Day 6: Mount of Olives (Garden of Gethsemane), City of David (Hezekiah's Tunnel), Bethlehem, and Rabbinical Tunnels

Day 6: Today we are in Jerusalem, the City of David and Bethlehem. It is another wonderful day!

 We started our day with at the Mount of Olives and walked the old Palm Sunday Road down to the Garden of Gethsemane where got to see the oldest olives trees in the world. One is over 2000 years old so would have been alive when Jesus was in Jerusalem. We read scripture from Matthew and Luke and then had quiet meditation for about half an hour. What a way to start our first full day in Jerusalem.

The sunrise over Jerusalem. This was the view from Mr. Davenport's room. He had the "king's suite!"

The view from our hotel terrace. It is a stunning view.

Walking to our bus to begin our day of adventures.

We walk through the Damascus Gate as we leave our hotel each morning.

The city walls of Jerusalem.

Mount of Olives
Standing on the Mount of Olives, it is easy to see why Jesus and his disciples often retreated to this place when visiting Jerusalem. The beautiful olive trees scattered over the mountain provide shade while allowing a clear view of the majestic city of Jerusalem. It was from this mountain view that Jesus wept for Jerusalem, longing to gather her to himself (Luke 19:37-41). It was from the Mount of Olives that Jesus made his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:1-17). Jesus also ascended from the Mount of Olives after his resurrection (Acts 1:6-12). While standing on this historic mount, some of our group read the prophecy concerning the return of Christ on the Mount of Olives from Zechariah 14:4-9.

Looking into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.

Our lesson on the history of Jerusalem.

The Dome of the Rock is a mosque on the temple mount. The golden dome can be seen easily on the skyline of the city.

Gazing upon the city of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

Looking over the Kidron Valley.

The Golden Gate where Jews believed the Messiah would enter Jerusalem.

Lisa and Christian Cate

Mr. Davenport

Jewish tombs on the east of Jerusalem. They believe they will be the first to rise from the dead when the Messiah comes.

Our walk down the Palm Sunday Road.

Christian and Rachael

The first Christian cemetery in Jerusalem contains boxes marked with a cross to signify that person was a follower of Christ.

Reed and Sam.

Ellie, Annie, Sarah, Hailey, and Hannah

A Russian Orthodox pilgrimage church.

Abby gazes on Jerusalem

Jade listens to Fares through headphones while she surveys Jerusalem.

The walls of Jerusalem are so beautiful.

Mrs. Mynatt takes an opportunity to teach!

Lexi and Jaide

Mrs. Starnes

What a wonderful group!

Ellie and Hannah

Olive trees are scattered throughout the hillside.

As our journey continues toward Jerusalem, we remember Christ's Triumphal Entry along this route.

The Mercy Gate where Jews believed that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem. Muslims buried their dead all around the gate to make it unclean and then sealed the gate to prevent the Messiah's coming. Nevertheless, we know that nothing can stop our King from returning for us when and where he chooses, hallelujah!

The Garden of Gethsemane

In Hebrew, Gethsemane means "olive press," a fitting description for this garden where Jesus was crushed with the weight of his approaching suffering. As we gathered to read Matthew 26: 36-46 and Luke 22:47-54, we could picture Jesus as he prayed so fervently that sweat drops of blood dropped to the ground. We could almost hear the soldiers as they came to this place to arrest our Savior. We could feel the kiss of the betrayer and the desertion of his disciples. This is a place to pray that we "enter not into temptation." This is a place to confess that you are the one who is guilty and deserving of death. This is a place to pour out your heart to the one who poured out His life for you!

Mrs. Starnes reading to us from Luke.

Our meditation time.

The Church of All Nations also known as the Church of the Agony contains a large fragment of the on rock on which Jesus is believed to have prayed on that night. The rock is surrounded by a crown of thorns made of wrought iron.

