Day 6 Israel

The Temple Mount, Dead Sea Scrolls

Welcome to Day 5. Our 7:00 start took us to a place we didn't expect to see today. We were given permission to enter the Temple Mount (place where the original temple stood in the time of Jesus).

Welcome to Mount Moriah. We walk through the Dung Gate, named for it's use, where Jesus would have entered the city and was met by this fabulous mural painted on the end of what was part of the street going in and what happened on this street in the time of Jesus. We started up a tunnel to into the walls of the Temple Mount and had a birds-eye view of the men and women praying in their separate areas below at the Western Wall. More on the wall to come in this blog. As we cross over a security checkpoint and through the Morocco Gate, we are met with a fabulous view of two domes (mosques). The most magnificent is that of the Golden Rock. This mosque is the best known landmark when looking at the city of Jerusalem. It gives the exact location of the temple. Standing on the court of the Gentiles, we see people of all cultures milling around, as well as many Muslims going about their business on this holy ground. As we talk about this site, a cool thing played out before our eyes. A group of Franciscan monks, wearing traditional brown robes, showed up for a tour of their own. Fun to see here. Now if you are wondering what is so special about this mountain, let me tell you. David of the Old Testament bought a threshing floor here, where the mosque now stands, and left it to Solomon, his son, to build the first temple there. Prior to David, Abraham was known to come here and sacrifice Isaac on this mountain. Due to his obedience, he was stopped in the nick of time by God. Then, years after Solomon, Herod ruled this area. He wanted the biggest temple in the world, but couldn't build it here due to existing laws that limited size. So, he built around the temple to create his area. It is to this day, the largest temple in the world. Why did he do such a thing? Well, Jerusalem originally had 1000-1500 people in it during the time of Jesus. To accommodate the masses of pilgrims coming to the Holy Temple during festival times, such as Passover, he created a platform on top of Moriah, which was supported by outside retaining walls. The last known wall of this temple area is the Western Wall. People come to the wall today to pray because it is all that remains of the temple.

We circle around this area, past the famous Eastern Gate, which the Muslims have closed to keep out the Messiah, travelled through the Remission Gate, to the Church of St. Anne- located in the Muslim quarter of the mount. Anne is the mother of Mary, and this church is believed to be built over the birthplace of Mary, mother of Jesus. What is amazing is not that this is a 12th century church, but that it is the best intact church found from the time of the crusaders. It was never destroyed. This was a delightful visit because our group, one of only a few in the church, broke into song. The harmony of this little group of 33 from bus 3 blended together and we all became a part of this moment.

We then stepped out and walked around the corner to the Pools of Bethesda. Bethesda means House of Righteousness. Bethel means House of God and Esda is Hasidic meading Righteous. These were important for many reasons. We know the story in John 5 of the paralyzed man who tried unsuccessfully for 38 years to get to the pool of water when the angel arrived. Jesus healed him on the Sabbath and he walked home. But this place is more than just a miracle. It is needed for a way of life during these times. The pools were found on the high top of Mt Moriah and tipped southward toward the Dung Gate. Water here was used to help get water to the temple mount so that the temple could remain clean during the rights of sacrifice done there from blood and soot. Thousands of animals came through to be sacrificed, so it needed to remain clean. Although the infirm came here for healing, Jesus showed us in the prior story that it is through faith alone that one can be healed...not by water.

We leave this fascinating place and go to where we have all been anticipating...the Via Delorosa (Way of the Cross). This street is full of sights and smells of spices of all kinds. Vendors are selling their colorful wares throughout these narrow streets. It gives you a feel of how it may have been like in the time of Jesus. What I found most interesting is that as we walked this holy traditional path, you could hear the Muslim call to prayer come over the loudspeakers across the city. It was interesting how we were surrounded by two types of people on this little path- Arab Christians and Arab Muslims mingling.

In following the footsteps of Jesus, there are 14 stations of the cross that we commemorate. Now, throughout the ages, there have been other paths taken for this tribute. Originally it started in the Mount of Olives, and then Mt. Zion. But today, we celebrate this tradition by following the Catholic Via. Churches along the route have markers located on them to correspond to the station it represents. Out of the 14 stations mentioned above, five of the 14 are not found in scripture. Can you name the stations?

1. Jesus is condemned. John 18:28 The site of Antonia is where this occurred. The Antonian fortress, now a school, was the Roman Headquarters and the place where Pilot sat.
2. Jesus takes up the cross. John 19:16 Here, in the place of Pilot, Jesus was scourged with 39 lashes and took up the cross. After this treatment, Jesus was led to the Praetorium where he received his crown of thorns and royal robe. Because the condition of a man after this treatment, he was literally a dead man walking. The Churches of Flagellation and Condemnation are located here.
3. Jesus falls under the Cross. Lamentations 1:16 (not scriptual station)
4. Jesus meets his mother. Lamentations 1:12 (not scriptual station)
5. Simon carries the cross. Mark 15:21 Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus by taking up the cross.
6. Veronica wipes the sweat of Jesus' face. Numbers 6:25 (not scriptual station)
7. Jesus falls for second time. Isaiah 63:9 (not scriptual station) This station is important because it is next to a gate that leads out of the city. This makes sense that he would go out this gate because he was crucified outside the city walls.
8. Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem. Luke 23:28
9. Jesus falls for the third time. Psalms 40:9 (not a scriptual station)This is the last station in the boulevard. The remaining stations are found in the Holy Sepulchre Basilica.
10. Jesus is stripped of his garments. Isaiah 1:6 (not a scriptual station). This station is a chapel outside the Basilica.
11. Jesus is nailed to the Cross Psalm 22, John 19:17 This shrine marks the place where it is traditionally thought that Jesus was nailed to the Cross.
12. Jesus dies on the Cross Matthew 27:50 The alter located at this station is thought to be covering the Rock of Calvary. It is here where it is thought that three crosses were hung, Jesus and 2 thieves.
13. Jesus is taken down from the Cross. Luke 25:53. The stone thought to be where Jesus was laid is here.
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb. Matthew 27:59 The room where the site of Jesus' burial and resurrection is a beautiful one, surrounded by incense, candles and pilgrims.

After leaving this magnificent building and reliving the path that Jesus took, we catch lunch at the market and then travelled the Cardo (aka: Main street or Market Street). This street is the main area of commerce in the city. It is built directly over the old Cardo Street from the days of Christ. In fact, today some shop keepers actually have their stores built in the original spaces that existed 1000 years ago during the time of the crusaders. We walk from the Arab district to the Jewish district and discovery remains of the old street, as well as a 5th century mosaic map of Old Jerusalem. This map found elsewhere, helped researchers dig for the Cardo where it was discovered. We then come up for air and stop in the Jewish District. This area is slowly being rebuilt from the 6 day war of 1967 when Jordan destroyed the quarter. It is this spot below the street where a Herodian priestly neighborhood was discovered. This location, above these ruins, became the Academy of Torah for learning to continue teaching scholars in the same location. The Future truly is where the Past is.

We circle back and out to where we started. Our group walked to the Western Wall to pray and visit. As you can see by the photo today, I am standing with Israeli soldiers. These young people are incredibly friendly. In this county men and women at 18 have to serve 2 years in the military. These soldiers are here to pray and pay respect to God. I thank them for selflessly serving their country.

Last, but not least, we head out to the Israel museum, which is a complete surprise to all of us. This is the home base of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Awesome is not the word to be used for them! A group of men left Jerusalem because of corruption there. They moved to Qumran, where they studied, visited, and lived in caves. They then wrote scrolls that were about political life, times, and community during the time of Jesus. There is evidence that John the Baptist and Jesus both knew this group of people. The top of the building, known as the Shrine of the Book, is shaped as a clay jar lid, not unlike the lids that covered the clay jars these scrolls were found in. As we walked down a dark passage way, you feel like you are walking in one of the caves they were found in. Then, the circular room appears and you feel like you are in a giant clay pot. It's really interesting! After taking time to read the interesting finds and seeing actual scrolls,we step out into the night and head back to warm up with a meal, a bath, and more visiting with our now close family.

Until tomorrow!