Jerusalem - Bethlehem

May 24, Monday
Our first destination this morning was the Mount of Olives where we had a panoramic view of the Kidron Valley, the city of Jerusalem, the Temple, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Mercy Gate into the City through which it is believed Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We saw Jewish, Christian and Muslim graveyards filled with people who felt it significant to be buried near Jerusalem. Since Jews are not allowed to cross cemeteries and they believe the gate is where they will enter Jerusalem in the end times, the Muslims built their cemetery right outside the city gate, believing they can thus stop the Jews from entering Jerusalem at the end times.

The Golden Dome is a mosque on top of the temple mount. Also called Mt Moriah. This is a picture from the Mount of Olives looking over the Kidron Brook.
On the Mount of Olives we read the story of the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem from Luke 19:28 – 48. We walked down the steep streets of Jerusalem (along with thousands of other visitors to Jerusalem) to visit what traditions says is the Upper Room and is now a part of a Moslem mosque. This building has a dome with a rooster at the top, as a reminder that this is where Jesus told Peter that before the rooster crowed he would deny Him three times. We entered the House of Caiaphas where Jesus was beaten and spit upon. We walked down into a deep crypt, where Jesus was most likely held on the last night of His life.

Olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed.

We went to Bethlehem this afternoon. Since Bethlehem is in Palestine, our Israeli bus, driver and guide could not go with us. We were driven to the security check point and then got on a different bus with a Palestinian driver and guide. After eating lunch in Bethlehem we toured the place where it is believed that Jesus was born. The Church of the Nativity is built over the spot where it is believed that Jesus was born. We went down into the crypt to see what tradition says is his manger. We sat in the cave where it is believed that the angel appeared to Joseph and told him to flee to Egypt with Mary and his newborn son. Our group sang “Away in a Manger” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” inside the “cave” and “Joy to the World” as we stood in the outside courtyard.
Other events to remember with Bethlehem include: Rachel the wife of Jacob being buried here; Ruth and Naomi came here and Ruth married Boaz and gave birth to Obed, the father of Jesse the father of David.

Modern Bethlehem

We sat in the cave that St. Jerome inhabited as he translated the Bible (Vulgate) from Hebrew and Greek to Latin. We saw a beautiful artistic portrayal of Samuel coming to Jesse’s home to anoint David as king which was made in 2009.

Although structures have been built over what is believed to be the actual sites that are so key to Christianity, and although the ancient city is now a modern city filled with tourists who come to see what we came to see, and although it is no longer exactly like it was when Jesus walked these streets it is amazing, incredible and remarkable to walk where Jesus walked, up and down the hills, across all kinds of terrain. As we were surrounded by crowds of people today, it struck us that Jesus too was surrounded by the crowds and as we strained to hear every word of our tour guide they too were following we focused on what the Teacher was saying. Just as some people in the crowd today were less patient and gracious than others, so too, Jesus had people in his midst who were not happy about the crowds He attracted.