The City of David
When King David took control of Jerusalem from the Jebusites, he called it the City of David (2 Samuel 5:5-12). The Lord prospered David, sending men from Tyre to build David's palace. Today, the City of David is also known as Ancient Jerusalem. Many refer to it as "the place where it all began."

Looking back over the Kidron Valley from the city of David

The City of David was built by David but now is outside the gates of Jerusalem. The walls have been built and rebuilt many times over 3000 years.

These steps used to lead up to the temple. The path is now closed.

Lexi enjoys her coffee with a close-up view of Jerusalem.

We watched an excellent movie on how the City of David was built.

Hezekiah's Tunnel and the Pool of Siloam
Hezekiah built a tunnel to protect Jerusalem's water supply. The tunnel runs under the City of David to the Pool of Siloam. It is believed that Hezekiah built the tunnel to defend against the Assyrian army that had already taken the Northern Kingdom captive.

Making our way down to the tunnels: some chose the dry route built by the Canaanites and some took Hezekiah's wet tunnel. We loved walking though the only fresh water spring in Jerusalem.

The water was cool and so clear.

Exiting for Hezekiah's Tunnel to the Spring of Shiloam

The spring that leads to the Pool of Shiloam

Pool of Shiloam where Jesus performed one of his three miracles in Jerusalem when he told the blind man to wash the mud from his eyes at this pool.

A beautiful smile from Cindy Carroll after walking through the tunnel!

Bethlehem
Everyone anticipated going to Bethlehem. Ruth married Boaz in Bethlehem and became the great-grandmother of King David. Because David was born and grew up tending his father's sheep in Bethlehem, it is also known as the City of David. Most importantly, this city just outside of Jerusalem is dear to us as the birthplace of our Savior. In Hebrew, Bethlehem means House of Bread. Indeed, this is where the Bread of Life was sent down from heaven for us.

Just before lunch we drove into Bethlehem, which is under Palestinian authority, and visited a wonderful olive wood store. Many lovely purchases were made. The shop is owned by Palestinian Christians. They number only 20% of the population in this city.

We had a delicious lunch of kebabs in Bethlehem. Many said it was our best meal so far. The fresh mint lemonade was amazing!

Church of the Nativity
After lunch, we visited the Church of the Nativity. It marks the area where Jesus was born. There is a cave inside the church, but it feels rather strange to think this is the place where he was born. On Saturday, we will visit the shepherd's fields and cave that mark the place where the angels appeared to the shepherds. The cave there is similar to the type of cave in which Jesus would have been born.

This small entrance was added after warriors from Egypt brought horses into the church to fight Christians during the crusades.

The Church of the Nativity is the oldest church in the world that was not ever completely destroyed.

The altar in the Church of the Nativity.

The star marks the place of Jesus's birth.

Rabbinical Tunnels
After the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70, only the Western Wall remained standing. Excavation along the wall gave greater access to the ancient wall since most of it is now underground. We walked from our hotel along the stone streets to the wall as the sun was setting. The darkness increased the reverence and majesty of this place of prayer.

We caught a glimpse of the Western Wall before we entered the Rabbinical Tunnels.

Our lesson the the geography of the city and the walls and temple areas.

We learned about the major eras of the city. The Dome of the Rock that sits now on the Temple Mount was built in 691 A.D.

We watched another movie about the building of the temple. The physics used by these ancient people was certainly impressive. I know Mrs. Starnes is eager to read on these mathematical innovations.

Chance and Reed in the tunnels

Mrs. Starnes in the Rabbi's Tunnels

The large stones on the bottom (along with those underground in the Rabbinical Tunnel) were placed by Herod the Great in 19 BC. The medium sized stones that form the next layers were added in the seventh century. Smaller stones were added in layers at the top much later.

Dinner at the Hashimi Hotel

Walking back to the hotel after an unbelievable day in Israel.

We had dinner on our rooftop tonight. It was so nice and the chef here is very good. It seems impossible that we only have two more days in Israel. It is a bit past 12:30 in the morning so goodnight from the holy city.