Israel Day 7

Monday, April 27, 2015

Started our day early, 6:15 am. 

Our 1^st stop-The Western (Wailing) Wall (the traditional site of Solomon’s Temple).

The only remnant of the Temple after the Roman destruction was the western retaining wall of the Temple’s supporting platform.  This wall became the focus of Jewish pilgrimage and mourning.  Today, it’s considered Judaism’s holiest shrine.

We all spent time there for reflection and prayer also slipping our prayer papers in the wall.  We all observed the Jewish men and women as they prayed and mourned.  It was

a very moving experience.

Next stop-Rabbinical Tunnel

We descended underground to the base of the Temple Mount, the First Century street of Jerusalem.  Our Lord & Savior Jesus walked these streets, how amazing is this experience!  We are standing/walking on the SAME streets He walked upon!

We also looked at the size of the stones used by Herod as he expanded the Temple Mount, they are huge!  It is suggested that just one of these stones weighs about 450-550 tons, massive.

From there we went to walk the Via Dolorosa-“Way of Sorrow”, “Stations of the Cross”.  This is the traditional route Jesus followed bearing His cross from Pilate’s Judgement Hall in the Antonia, to Golgotha, the site of the crucifixion.  There are 14 Stations of the Cross.  We ended at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the holiest churches located in Jerusalem.

From here, we returned to the hotel for breakfast!  At 10:45 am we are off again!

Next stop-Sanctuary of Bethany

Bethany means:  house of poor; house of poverty.  Bethany is 1 ½ miles away from Jerusalem, on the eastern slope of the Mt. of Olives and was a place of rest and refuge for Jesus.  Here He knew the intimacy and friendship of Mary, Martha, & Lazarus, he often stayed with them (Spring of the Son-first place Jesus met Mary, sister of Martha).  This is also the place where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

The present Catholic Church, with mosaics depicting the events that occurred here, was built in 1954 by architect Antonio Barluzzi.  Joseph our guide told us the church has been looted 3 times in the past 5 years with chandeliers, candelabra’s, & chalice’s, etc. stolen).  The church was built over the home of Mary, Martha, & Lazarus.  A quote on the door of the church read:  “Consecrated men and women believe in Christ.  Participate in the Church.  Witness in society”.  We all sat down together inside the church and Pastor Drew read scripture: John 11:16-44.  We sang “How Deep the Father’s Love” and Pastor Drew ended in prayer.

We saw an olive oil press from ancient times.  The word Gethsemane means: the garden of the oil press.  They would put the olives in baskets and stack them one on top of the other, then turn the press to push down the baskets to squeeze out the oil.  You could press them up to seven times.  The first 3 pressings were edible (1^st pressing-EVOO, 2^nd pressing-VOO).  The next four pressings could be used for cooking, medical treatment, oil for lamps (only source of light then), and as anointing oil.  The olive trees live for thousands of years!

Today in villages and the West Bank people use their olive trees as sellable land.  But if you sell your trees/land you are then considered a disgrace by family and village.

When leaving the church headed back to our chariot (bus), the camel got everyone’s attention!  Some of our group decided they wanted to ride the camel and they did for $3.00 a ride!  Their reward for riding you ask??  A big ole kiss from the camel!

Some facts about camels courtesy of Joseph:  they can go without food or water in the desert for up to 4 weeks.  When camels do drink, they can consume 60 gallons of water at one time.  Camel’s feet are suited for the desert; they won’t sink in the sand.  These are just a few of the reasons they are known as: “The Ship of the Desert”.

Next stop-Mt. Zion

During the Byzantine period a church named Holy Mary of Zion was built where the abbey stands today.  The Catholics believe Mary ascended to heaven.

The entrance gate has 2 names: 1.) The Zion Gate, leads to Mt. Zion.  2.) Prophet David’s Gate, what the Moslems call it.  During Israel’s War of Independence, Mt. Zion was the scene of fierce battles between Jewish & Arab forces.  The numerous bullet holes on the façade of Zion’s Gate are evidence of these battles.

Room of the Last Supper = The Upper Room  (Matt. 26:17-25)

The building is from the Crusader period.  This is where Jesus washed the feet of the disciples (that was a servant’s job at that time).  They shared a meal together (the table was probably a Triclinium, a three sided table with cushions & pillows around it for leaning).  They took the bread and gave the wine here (Covenant).

From here Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Next we see “King David’s Tomb” which is located in what is now a synagogue on Mt. Zion.  Although his body is really buried somewhere else (has not been found), this place is a holy site for the Jew’s.  They come to view the Sarcophagus (flesh eater/coffin) and pray.

This site was also the House of Caiaphas, the high priest of the Jews at the time of Jesus.  St. Peter in Gallicatu means “where the rooster crowed”.  The house consisted of 3 layers; the bottom layer is where the “Sacred Pit”, “Dungeon” is located.  This is where Jesus was held after his arrest, the night before His crucifixion.

We all went down in the “Pit” and Pastor Drew read Psalm 88 (I don’t think any of us will ever read that Psalm again without “being in” that Pit).  We sang: Wonderful Cross & Were You There When They Crucified My Lord.  At this point in the past, the lights in the Pit would have been turned out so that you could experience the total darkness and loneliness of being in that Pit just as Jesus was, but the lights can no longer be turned off.  Still it was an emotional experience for many of us.  Pastor Drew closed us in prayer and we left the Pit.

We now come to the steps coming from the upper room that Jesus and the disciples walked going to the Garden of Gethsemane.  These are the same steps the Roman soldiers brought Jesus up after His arrest to see the High Priest.  These steps are considered “Holy Steps”.  We were allowed to walk on the first five steps at the top, WOW, to have our feet on the same steps where our Savior’s feet had been!  Amazing feeling & experience.  Great way to bring a close to our day, now back to the hotel for dinner and sleep.