Israel Day 4

We woke up to rain this morning. Our tour guide Peleg told us it hasn’t rained since April. It only rains on average 60 days a year in Israel. The weather is cool here in Jerusalem.

The Eastern Gate will Christ will return. The Eastern Gate of Jerusalem is also called the Golden Gate or the Beautiful Gate. Ezekiel prophecies the Messiah will pass through the Eastern Gate when He comes to rule. The Gate was sealed shut by the Muslims attempting to thwart Jesus with sixteen feet of cement and remains shut today.

Church of the Nations

Garden of Gethsemane- where Jesus prayed and was arrested right before the crucifixion. 

                                               

Spot where Jesus prayed.

A 2,000 year old tree!

Tomb of the Virgin

Jesus’ grandparents Anne and Joachim's tomb

                                                            Where Judas portrayed Jesus.

                                                

                                                          

                                                           Panoramic view of the city.

                                                                       An Olive Press. 

Random feral kitty!

Next we went to the Israel History Museum - here we saw the Dead Sea Scrolls.

After the history museum we headed for the Garden Tomb and Skull Hill. It was an amazing experience. We also took communion while we were there.

Golgotha also known as  Skull Hill

An Empty Tomb is there to prove my savior lives….

                                               

                                                                                             

                                                                            

                                               

Inside the tomb.

The wine press that is right outside the tomb was unearthed in 1924. The wine press is symbolic

of Jesus’ death. As he was crushed and bruised for our iniquities so are olives crushed for their oil.

After the Garden Tomb we went to the Upper Room and Tomb of King David.

                                                 

Both of these places are on Mt. Zion.

Then we walked down the old streets of Jerusalem and found a bite to eat.

Keep in mind this was Friday midday. The Jewish begin their Shabbot at sundown so shops and restaurants were starting to close. Thankfully we found a Christian ran restaurant so we were good to go. We had to climb 3 flights of stairs to the top of the restaurant but we did have a beautiful view out over the city of old Jerusalem.

We had our choice of chicken or vegetarian schwarma- a type of sandwich with pickled vegetables and meat. 

After some nourishment we went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  

Some traditions teach that this is the site where Jesus was crucified. 

And Jesus's empty tomb, is believed to be here too. So, like all over Jerusalem where places are considered to be holy, they built a church. 

Was it the Garden Tomb site? Was it the site of the Holy Sepulcher? No one really knows for sure. There are opinions and arguments for both places. 

The reason no one really knows is because there was never any reason for the disciples and the followers of Jesus to ever go back to the burial site. Why build a shrine for the living? Jesus was not there any longer. He was risen from the dead! He is alive!

Some kneeling,

some kissing, some praying and some leaving gifts at the spot they think Jesus is buried.

Said to be the site of Golgotha as opposed to the Garden Tomb site.

                                               This is the tomb they think Jesus was buried in.

Said to be the place where the angels appeared to Mary Magdalene and proclaim the body of Jesus was resurrected

Overlooking Jerusalem as we walked back to the Western Wall for Shabbat.

We ended our day at the Wailing Wall - it was a significant time- the start of Shabbat. Friday at sun down the Jewish holy day begins. Many many people converge on the Wailing Wall at this time to pray. Women and men alike are dressed in their finest. For the next 24 hours they observe Shabbat and no work is done. You better write your prayer before you get there- otherwise writing is considered work. They take their Shabbat very serious.