Visit Mount of Olives, directly east of the city above the Kidron Valley (Valley of Jehosophat). From here is a perfect view of the Eastern gate and the temple mount. It's this gate that Jesus walked through as He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The city has 7 gates, only the Eastern gate is closed (Ezk 44). The Dome of the Rock shrine is very ornate and positioned in the middle of the mount. Had Bible study from secluded place here. Then we walked down the hill passing the largest Jewish cemetery to the garden of Gethsemane. The cemeteries are here because many Jews want to be buried here. The Jews pray for: the Messiah, the building of the temple, and the resurrection of the dead (Zec 14). We have access to a private part of the Garden where we get some quiet time to pray next to these old trees. Read from Mt 26:41 – "Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Very blessed time here. It is awesome to behold the Eastern gate and see its sealed gates just as Ezekiel prophesied (Ezk 44). Grabbed lunch at this great Falafel/Sharma place.
Visit church here, then up to Southern steps at the base of the temple mount, southwest corner. Here is where the Rabbis often taught, including Gameliel. See the massive stones that the Romans threw off the temple mount onto street below. They were so heavy that they caved in the street.
Next we visit St. Ann’s church, a crusader church in the Moslem quarter. Thought to be the site of the birthplace of Mary (the Bible doesn’t record this however). Had a Bible study here from Jn 5. Pools of Bethsaida here, ventured down and can see the pool and the 5 arches above it. A highlight of this trip was worshiping God inside this church. The acoustics inside this church are indescribible. Sarah A. singing hallelujah brought tears to my eyes as I imagined what heaven will be like. As we leave, I hear the Moslem call to prayer over the distant loudspeaker. What a contrast.
We continued along the Via Dolorosa to the ‘Ecce Homo Basilica’, the Antonio Fortress, the site believed to be where Pilate condemned Jesus (Jn 19). You can walk on the original stones of the ancient city in the basement. These are the original pavement stones of the streets of Jerusalem, which contain grooves in them which was to keep the horses from slipping.
We leave through the sheep gate, on the Via Dolorosa, a main thoroughfare through the Moslem quarter. I spend some time in the modern part of the city, had desert at a bakery. Nobody spoke English so I couldn’t get to the bathroom. Later that night I venture back into the Old City and walk around all four quarters. I visit a holy site at each, one by accident.
In the Christian/Armenian quarter I visit the 'Church of the Holy Sepulcher'. This is the most ornate, extravagant church I’ve ever seen. There are people worshipping everywhere here. Nearly every surface inside (ceiling, walls, floors) has a mural or religious artifact. This church supposedly is the location where Jesus was laid when brought down from the cross and the location of His tomb. I’m reminded of the scripture in Isa 66 – “What house can you build for me? Heaven is my throne, earth is my footstool”.
In the Moslem quarter, by mistake, I took a turn up toward what I thought would lead to a bathroom. I see men in side a room standing up against the wall. I start to walk toward it but quickly realize this is a mosque. Men are taking off their shoes before going in. A man passes by me and says “mosque”, I say worship and he says “yes”. I then start walking away and another says “Muslim”, and I continue on.
In the Jewish quarter, the last site I visit is at the Western Wall. I had to pass through a security checkpoint to get through. I approach the massive wall and see perhaps a hundred men dressed in black bobbing their heads in front of the wall. About ¾ of the wall is for men, with a dividing line sectioning off the reminder for women. I discover this after walking toward it and hearing a woman tell me “women”. I think of scripture – man was made to worship, everyone worships something.
As I strolled through the Jewish quarter on my way back, the same sales guy from the previous night spots me again. Incredible, with all these people, he leaves me alone though, I say nothing to him. I get back to hotel, very tired. Heard that Madonna is staying here.
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