BEST INTENTIONS he would deny Christ. Peter's denial reaches this horrible crescendo in Luke with Jesus looking across Caiphas' courtyard and right at Peter as he denies him that 3rd time. Luke records, "Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. [61] The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." [62] And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:60-62) The rooster crowed. This is my third trip to The Church of the Rooster. On the first two trips, we actually heard a rooster crow... They were probably placed nearby for effect... and it worked.
Have you ever heard the rooster crow? Despite our best intentions, we fail to say something we should or we say something we shouldn't... And we hear the rooster crow. Our loving Lord shines the light of his face on our hearts and we realize we have failed miserably. At the Church of the Rooster, here the magnitude of our sin and the consequence of it for our Savior Jesus is reinforced by a cistern that rests below the church. Pilgrims descend to this small room. Symbols from long ago mark this room as a special place and we believe this is the place Jesus was kept after his unjust trial at Caiaphas' home. We read Psalm 88 and when you read it in that context ... in that dungeon ... the weight of sin is overwhelming. Have you ever heard the rooster crow? [The Dungeon/Cistern below Caiaphas house]
What is really cool in the Church of the Rooster is extremely subtle... I'm positive that most pilgrims who enter the church miss it. On the wall, one of the pictures is of a male speaking to women. I don't read Latin but I believe it's the angel after Jesus' resurrection speaking to the women who came to the tomb early... What did that angel speak? I believe it is the Word that must drown out the noise every time the rooster crows! "He is not here. He is risen! Go tell the disciples AND PETER he is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him!” Jesus was raised to life for our justification! The message the angel bore at the resurrection was delivered very personally to Peter ... God made sure of it with that Easter proclamation. It must be very personally delivered to each of us as well. He is not here. He is Risen! Sins are paid for! This must drown out the voice of every time the rooster crows! The piercing glance of the Savior's disappointment must be replaced by his Risen Victorious Face shining upon us with forgiveness and encouragement for the journey.
The Valley of Elah where David slew Goliath.
The Supposed home and burial place of Samuel the prophet from which you can see the Valley of Ajalon where Joshua prayed for the Sun to stand still in the battle against the Amorites and it did. (Joshua 10)