Trip - Part VIII

(For those who were on the trip with me, my notes are not complete, and as you know, everything tends to run together sometimes. I have been home a few days not...I am not sure of the exact order of these events....so don't e-mail me with corrections :) )

First stop today is the Mt. of Olives overlook. What a view of the ancient walls of the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock! It is a clear, warm morning. We walked down into the Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations. This stop is always very inspiring. This probably is the same site where Jesus came to pray before being arrested. There is a gnarled, twisted olive tree that has been dated as being 2,000 years old. It may have been a silent witness to the scene.

The garden gives an unobstructed view across the Kidron Valley to see the Eastern Gate. Sealed by massive stones this is probably the gate that Jesus entered to reach the Temple from the east. It is also the gate that many believe the Messiah will return in the end days. The Turks sealed it and put a Muslim cemetery in front of it, knowing that few will desecrate a cemetery to get to the gate. Also called the Golden Gate, this is another of my favorite sites.

To the Archaeological Garden/Davidson Center adjacent to the Western Wall (we will visit this later.)
Also called the ‘southern steps’ these are the excavated steps that led into the Temple Mount from the south part of the city. Jesus and so many other characters from Scripture probably walked up these very steps. Then a short walk to see the “Herodian Street” on the south western corner of the walls. When the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70AD large stones from the Temple Mount walls were thrown down into the streets below. Ancient, stone pavement, broken and buckled have been uncovered – and now we walk up on them.

To the Western Wall. This is the day of the week for Bar Mitzvah celebrations. Jewish families with someone blowing a shofar and beating a drum, dance and celebrate the passage of the 13 year old boy into manhood. The men on the left and the women, separated by a 6’ high barrier, on the right. I see women of all ages, and obviously from a wide variety of nations – many dressed in their national garb. We walk down to the Wall, stop and pray. It is an amazing site. Again I stand there and breath a prayer of thanksgiving for the blessing of being able to stand there once again, I pray for my family and for several other needs and promises made to people.

To the Museum of Israel. Viewing of the “Jerusalem Model.” What the city must have looked like at the time of Jesus. Into the “Shrine of the Book” to view parts of the Dead Sea Scroll- actual fragments and replicas.

A walk through the Jewish Quarter to the Temple Institute. Few tour groups visit here. This is my second time. A guide tells us of the goal of the Temple Institute to provide all the necessary items for the Third Temple. We saw the actual Table of Show Bread and Garments of the High Priest. When asked if the actual building blocks of the Third Temple are ready, the man sheepishly just says, “We are working on it.” When it is time for the Third Temple to be built on the Temple Mount, I am sure it will take a very short time for it to go up.

We also visited the church over the site of the home of the High Priest, Caiaphas. There is a deep pit in the base where prisoners were kept. It is a sobering thought to think that the Lord Jesus Christ suffered in this area before being taken to the Romans.

Tonight after dinner the group returns to the area of the Western Wall to tour the Kotel, or “Rabbi Tunnel.” This underground passage extends from the area of the Wailing Wall, to the north-west corner of the wall. As we walk the narrow passage we see, and even touch, the original massive stones that made up the base of the walls for the ancient Temple Mount.