Day Seven

As you can see by the pictures below I left the hotel early to catch the sunrise over the Holy City and in the quite I discover many beauties and I praise the Lord and thank him for the silence and blessing of being here.

We learned a new word today Shabbat Shalom (שָׁלוֹם) the standard greeting for the Sabbath. Today we will be focusing our tour on Jerusalem and so Aaron our guide briefs us on the recent history involving the 1948 war of Independence. He explained that, West Jerusalem was held by Israel and the East by the Jordanians. This negotiated boarder stood for 19 years and the city stood divided until 1967 and the 6 day war when Israel took the other side. We are ascending today to the Mount of Olives and from there walking to the base and the garden of Gethsemane. After the garden we will be continuing to the upper room in Mount Zion followed by a visit to the possible prison where Jesus spent the night before his crucifixion. We will be entering into the city through the Lions gate after lunch and visiting a nunnery and finish of the day at the Garden Tomb.

As we ascend Aaron continues to point out geographical information telling us that the Kidron valley stands between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives on the East and the Hinnom Valley on the South. He also pointed out that the Gihon spring also resides in the Kidron valley and is the only source of water in the city. Mount Moriah once stood where the current dome of the rock stands and Hebrew people believe that this is the site of the origins of man. He also mentioned that this is also where Abraham brought his son Isaac as a sacrifice. The city of David was also discovered in the Kidron valley near to the spring.

Solomon, David’s son was the first on to build on Mount Moriah, which was the location of the first temple. This temple stood until 586BC when the Assyrians attacked it and then Nebuchadnezzar came and Jerusalem was destroyed. After the destruction it stood as rubble until Nehemiah came and rebuilt the city and temple which was later expanded by Herod in order to accommodate all of the pilgrims, it was then that Mount Moriah was then renamed the temple mount.

The Mount of Olives is the site where Jesus wept over the city before entering in through the double golden gates also known as the gate of the mercies. It was also pointed out that the Mount of Olives is also know as the mount of ascension, because this is the site where Jesus left the disciples to enter into Heaven. 32 years after his ascension the Romans demolished the city leaving only the four walls of the temple mount because they were too big and strong to be torn down.

The group read from Matt 23:37 about how Jesus wept over the city and had our morning devotional in the garden of Gethsemane. This is also the location of where Christ prayed that the cup might pass which was a representation of our sin. But he took it so that we might become his righteousness. The dirt that represents our sin he was praying about in the garden is what his death washed away. In my journal I made a keepsake or memorial with the dirt of the garden and formed a dove of peace as seen below.

As we continue on our journey to Mount Zion and the upper room, our guide pointed out Absalomon's monument, which can be found in the cemetery outside of the golden gate. The pit that we visited at this site was thought to be where Jesus may have been kept before his trial. Zion’s gate faces Mount Zion and also where we entered to get to the upper room. This is the site of the last supper and where the Holy Spirit infused the disciples and the beginning of Pentecost and the first church. As we ascend on foot we are reminded that these stones we are walking on are the same stairs that Jesus would have walked as he traversed from Mount Zion to the Kidron Valley. Pastor Keith Smith read Psalms 88 as we visited the pit.

As with a lot of the heritage sites, they have been purchased by many churches. The Greek Orthodox Monastery for example currently resides on top of Potters field bought with the thirty silver pieces from Judas. After lunch we re-entered the city through the Lions gate and started our tour at the pools of Bethsaida. I also wanted to mention that the Lions gate is on the same side of the city as the Golden gate. It has also been called and known as St. Stephens gate, in memory of the Martyr who was stoned at Saul’s feet.  Before visiting the pool we had a chance to visit St. Anne’s church in which we had the privilege to sing Amazing Grace and listen to the beautiful acoustics.

Aaron our guide mentioned that the pools were very large reservoirs and measured 50 x 60 meters. You are probable more familiar with this location because this is also where the angel would stir the water from time to time and heal the sick that entered in at the right moment. This is also where Jesus healed the lame man who could not walk. From here we continued on to the church of Zion via Dolorosa road (Latin,"Way of Grief" or "Way of Suffering"). During the time of Jesus it has been calculated that 100,000 people lived in this ancient city. The church is in the same place as the fortress where Herod would often reside and he called it Antonia fortress. This was also the location of the prefix Pontius Pilate. Here we were able to see the street that most likely the Romans walked on and played games. It is also thought to be a part of the journey Jesus made on his way to the cross.

Picture of a game carved into the stone road.

After leaving the ancient road we went to visit the Garden tomb, and on our way Aaron showed us the site of a cliff at whose base were found human remains people most likely stone to death. This is what they consider to be the most likely location of Golgotha.

The garden tomb we visited thought to be the last resting place of Christ before his ascension was marked by what was thought to be the very first Christian symbol representing the cross.

Because of Merna’s vision impairment they afforded us extra time and access to what is usually gated to the public. She was allowed to touch what is believed to be the ledge where Jesus’ body once laid long ago. Needless to say it was an emotionally event for all of us. We concluded the day by taking communion together and singing praises to our Lord and saviour.