Israel March 19

City/Places

Photos

 Scripture Reference/Comments
Jerusalem viewed from the Mount of Olives

Looking down from the Mt of Olives toward the Kidron valley and The Temple Mount Pool of Siloam is down below Mt Zion Garden of Gethsemane Dome on the rock as viewed from the mt of Olives Looking toward Mt Zion Taking notes on the Mt of Olives - I honestly dont know whether to smile or frown, so I just froze in awe Walls of the city A typical memorial at the graveside of a jew Kidron valley is below Jews leave rocks as a memorial when the visit one they loved Writings on a grave in hebrew The Golden gate, closed by Muslims, because many say this is the location where the Messiah will return I made her stand there - sun in her eyes - in front of the temple mount This used to be lots of Olive trees, now its mostly graves Temple Mount Property owned by the Muslims Another view of the valley and mt Moriah in the background

Jesus regularly went up onto the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39). He often traveled over it on His way to Bethany to visit His friend Lazarus. The Triumphal Entry of Jesus riding on a Donkey and her colt into Jerusalem took place over and down the Mount of Olives (Luke 19:28-44). Jesus prayed with His disciples there just before His arrest that fateful night (Luke 22:39-46). Jesus was arrested there, during which Peter struck the servant of the high priest with a sword and cut off his ear (Luke 22:49-51). Jesus appeared to the disciples on the Mount of Olives after His Resurrection, and He ascended into heaven from there (Acts 1:1-12).

Standing on the Mt. of Olives, you can get the best overall view of Jerusalem on the hill across the way. It's no wonder Jesus came here to pray.
Garden of Gethsemane & Church (aka The All Nations Church)

Gethsemene church entrance - site of the garden Sign in the garden Similar to Jesus' day Similar to Jesus' day Similar to Jesus' day Garden of Gethsemane corridors Similar to Jesus' day Exterior wall of the church Mosaic on the All Nations church of Gethsemane Roof domes on the church of Gethsemane Church entrance Inside the church of Gethsemane

The Church of All Nations is here now. It stands as a memorial to the events that happened here with Jesus on the night before his crucifixion. (Mark 14:32-52)  Jesus would have been taken to Caiphus' supposed house just down the hill , and there is a walkway from his house back down into the valley and over to where Pilot would have ruled that has been there for 2000 years. This garden spot is just barely to the north of the Mt. of Olives, basically on the same property.
Kidron Valley (aka Valley of Jehoshaphat or  Kings Valley) traditionally called 'Absalom & Zachariah's tomb'
 

Absaloms Tomb Absaloms tomb Absaloms tomb Many believe this to be John the baptist's father's tomb, an insription was found to say this on it's side.

 An inscription was found (by accident, late one day as the sun was setting) on Absalom's tomb that says, "This is the tomb of Zachariah, martyr, very pious priest, father of John." Most archaeologists place the building of the tomb to be several hundred years after Absalom's time, and the writings are probably Byzentine period (350AD), so who knows for sure. Historian Josephus (Antiquities vii.10, 3). refers to a Temple priest named Zachariah (John's father) being slain by zealots in the Temple and thrown into this valley, so that may be how it was named 'Zachariah's tomb'. It may also reference Zec 14:4-7 that predicts the future return of the Holy One behind the tomb on the Mt. of Olives.
The Gihon Spring/ Pool of Siloam, also in the Kidron valley

Kidron Valley water tunnels - Hezekiahs era Walls of Hezekiahs day Walls of Hezekiahs day, before the days of Jesus Sheep on the hills of the kidron valley Lunch from a olive tree in the kidron valley LunchPool of Siloam in the valley of kidron Sign at Hezekiahs tunnel Pool of Siloam - just dont drink it today  Sheep & Goats on the hills near the kidron valley Walking in the kiddron valley where Jesus did Yelling "One Dollar" Sheep on the hills of the kidron valley

The Gihon Spring was the only source of water for the city of Jerusalem. It emerges in the Kidron Valley, beside the Mt of Olives(through Hezekiah's Tunnel) and into the pool of Siloam. It is mentioned many times in the Bible, e.g., its location in the valley east of the city (II Chronicles 33:14); the anointing of Solomon as King of Israel (I Kings 1:35, 45). And of the blind man sent by Jesus to wash at the pool of Siloam (John 9:7) The pool is sludge water today and you wouldn't want to drink it.

There were lots of homes scattered about the hills here. We saw some sheep & goats, and one boy who wanted a dollar if we took a picture of him on his donkey.

Western Wall (aka The Wailing Wall)

Overlooking the western wall Western wall   Men and Women must seperate Seperated Me praying at the wall Covered in prayer cloth to show respect to God  

The Western Wall is the most holy place (right now) for the Jewish people because the Muslims control the Temple Mount area. This wall was built by Herod the Great as a supporting wall for the Jewish Temple on the same site as Solomon's temple. It was here when Jesus walked the earth.

