I don't know why it has taken me so long to sit down and reflect on our incredible week in Israel this past March. Perhaps I am still digesting the time we spent where Christ was born, lived for 33 years and eventually died and resurrected. Maybe I cannot find the words to adequately express how it felt to walk the path He walked after being flogged while carrying a cross en route to His gruesome crucifixion. Thankfully, the story doesn't end at Golgotha (where Jesus was crucified).
His confused disciples thought it was all over when his body was laid inside a garden tomb, sealed with a massive stone. However, if that was indeed all of this Jesus of Nazareth, why would we still talk about the guy 2000 years later? Right? Move on.
"Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and that he would rise again on the third day." Luke 24:5b-7
When someone claims to be the Son of God, performs numerous miracles, predicts his own death and the manner in which it will be carried out, then comes back to life in the very time frame he predicted, we should probably stop, take notes and listen to what He has to say. I'm just saying! Anyone who can pull that off deserves to be talked about and worshiped 2000 years later. #impressive
Ever since my brief time in Israel and Jerusalem in particular, I read the Bible in a whole new light. I can close my eyes and picture the setting of both Old and New Testament events. I can envision where the Temple Solomon built would have been. I have an idea how far of a walk the Mount of Olives is from where Pilate's palace once stood.
Even now with our new "fancy camera" I still feel like pictures don't accurately embody all that Jerusalem is and the history she has lived through. Everyone NEEDS to go especially if you are a follower of Christ. I don't know why as Americans we mentally build an imaginary wall somewhere between Eastern Europe and Israel. Sure, it's the Middle East. Sure, there is always the potential for danger there. Anytime you travel it can be considered dangerous! But seriously, who knows how long the city of Jerusalem and the country of Israel will still be accessible to Westerners. Just promise me you'll go! OK?
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| Welcome to the old city of Jerusalem! |
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| A glimpse into one of the many market alleys. |
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| The Western Wall AKA The Wailing Wall |
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| The holiest of all Jewish sites, the Western Wall is what remains of the Second Holy Temple which replaced the First Temple King Solomon built 3000 years ago. It is also believed to be Mount Moriah, where Abraham was told to sacrifice his only son Isaac. |
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| The wall is divided by gender: men on the left and women on the right. |
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| Men and women from all over the world have gathered here through the generations to pray and bury notes into the cracks of the ancient stones. It was really special experience to spend time praying here. |
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| After waiting an hour to enter the Temple Mount, we were turned away and told it was "closed." Therefore, this is the best I could do to see the Dome of the Rock (third holiest Islamic site). Also, the location of where the Jewish Temples were located. |
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| Dome of the Rock |
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| Via Dolorosa- The route Jesus took from condemnation to burial. |
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Station I. - Jesus is condemned to death
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Now a Muslim school and typically closed to tourists, however we were
so fortunate that a shop keeper let us in for a few minutes to see where
Pilate's palace used to be.
"So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished."
Luke 23:24-25
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Station II. Jesus receives his cross
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Thankful to serve a God who carried the cross he did not deserve to die
for my sins so that I may live and know him. That is some serious love.
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| Station III. Jesus falls for the first time under the cross |
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| Station IV. Jesus meets his mother, Mary, on his way to Calvary. |
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| Station V. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry his cross |
"As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus."
Luke 23:26 {FYI- Cyrene is modern day Libya}
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| An old
square stone,
located on the right side of the structure, has a cavity which is said to be the
imprint of Jesus hand. |
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| Station VI. Where Veronica wipes Jesus' face (FYI- not found in the Bible, but found in historical documents) |
"A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women." Luke 23:27
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| War Eagle from the Via Dolorosa! |
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| Station VII. Jesus falls for the second time |
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| Station VIII. Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem | . |
But Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for me, but for yourselves and for your children." Luke 23:28
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| Station IX: Jesus falls for a third time just outside the modern day Church of the Holy Sepulchre |
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| The entrance of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The glass window & structure on the right is station X where Jesus is stripped of his garments. |
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"Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece." Mark 15:24
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| Station XI: Jesus is nailed to the cross |
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| "And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means "Place of the Skull"). Mark 15:22 |
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| Station XII: Jesus dies on the cross |
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Station XIII: Jesus is taken down from the cross
(Stone of Anointing- Traditional site where Jesus' body was prepared for burial by Joseph of Arimathea).
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| Station XIV: Jesus is laid in the tomb |
Our Via Dolorosa journey ends here inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; however, the resurrection and birth of Christianity also known originally as "The Way" began here.
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| After an amazing day exploring Jerusalem, we ventured up the Mount of Olives to overlook Jerusalem in the evening. |
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| A Jewish graveyard on the Mount of Olives. They bury on top of the ground and place stones on top instead of flowers to show they've been visited. |
Tschüss!
