Due to Covid-19, my 2020 Israel trip was canceled. Therefore, I am assembling this post from the archives of three different trips. It’s a “patchwork quilt” with several short videos and an original poem at the end.
A week before His brutal death, Jesus spent time with Mary, Martha and Lazarus in Bethphage (pronounced Beth-fah’-jee), just outside Jerusalem.
Also known as Bethany, today it is predominantly Arab in culture, not well-recorded, and off the beaten path of most tourists.
High on a hill is the Jerusalem House of Prayer (JHOP). It’s pretty secluded, and for obvious reasons, you have to call ahead to be let in through a locked gate.
The roof top prayer room is unique, with a hole in the center. Hopefully, there’s a cover for the rainy season.
From the observation deck, this is the view looking west, toward the Mount of Olives.
Divided into 12 equal sections, with a 360° view, the observation deck allows for the entire world to be covered in prayer.
You can see by the map, that prayer is scheduled around the clock- 24/7.
People come here, on their own time, to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the world.
Facing south towards Bethlehem, the green dot is approximately the location of Lazarus’ tomb.
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In Jesus’ time, this walled village was the only area outside the walls of Jerusalem considered an official part of the city.
The Tower of the Ascension, (visible above and below) is located atop the Mount of Olives. Here we view it from Bethphage.
Here you see it from the other side of the Mount of Olives, in Jerusalem. (The dome is the Muslim Al Aqsa Mosque in the Old City).
Again, in an attempt to clarify distance, the same bell tower is visible on the right, above the Western Wall. (Dome of the Rock is on the left.)
The Kidron Valley is the relatively narrow expanse between the base of the Mount of Olives and the Old City of Jerusalem.
In the world’s largest Jewish cemetery, graves blanket the adjacent slopes across the Kidron Valley.
On the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives, the ancient stones are bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun.
When facing east, the City of David lies to the right or slightly south. This is where you would find the Gihon Spring and Hezekiah’s Tunnel.
To reiterate, when Jesus rode the colt from Bethphage, he came over the Mount of Olives, perhaps a 1-1/2 mile ride.
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Traversing the Kidron Valley, Jesus rode up the eastern slope and through the East, or Golden Gate, of the Old City.
Unlike the other seven gates, or entry points to the Old City, the east-facing Golden Gate has been sealed shut since the 16th century.
https://theculturetrip.com/middle-east/israel/articles/the-story-behind-jerusalems-sealed-golden-gate/
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Although the city of Jerusalem looked different in Jesus’ time, I would imagine it was similar in its bustling humanity.
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I imagine it could look like this if they had cars back then.
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And of course, the excitement of the Pesach (Passover) shopping in the open-air market…
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After walking through Western Wall Plaza, I left the Old City by the Dung Gate, heading for the Garden of Gethsemane. (Follow the green dots.)
Outside the walls, I get a great shot of the Al Aqsa mosque. Muslim and highly restrictive, I have never been tempted to visit.
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Another 10 minutes brought me to the Church of All Nations. I don’t usually do churches, but today I made an exception for my readers that enjoy them.
I hit my limit quickly, and headed out to visit the Garden of Gethsemane next door. Here’s a link if you need more…
Does anyone else see the form of a person standing in front of this tree?
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More impressive in person, the praying form of Jesus is carved in the rock.
Carbon dating and DNA analysis support the premise that six of these olive trees are offspring of the ones Jesus prayed beneath the night of His arrest.
A week after His triumphal entry, the Temple guards of the Sanhedrin apprehended Him here.
He was not taken by surprise; rather, He went there willingly, knowing all that awaited Him. (Luke 9:51)
His frightened disciples escaped in the darkness to this garden across the road, as the soldiers surrounded Jesus and hustled Him away.
They took Him to Pontius Pilate, who pronounced a judgement of death.
Scourged and beaten, they paraded Him through the throngs of people in the city- some gawking, some mocking.
The Cardo, or grand main thoroughfare of commerce, was common to many large cities.
Scorned and jeered at- regarded as a common criminal- Jesus likely passed through something similar, on His way to the Damascus Gate.
It can be difficult to think in terms of thousands of years, but these stones were here in 586 BC, at the time of the Babylonian captivity.
It was fascinating to peer into this window and see the 2600+ year old stones that Jesus may have passed on His way through the city.
Steps away, the Temple Institute endeavors to build the Third Temple and is positioning itself to do so.
Photographs were not allowed on the tour, but here is a brief video that shows it better than I could.
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The gift shop raises funds with the sale of books and puzzles, as well as golden menorahs and temple replicas.
I found this little TV ad and “The Children Are Ready” campaign quite compelling.
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Orthodox Jewish boys look out at the Western Wall plaza, proposed site of the new temple.
The red string bracelets being hawked are part of a genre of folk traditions having to do with ayin hara, or the evil eye, popular with Kabbalah and religious forms of Judaism.
Temple construction efforts are hampered by a plethora of issues, but most inflammatory is that Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock are Islamic.
Hebrews 13:12 (KJV) Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without (outside) the gate.
Damascus Gate, on the northern wall of the city, is diagonally across from Golgotha, and most likely where they brought Him out.
Mark 15:22 (KJV) “And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, the place of a skull.
Whether upon a cross, a stake or a tree, Jesus Christ of Nazareth nonetheless endured a painful death for the sins of the world- past, present and future.
And at the ninth hour, Jesus shouted in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, my God, for what have you forsaken me?”
~POEM ALERT~
I wrote this poem for my dear friend Don McMann in 2017, a year before he lost his battle with ALS. I hope it blesses you.
It came to me one midnight clearly, an image in my head;
How You had paid for my sin dearly, and I sat up straight in bed.
Though it pained me terribly to watch, I could not look away,
As You, a perfect, sinless man, proved Your love for me that day.
You were ridiculed and beaten, led to the cross and bound;
Blood running freely from Your stripes, pouring on the ground.
I watched in silent horror, could not believe my eyes,
The atrocities inflicted, until Your Spirit slipped its ties.
Muttered curses, wicked deeds- each sin commands a price;
So You went there willingly for me, My Savior, Jesus Christ.
Your pierced and tortured body, laid so lovingly in the grave;
How could I know, that in three days, you’d walk out of that cave?
For just a very little time, You walked the earth and then
You said goodbye, with promises that You would come again.
The legacy You left behind was to meet each other’s needs,
With loving kindness, gentleness, patience, and good deeds.
So take my pride before I fall, and give me ears to hear;
Eyes to see, so I can recognise You when You’re near.
Let me choose the narrow path, and not the one that’s worn
By those who heed not righteousness, filled with wrath and scorn.
Give me faith like wings, that I may fly ever closer to Your light;
Confident and unafraid through the darkness of the night.
Let me hear Your voice reminding me that I am not alone;
Steadfast and unwavering, as that first bright Star that shone.
Give me strength and courage to venture forth each day;
To dare to spread Your loving Word in all I do and say.
Make me a bold witness of Your glory and Your love;
Ever grateful, always thankful, for Your blessings from Above.
In this season of Passover, Pesach or Easter, the empty tomb is a reminder that He is coming back for His Bride. That includes every man, woman and child on the face of the earth. That includes you. Love and peace! MH
~BLESSING ALERT~
That was so awesome I was so moved and inspired. God has given you the gift of words pictures and the passion to share with the world. The way your words with each pictures explaining everything every detail gives us everyone so much hope and insperatilon, words can’t express how this has made me feel. So thank you for sharing the gift God has given you.