DAY 10 – TUESDAY, APRIL 19
The Garden Tomb (Jerusalem)
Today was our last day here in Jerusalem! We had full sun once again, with temps around 85. Leaving about 8:30 today, we drove to the north side of the Old City to the Garden Tomb. This is a second possible site for both the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. We had a wonderful guide from the Garden Tomb show us the “place of the skull” as well as the suggested tomb of Christ. While we worship the “Person” and not the “place,” the setting provided a great image of what the tomb area may have looked like. We enjoyed a time of worship and Communion as well together. It was a special time!
From here we spent the next two hours at the City of David. We saw many things here, including the excavations of David’s palace and the eastern slope of this city conquered by David (2 Samuel 5), “Warren’s Shaft,” and the Gihon Spring. Many also walked through Hezekiah’s tunnel (2 Kings 20, 2 Chronicles 32, Isaiah 36-37), a water tunnel that still flows with water from the Gihon Spring, while others walked through the “dry” Canaanite tunnel. Both groups converged at the Pool of Siloam where we enjoyed a “narrative” reading of John 9.
Hezekiah’s Tunnel
Our last site we visited was the “southern wall excavations.” About half the group arrived here by walking through the Roman “drainage channel” that runs under the Roman street that came from the Temple Mount area at the SW corner of the Temple. Here we saw the remains of “Robinson’s Arch” as well as the huge stones of the Temple brought down to the ground in the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. Walking east to the very Temple steps that would have been used in Jesus’ day to enter the Temple itself, we slowly ascended these steps. We recalled all the stories that took place here (i.e. Luke 2, 18, John 10, Mark 12, Acts 2). We paused to reflect how the spirit of God inspires us to be the “temple” of God (2 Cor. 3:16).
For the next two hours we enjoyed some free time. Many shopped, while others grabbed a bite and relaxed. It was a nice leisurely way to end a great day.
Roman street at south-wall excavations
Returning to the hotel, we freshened up a bit before boarding the bus for the final time. Driving to our “farewell dinner,” we enjoyed a time of great food and fellowship. Those flying home tonight boarded the bus en route to the airport, while those going to Egypt (with some going to Jordan), walked back to the hotel.
This is the end of a life-changing tour together with a wonderful group!
DAY 11 – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20: ARRIVE IN U.S.A. OR FLIGHT TO CAIRO FOR OPTIONAL EXTENSION