Mt of Olives, Via Dolorosa, Bethlehem

Mt. Of Olives

Early this morning we set out to the Mount of Olives.  We first went to a lookout spot where the views of Jerusalem were spectacular.

We then walked to a cemetery on the Mount of Olives.  A very popular place to be buried and capitalism works here too so it's very expensive.  The Jewish men in the picture are a minyan, group of 10, who were here praying a memorial to someone.  The bodies are buried in the ground and the little tomb over the grave is empty.  It it there to keep someone else from being buried on top of the body.

We moved a little further along the Mount of Olives and came to this garden.  It seemed much like I think about the Garden of Gethsemane being during Jesus' time with olive trees and other greenery.

We spent some quiet time here reflecting on this place and what was visible across the Kidron valley, Jerusalem.  That is where Jesus went when he left the garden and we did as well.  Traveling by foot,we crossed the valley and headed into the city.

This is a very old olive tree.  Notice the hollow wood and the grafted in branches.  A very vivid picture of Paul's metaphor.

Through the Lion's gate into Jerusalem.

We entered into the old city through the Lion's Gate on the east side closest to the Mount of Olives.

The cobblestone streets.

The entrance into the mosque on the Temple Mount used by Muslims coming for prayer.  This is just inside the gate.

Just another fun photo of the men's room line as we ladies were coming out.  Did I mention that I love this group's ratio of the sexes?

Pools of Bethesda

Entering into the old city, just to the north we came to the site of the pools of Bethesda.  They were very large and apparently fed by a spring.  We sat for a few minutes while Rich taught about the man Jesus healed here.  The theme of community came up again as it has throughout the trip.  

Just outside the pools is a beautiful stone church, St. Anne's.  We went inside and stood on the steps of the chancel singing hymns.  The acoustics were magical and we quickly drew a good sized audience.  So that we could appreciate the sound, Caitlin sang to us again.  What a blessing she was to always be so willing to share her gifts and talents with us.  It was a beautiful time of worship after a very inspiring morning.

Austrian Hospice - Oasis with a view.

From the pools of Bethesda we began following the Via Dolorosa through Jerusalem.  This is the stations of the cross that the Catholic church has designated to represent Jesus' walk to Golgotha with his cross.  The streets were narrow and crowded.  We came to the Austrian Hospice and went inside.  Climbing several flights of stairs, we came to an oasis in the city.  It was a beautiful rooftop garden with magnificent views of the city.

Then we continued on the Via Dolorosa.

Ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Inside there is a shrine where they believe Jesus was hung on the cross (there is some dissension among scholars on this).  Pilgrims come to touch the rock inside the shrines.

The church is beautiful.

This is the Anointing Stone shrine.

And what some believe was his tomb.

Behind the shrine to the tomb are some authentic first century burial caves.  

Inside the main entrance to this cave are two niches that would have been used for ossuaries or bone boxes after the body had decayed over a year's time.

Walking the ramparts.

We continued out of the church through the Christian quarter to Jaffa gate. Here we climbed the stairs in the rampart's tower and walked the walls till we reached Zion Hill.

Looking outside the walls from the rampart's walk.  

Bethlehem

For lunch and the afternoon, we traveled by bus to Bethlehem about 6 miles south of Jerusalem into Palestinian territory, and you have to go through a checkpoint.

We went to the Church of the Nativity.  This star marks the spot some believe is the location of Jesus' birth.  We stood in line to see or touch it.

A full shot of the shrine.

And this marks the manger location.

The Greek orthodox part of the church where the shrines are located.

There is currently a restoration underway.  This is the mosaic floor below.

This local business and it's neighbor excited us all.  We had no idea John and David were in retail!

We capped our day and our trip with a very nice dinner in the Armenian quarter.  Many shared what the trip had meant to them, or how it had changed their thinking or their faith.  It was a great way to end the trip and spend time with a group who began without any common ties and ended with a lot of great friendships in churches and communities all over the US.

We will leave late tonight to embark on our long journey home to get back to the business of making disciples amd following our rabbi.

The Temple

We began our day at the Temple mount with a tour of the rabbinic tunnels that run along the western wall underneath the surface of the current street.  The tunnels are actually the first century streets that have been excavated.  Our guide, David, did an excellent job showing us around and we started with this model of how the Temple looked during Jesus' time.  Since then, it has been destroyed by the Romans and built on top of by the Muslims.

A view of the original wall underneath the current street level as seen in the tunnel.  The huge stones used for the foundation weighed 570 tons!!

We went into the prayer area in front of the western wall often known as the wailing wall.  As in Jewish worship, the women and men are separated.  There were Bar Mitzvahs happening on the men's side so we did what all the other women were doing, stood on chairs to see the action.  We took turns.  Caitlin and I went first. 

This is what was happening on the other side.

Here you see some women praying and a whole group dressed up for and watching a Bar Mitzvah.

Women praying.

The wall when we first arrived before the crowds.

This is a picture of the men's side that I took from the walkway into the gate.

Currently, built on the Temple mount are the Al-Aqsa mosque and a shrine, The Dome of the Rock, built on the site of Solomon's temple.  This is the mosque.  Non-Muslims are allowed into the temple mount for a couple of hours each morning.

The Dome of the Rock.

This is a family entering the wailing wall area for a Bar Mitzvah singing and playing music.

Views from outside the mount.

Piles of stones that fell during destruction.

This group of 57 has 12 women.  We have thoroughly enjoyed waiting for the men to stand in line after we are all finished.  Truly a once in a lifetime experience!

We went to walk through Hezekiah's tunnel.  It has been excavated under homes on the edge of the Kidron Valley. 

Looking across the Kidron Valley at East Jerusalem.

Our guide, Ronen, and driver Meir prepared and served our lunch picnic style many days.  It was always delicious but today we had a special treat.  Gigantic bagels that we tore and dipped in hummus, goat cheese with hissop, yogurt with date honey, olive oil, and nutella.  Sababa! That means groovy in Hebrew.

At the Israeli Musem, there is a very large model of the town of Jerusalem as it would have been about 67 AD.  Looking at this gives you a great perspective of how the massive size of the Temple.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are exhibited in the Shrine of the Book housed in this cool building.

Tomorrow is our last day.  We will head to Bethlehem and the old city of Jerusalem.