Day 8 – Sunday, March 27: Mt. Of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Old City, Pool of Bethesda, Holy Sepulcher Church, Herodium, Bethlehem
Today was our first day in the Jerusalem area. We enjoyed full sunny skies, with a high around 60. We started on the Mt. of Olives and ended in Bethlehem.
Mt. of Olives
We left the hotel at 7:35 and drove around the north end of the Old City enroute to the Mt. of Olives. The view of the Old City and Temple Mount was stunning from here. Walking down to Domius Flavet, a small chapel, we read from Luke 19 and Zechariah 14 about the kingship of Jesus. On the Temple Mount today stands the Dome of the Rock. In the days of the Bible, the 1st and 2nd Temples stood there.
Garden of Gethsemane
Walking down the western slope of the Mt. of Olives we arrived at a private olive tree garden where we considered the passion of Jesus. The Garden of Gethsemane could have been located anywhere on this western slope of the hill. We read from Luke 22 where we heard, “Not my will but yours be done.”
Eastern Gate
From here we walked up to the Old City to get a close-up view of the Eastern Gate. According to some, this gate has been closed since 810 AD, and perhaps a few times during the Crusader Period. We read from Ezekiel 44 about how the Messiah will walk through the Easter Gate of the city.
Holy Sepulcher Church
Walking through the Lion’s Gate (or St. Stephen’s & Jericho Gate), we entered the Old City. We walked to the Holy Sepulcher Church, the probable location for the crucifixion and burial site of Jesus. The church was built in 325 AD, but rebuilt over the centuries since then. Entering the church we saw the Edicule that encloses the proposed tomb of Jesus.
Herodium
After lunch in the Christian Quarter, we met David and drove in the bus southeast to Herodium. This was one of Herod the Great’s palace-fortresses. We climbed the site and saw the ruins. The view from here of was excellent as well. We could see Jerusalem to the north, Bethlehem to there west, Tekoa to the south, and the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea to the east. We also walked through the cistern system. We saw the royal arches and stairs, many frescoes, and the small theater. Herod was buried here in 4 BC after dying in Jericho.
“Jerusalem is an amazing city! It is a wonderful blend between the old and the new. Everywhere you turn you can see something old from the days of the Bible. But the new growth and development of buildings is also impressive.”
Shepherds’ Fields & Bethlehem
In Beit Sahour, an eastern suburb of Bethlehem, we visited the traditional Shepherds’ Fields. Entering a cave, we considered the role of the shepherds in the birth narrative of Jesus. We read form Micah 5 and Luke 2. In celebration of God’s redemptive plan “just at the right time” (Galatians 4:4), we sang a few Christmas carols here and in the Chapel of the Shepherds. From here we drove into Bethlehem and enjoyed an olive wood factory and store.
En route to returning to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner, we made a brief stop overlooking the city from the Promenade. This southerly view of the city was incredible! What a great first day here in the Jerusalem area!
Day 9 – Monday, March 28: Pools of Bethesda & St. Anne’s Church, David’s Citadel & Herod’s Palace, Herodian Mansion, Shorashim, Yad Vashem
