Exploring Jerusalem & Surrounds

Monday 5 - by the time I responded to emails, sorted some photos & finished a blog, it was 11 am!

The Tomb from the Outside

First order of business was to buy some soap & deodorant at a local supermarket - tick. Next I was going to try riding to the American Colony Hotel by Light Rail but it was the last day of Sukot so they weren't running - oh well, walking is good for us. I bought the book on the Palestinian-Israeli dispute that I couldn't get yesterday and then headed to the Garden Tomb.

Their Best Guess at Golgotha

This is history's best guess at where Golgotha and Jesus' Tomb are. The British organisation running the site don't claim that it's absolutely the site but say that it fits the Biblical information - they concentrate more on what Jesus did rather than where he did it! If you want more information on why they think this is the place, I can tell you more or it may be on their website.

I really enjoyed visiting this site - I sat inside the tomb and read some scripture and prayer for about 15 minutes.

The Supposed Garden of Gethsemane

I then took the long, hot walk to Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives outside the east wall of the Old City. When I saw what was supposed to be the Garden of Gethsemane, I was amazed at how old the olive trees were & I could imagine that this is where Jesus prayed while the disciples slept.

I was also surprised that all the trees were heavy with green olives!

Temple Mount

The walk up the Mount of Olives was very steep but very worthwhile - the lookout at the top gave a view over the whole of the Old City and the Temple Mount in particular.

I took a panoramic movie from the lookout - if you like to see it, just click the Youtube link below or copy and paste it into your browser.

https://youtu.be/1BQxgL_EEtA

Beautiful Olive Groves

The valley between the Eastern Wall and the Mount of Olives was just beautiful, but I couldn't imagine how an invading army could breach those forbidding walls.

There's lots more I could write about but you can ask me when I get home if you're interested!

God bless, Greg