JERUSALEM
"DOWN THE VIA DOLOROSA"
The traditional route that Jeus walked from Pilate's Judgement Hall to Calvary
We saw so many, many things that I'm still trying to digest it all. Rachel wore a pedometer during our tours and it clocked in at 57+ miles! WOW - that's a lot of walking.
Here is a picture of the Western Wall or more commonly called the
Wailing Wall. This is where the Jews come to pray. These are the actual stones from a wall that Herod the Great built around the second Temple in 20 B.C. The cracks between the bricks are filled with written prayers. Our group had an opportunity to also go to the wall and pray and place our written prayers in the cracks. This wall is the outer wall of the Temple area and is as close as the Jews can get, since the rest of the area belongs to the Moslems. The Western Wall can be seen on the Nightly News often. As Americans, we call it the "
Wailing Wall" because the Jews often weep at this wall, mourning the destruction of the Temple and asking God to rebuild the Temple. It is divided into two prayer areas: 2/3rd of the area is reserved for men and the remaining 1/3rd for women.
This is the Eastern Gate (
of the same Temple area). The Eastern Gate was sealed by the Moslems during the Turkish occupation of Jerusalem because Christians and Jews alike expect the Messiah to return to the Temple Mount through this gate as the Prince of Peace.
How foolish to think that brick and mortar will stop our Lord from returning!!
This is the Dome of the Rock -- that stands in the center of the Temple area. Jews are not allowed here as this is owned by the Moslems. We were allowed in the area, but not allowed within the building. Jeff did get to go inside last time he was there, so he was disappointed we couldn't see it. He said it is a beautiful structure. They claim that 100,00 gold dinar coins were melted down and cast on the dome's exterior. Under the Dome is a large outcropping of rock. Jews believe that Abraham offered Issac to Yahweh on this rock.
This was a really cool thing. It was a large model of the city of Jerusalem. It helped so much to visualize what the city originally looked like in biblical times.
Overlooking the Plains of Esraelon, where we read in Revelation that the Battle of Armageddon will take place. The Scriptures teach that blood shed in this Battle will flow as high as a horse's bridle for 180 miles. It was very moving to look at that Valley and try to picture such a scene!
In the background is Cave 4 at Qumran where the majority of the Dead Seas Scrolls were found in 1947. This was the greatest archaeological discovery of the 20th Century.
Keith & Wilda at Masada. This was a very interesting site to visit. We had to ride in a cable car to the top of the mountain. Masada has a lot of history. There has even been a couple of movies made about it. Hundreds of Jews died at their own hands rather than by the hands of the Romans who were beseiging them. Today, Masada is a national shrine in the nation of Israel. It signifies the stand of a few against many--the weak against the strong.
Bill Finch is blowing the "horn" at Jericho -- as Joshua and his men did the day the walls fell!
Some Fun Shots:
Arabian Keith
Sue Johnson -- our resident collector of rocks and artificats. This girl has the "
eye" -- she could find the most unusual things!! I think David had to buy two extra suitcases to get all her finds back to Greenbrier! Wonder what those customs agents thought of a suitcase full of rocks??? Sue added much fun and laughter to our trip!!
Brian Smith -- several of us with family were taking "
family" pictures. Since Brian was alone -- he is pretending in this picture that Kellye and baby Addison is standing with him! He did miss you Kellye and Addison!! Thank you, though, for sharing him with us!
Our family on an original street that Jesus would have walked in Jerusalem:
