Thoughts on Theology, Biblical Studies and Christian Spirituality From a Methodist Perspective
Our last stop on Monday afternoon was the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall. It is located in the Old City of Jerusalem at the foot of the western side of the Temple Mount. We placed slips of paper with our prayer requests in the seams between the stones in the wall.
On Monday afternoon we traveled to the Jerusalem Archeological Park which includes the Temple Mount. We spent time learning about the Gate of the Poor and the Teaching Steps where Jesus would have likely entered the Temple.
These stones are from the Temple (specifically the Second Temple, rebuilt by Herod the Great) that Jesus visited when he came to Jerusalem. These huge stones were cast down from the Temple Mount when the Romans destroyed it in 70 AD.
Herod’s builders used some of the natural bedrock in the construction of the Teaching Steps leading up to the Temple Mount. Jesus would have walked on this step as he entered the Temple through the Gate of the Poor. We all took turns standing on this step.
In the Old City of Jerusalem we visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which is built on the traditional site of Golgotha and the place where Jesus was buried.
Another stop on Monday was the Church of St. Anne which is a Crusader church built on the traditional site of Mary’s birthplace, which is located in a cave below the basilica. The church is also known for remarkable acoustics.
Next to the church is the excavation area of the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a man (John 5:2-9).
On Monday we walked the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem and visited many of the Stations of the Cross (Via Dolorosa).
Sunday was a busy day as we left Jericho and drove further into the wilderness of Judea to the shores of the Dead Sea. There we explored the ruins of Qumran, the Essene monastery where the Dead Sea Scrolls were collected and written.
The Essenes hid their scrolls in the nearby caves, anticipating an attack by Roman forces during the First Jewish Roman War.
On Sunday we visited Jericho, the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the world. This structure in the ruins is over 10,000 years old, over twice as old as the pyramids in Egypt.
Adjacent to the traditional site of Gethsemane is the Church of All Nations, a beautiful church that marks the agony of Jesus in the garden.
Inside worshipers can kneel down and touch the rock where Jesus prayed that the cup might pass from him.
On Sunday we visited the traditional site of the Garden of Gethsemane. This olive tree in the garden has roots that date back to the time of Jesus.
On Saturday we visited Mt. Zion and passed by the Zion Gate.
