Israel March 20

City/Places

Photos

 Scripture Reference/Comments
Jeremy & Anthony Locked in room

Even with a door blessing (a Mezuzah) over their room, these two managed to get locked in their room. To beat all, the hotel sent a 19 year old girl into the room by crawling over the balconies - 13 stories up! It took the management about 10 kicks, several tools, lots of racket, and 15 minutes....but they eventually got out.
Dome on the Rock (temple mount)

 

This is the location of Abraham's close sacrifice with his son Isaac (Gen 22), then later Solomon built a magnificent temple until it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. The Second temple was rebuilt by Jewish returnees from the Persian Exile, led by the prophets Ezra, Nechemiah and Zerubavel. Later, in the year 37 CE, King Herod made renovations to the Temple, but then Rome destroyed it in 70 AD, breaking it down to the very surface ( Mark 13:1-4) and the Dome of the Rock was erected by the Muslim ruler, Abd el-Malik in 688-691. At one time, the crusaders put a cross up on top of the dome, but Muslims later took it down and put the moon up there as it is today.

As we entered today, there was Muslim security, but no divisions of men and women like the Jewish area. The Crescent moon and gold covered dome stands out. The moon is more representing of the Arab flag and countries than a symbol of faith. The Koran and holy words are written around the shrine in Arabic. There are people reading and talking about the Muslim faith near the shrine. As Christians, we were not allowed to go inside - I wasn't going to go in anyway.
Convent of the Sisters of Zion, Ecce Homo (Behold the man)

Sister's of Zion front door We met here above the pavement to discuss maps of the area from Jesus' day Osuaries of 2000 years ago were also found in the area Cisterns for water for the soldiers This game was played by the soldiers - its called the kings game Roman game on the pavement His Blood, our Salvation Part of the pavement of Jesus' day, where Roman soldiers hung out Roman guards played games here I cant believe what He did for us here Pavement that Christ was probably beaten on Cistern runoff

John 19:13-14  Pilate brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement.  but inn Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the 6th hour (noon); and he said unto the Jews, "Behold your King!"

The pavement of the courtyard of the Antonia Fortress now lies within (below) the confines of the Convent of the Sisters of Zion. It was here that Pilate presented the scourged Jesus to the crowd and condemned him to death. These are the very stones trod by the feet of Jesus. Still visible are the striations in the pavement to prevent the Roman horses from slipping.

 
Pool of Bethesda & St. Anne's Church

bethesda sign Pools of bethesda Pools of Bethesda     Pool at bethesda Pool at bethesda Pool of bethesda St Annes church Inside St Annes church Lions gate, near St Annes church

 John 5 (ASV)
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
5 And a certain man was there, who had been thirty and eight years in his infirmity.
6 When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wouldest thou be made whole?
7 The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And straightway the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked. Now it was the sabbath on that day.
10 So the Jews said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed.
11 But he answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12 They asked him, Who is the man that said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13 But he that was healed knew not who it was; for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in the place.
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee.
15 The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole.

 
Caiaphas' House (also called Church of ST. PETER GALLICANTU)

1. Place where Judus supposedly hung himself, just down the hill from Caiaphas' home View of complex where Judas may have hanged himself Potters field that was bought with the 30 pieces of silver Caiaphas' supposed home Caiaphas' home as some believe Front door to church on site of Caiaphas home Walls of church  Walls of church Steps that run down hillside toward kidron valley and over to the city Pit in the lower level of Caiaphas' house Pit under caiaphas' house where they may have held Jesus Looking up the steps toward caiaphas' house Memorial to Judas Steps toward dung gate A 3D map of Jerusalem Peter memorial on the side of the church  Descriptions of the pit where they may have kept Jesus Cieling of the church Pit that tradition says Jesus was thrown into while they made a case against Him Viewing up from the pit. Crosses indicating some event of the Christian story took place here The church was built on rock from the original home of a wealthy man, thought to be the high priest Arrested for being God

1. A Greek Orthodox Church is at the field believed to be where Judas hung himself in the Valley of Gehenah. Beside it is the potter's field, purchased with 30 pieces of Silver "And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field." (Matthew 27:6)

This church has been built on the site of what is believed to have been the house of Caiaphas, who was high priest at the time of Jesus’ trial (Matthew 26.57).
Underneath the building were found store-rooms and a dungeon. Was Jesus ever held in this dungeon in the course of his trial by the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin? Crosses in the wall mark a past event in Christian history.

Outside, Peter would have been warming by the fire and eventually denied that he ever knew Jesus. (Luke 22.60b-62). We actually heard chickens on this property - Probably not the same chickens as in Jesus' day, but maybe their chicken grandchildren. (I'm of course kidding about the chickens)

 

 
Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls are housed here)

A sample of what some of the best kept scrolls looked like The book of Isaiah is at the center of the museum. Below it rests the other books that used to be the oldest bilbles, called the Alleppo codex Arriving to the museum Water sprays off of the domed roof
 (Pictures taken from post cards - no photos allowed in museum)

 The miracle of these scrolls lasting this long is staggering! They are from the BC era. Found in the Essene caves of Qumran, Roman soldiers shredded many to the size of fingernail. But they missed some. Archaeologists found the complete scroll of Isaiah (see photo) plus fragments of every book in the Old Testament. By the way, they prove that the bible has not been altered from its original writings or meaning.
Garden Tomb & Golgotha

Welcoming sign to my favorite place we visited People really wanted to get inside - it reminded me of Mary on that Sunday morning I can't believe we are standing in front of the tomb that Jesus probably rose from the grave - notice the crosses carved into the front These crosses are part of the evidence that says something happened here - carved probably 2000 years ago The carvings at the front left of the tomb close up Inside the tomb to the right. Many wanted a piece of the cave so they had to block it with bars   Through the bars - a 3 day resting place for Jesus? Matthew 28:6 makes Christianity the one and only faith to rest in Words in the garden Golgotha, behind a bus station, an ancient rock quary Golgotha Golgotha Golgotha Golgotha Words at the tomb Pastor David led us in communion with our Lord In front of the place off the skull, called golgotha She's grinning about something...

There is another site in the old city that claims to also be the place (Church of the Sepulcre), but I personally believe this was a better choice. This is the place where the world was forever changed.

It was strange that a bus station sits in front of it - symbolic of many that ignore what happened here 2000 years ago. The rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:9 - "He will be buried in a rich man's tomb" Matt. 27:57-60) is actually about 100 yards from the Place of the Skull (Golgotha), but there is sufficient evidence that this was a wealthy man's wine and olive press also with a garden and man made tomb from 2000 years ago. Also noted, was the cross that early Christians apparently carved into the rock tomb to indicate something happened here. Close by, the remains of a man with a nail through his heal was found, supporting crucifixions in the area which used to be a rock quarry, a place that would be ideal for such crucifixions of Roman soldiers in a Jewish town. Also it is believed that this area could have been where Stephen was stoned because the Place of the Skull was known as a place where Jews held executions.

Mark 15:22 ... "And they brought him ... upon the Golgotha Place ... which is being interpreted ... "Place of a Skull." It is interesting to note that all four gospels refer to the place of the skull.

"...Neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay." Psalm 16:10-11

"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said." Matthew 28:6

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55

Before we left, we had a wonderful communion service, reminding us of our connection to the true Messiah.

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