The current plaza was created as an area for prayer when Israel captured the Old City in 1967. Many Jews hope to rebuild the temple someday. The prayer sections are protected by police and you must enter through designated male/female entrances. You must be properly dressed and covered. It is a place for study and reverence. Many Jews will only back away from the wall as not to turn their back on God.

Many of us, myself included, left prayers folded in the wall. I felt both sadness and reverence on my visit here.
The Old City of Jerusalem

    

Journal Entry:
"Passport and money sealed under our jackets (we were warned of potential pick-pockets), we set out in a single-file-line race through the old city! Vendors with items for sale are everywhere! I see a man dancing to Jewish music he sells, then I smell incense. I see fabrics, dresses and clothing (lots of Yarmulke caps and prayer cloths), sandals, candles, every food you could ever want from this region, raw chicken (hello bird flu!) lots of raw vegetables and fruits, almonds, dates, soldiers are everywhere with guns - most are about 19 years old, - hey, there is a Via Dolorosa sign, Jesus must have been here. Kids yelling for a dollar to sell a post card packet or hat - that must be the only English they know, nope, he just yelled "please", - lots of olives (green and black), oils, lotions,  breads, gold/silver, leather goods, blue ceramics, and a few brave vehicles. The roads are generally impassable by automobile, most being only about 10 feet wide. Some are passable at about 30 feet wide, but who would want to drive into this!?!"
Via Dolorosa & Upper room

Upper room Upper room Prayer in the upper room

 Suddenly, as we were trying to take in a billion things at once, I saw a sign on the wall. "Via Dolorosa" - Latin for "the way of grief"

There are 14 Stations, depicted by a series of pictures or sculptures of  the following scenes:

  1. Christ is condemned to death
  2. The cross is laid upon him
  3. His first fall
  4. He meets His Mother Mary
  5. Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the cross
  6. Christ's face is wiped by Veronica
  7. His second fall
  8. He meets the women of Jerusalem
  9. His third fall
  10. He is stripped of His garments
  11. His crucifixion
  12. His death on the cross
  13. His body taken down from the cross
  14. His body is laid in the tomb

Then we turned a corner while walking through the city. Our guide had led us into the place believed to be the upper room. This is the place where Christ had his last meal with the disciples.  (Mark 14:22) "And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, 'Take, eat: this is my body'.
23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many." Judas left, in search of the high priest from this room as well.
Church of the Holy Sepulcher (supposed crucifixion and tomb) Stations 10-14 of the Via Dolorosa

Supposed golgotha supposed spot of Jesus' crucifixtion golgotha? Preperation Place for burial Supposed tomb?

This church was built & rebuilt by many nations over many years of wars and earthquakes. It is dedicated to what some believe is the place of the cross and burial of Jesus. There are lots of ornate gold decorations that many churches have hung here. There were many visitors to this site and we were ushered through like a herd of cattle. It seemed so commercialized that I had to wonder what Jesus would have said about the place. Many respect it, but it is my personal belief that when Queen Helen had it built in 330 A.D., she missed the actual location. She used traditional opinion, and not archaeological evidence. Today, the 'garden tomb' (see March 20th tour date) location seems to be a more legitimate site for Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. We took pictures of this church so that each one can decide for himself. Here is a web site that says the church is authentic
Mt. of Olives Bazaar

Lots of rugs and covers made by hand Blue ceramics made by Israel Pizza

 This store at the top of the Mt. of Olives asked for us to visit and shop in their store and in turn, the store owner bought olive and cheese pizza for us The pizza was GREAT! As close to American food as any of us ate all week.
Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum

Hall of names Childrens memorial for 1.5 million children who died Janusz Korczak and the Children he went to a concentration camp with, even after he was set free
(Pictures taken from post cards - no photos allowed in museum)

 I'm not going to say much about the passage in Mat 27:24-25, but I will say that the aftermath of WWII forced the reopening of the state of Israel. For this, we can see prophecy of the return of the Jews to Israel being fulfilled. (Ezekiel 36
24) "`For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land."

This museum revealed one atrocity after another. It was very hard to take it all in. Every Jewish family was touched by the deaths of 6 million Jews in some way. Soldiers were there on the day we visited. I hope America as a whole, will never turn it's back on Israel and God again. I fear the worst if this were to happen.

Translation for the Yad Vashem museum name? Yad = a place; Shem = a name. "A place and a name," for those who were not given the dignity of a Jewish burial.

The Hall of Names was filled with pictures and catalogs of names of Jews who died in the camps. The Children's Memorial has only four candles in a pitch dark room that look like millions. While you walk through the circular style room, one name at a time, the names of the thousands of children killed in the Holocaust are called out. The Janusz Korczak memorial, in honor of a man who ran an orphanage and was killed with the children in a concentration camp. He was set free, but instead, he stayed with the children leading them in song like children do on a field trip.

Back to Israel Mainpage

Continue to March ...
14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st Misc 1 Misc 2

Back to New Life Church Homepage