JERUSALEM

NOTE***THIS WAS, PERHAPS, OUR MOST ACTIVE DAY WITH LOTS OF PHOTOS AND INFORMATION.  I INTENTIONALLY DID NOT POST THIS ON THE DAY AFTER OUR VISIT BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF PHOTOS WE TOOK.  I AM POSTING THIS AS A DRAFT AND YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK BACK TO SEE EDITS.  IT MAY TAKE ME DAYS AFTER WE RETURN TO COMPLETE THIS, AND OTHER POSTS.

On Monday, January 12, we spent the entire day touring Jerusalem.  It was an amazing city.

Passing through Israeli security, we entered the Western Wall, or "Wailing Wall" area.  There were separate areas for women and men.  Men must wear something on their heads, so I donned a "yarmulke" and walked to the wall for prayer.

I stood, facing the wall where prayers have been said for more than 1600 years.  Written prayer requests are found within its cracks.  It was quite moving to watch and hear Orthodox Jewish men and women praying, sometimes VERY loudly, at the wall.

Above the Western Wall, on Mount Moriah, is the Temple Mount, or "Holy of Holies".  (We had to go through more rigorous security to enter this area).  On this site, it is believed that God manifested himself many times.  It is believed this is where God gathered dust to create Adam.  And, it is credited with the location where Abraham proved his love of God by taking Isaac to sacrifice him, then God provided a lamb instead.  God told David to buy the land and erect a temple.  From 691 CE to 1099 CE, the Temple Mount was controlled by Muslims.  The Crusaders controlled from 1099 to 1187, when the Muslims regained control.  Today, Muslims pray and teach in the courtyards and gardens.  Christians and Jews can only visit the outside and are not allowed to visit the inside, nor are they allowed to pray in the Temple Mount areas.



We were ushered out by 10 AM due to services beginning inside the Temple.  Only Muslims were allowed in.

The Pool of Bethesda (house of mercy) is described in the Gospel of John as the place where people went to be healed by the waters.  This is where Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, commanding him to get up and walk. This act angered the high priests, causing them to challenge Jesus.







Next, we walked the Via Dolorosa, or "Way of Suffering".  This is believed to be the path that Jesus walked with the cross on His way to crucifixion.    Along the route are 14 stops, corresponding to the 14 Stations of the Cross in Catholicism.   The route ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  There was enormous information to take in while absorbing the moment.  So, please forgive if some of what I am about to recount suffers from inaccuracies.

The first stop was the Notre Dame Sion, Ecce Homo Basilica, and Church of the Flagellation.

Ginger standing on the road that Jesus would
have walked on His way to Crucifixion

This was likely a building next to the road on which Jesus
carried the cross.  We had a reading and song.

We entered into subterranean Jerusalem and got a chance to stand on and touch the actual Roman Road on which Jesus walked on His way to Crucifixion.

Possible stone of Calvary, the place Jesus was crucified

Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are what is believed to be Calvary, the place on which Jesus was crucified, and the tomb in which he was laid.  Some historians and scholars believe the actual site was in the Garden Tomb area rather than here.  Both are considered very holy places.

Brad touching the stone of Calvary

Ginger touching what is believed to be the stone
on which Jesus' body was anointed.

We visited the Ethiopian church immediately adjacent to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

It is believed that Jesus was lowered through this hole.

Next was a short ride on the bus to what is believed to be the house of Caiaphas.  We entered a cavern that is believed to be where Jesus was lowered after he was delivered to Caiaphas for questioning.  As we stood in the cavern, the lights went out and we got a chance to experience how truly dark Jesus' final night was.

Cave believed to be where Jesus was lowered.

One of the crosses that appears within
the rock in the cave where Jesus was lowered.

On the walls are crosses that are believed to have appeared after Jesus' death.  No one knows how they came about.

Ginger on the "Teaching Steps",
one of the locations that Jesus spoke

Our final destination for the day was the ruins outside the western wall and the Teaching Steps.  Jesus is believed to have preached to His disciples on these steps.