Holy Land Journey
Today was our first full day in Jerusalem. We started at the Mount of Olives where Jesus often went. We walked down to the Garden of Gethesmane, along the same path that Jesus took when entering the city on Palm Sunday. In the Garden, we read from the Bible, had private time and then enjoyed worship together as a group.
View of the Mount of Olives
We then took a short bus ride to the House of the High Priest, where Jesus was imprisoned.
The steps Jesus took to the House of Caiaphas, the High Priest
We then continued on to Mt. Zion, the original City of David, where we visited the Upper Room – the traditional site where Jesus instituted a new Passover celebration and the new covenant in His blood.
The Upper Room
We then walked through the streets of Old Jerusalem on our way to the pools of Bethseda.
The streets of Old Jerusalem
Unfortunately, it was at this point that I started to feel very sick. I actually threw up in the streets (thankfully made it to a grate with a water spout over it), and so didn’t feel up to visiting the pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed the cripple. I did, however, sit in the Church of St. Anne for a little bit.
Church of St. Anne, the mother of the virgin Mary
Highlights
In the Garden of Gethesame, there was an Olive Tree that was 2000 years old!
Mom beside 2000 year old olive tree
I found it quite an emotional day, especially when walking the same path that Jesus took when entering the city on Palm Sunday, and sitting in the Garden of Gethsemane.
At the Rock of Agony
How can people deny Christ? What a great diary – beautiful photos. Sorry you were sick, though!~
That’s a great question, Glynis. It boggles my mind that anyone would deny Jesus!
Yep great recollections. I can picture you walking that road and feeling His Spirit.
Sorry you got sick.
Blessings,
Janis
I would love to return to Israel just to walk the streets of the Old City once again. It’s so much to take in, it was too bad that I was feeling so unwell.
I also found the High Priest’s house to be an (unexpected) highlight. I found it especially powerful to stand in what looked like a courtyard, where Peter might have stood by the fire.
Like you, Duane, I had many unexpected highlights throughout this journey too! It’s one thing to read about it in the Bible and but it’s so different to actually stand in the same spot the events took place.