Mount of Olives and Garden of Gethsemane

Sunday, February 24th, was an overcast day in Jerusalem but very mild. I had planned on heading to the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethesemene and decided to go anywhere. The photo below is from inside a church on the Mount of Olives looking across the Kidron Valley towards the Old City.

My journey began by riding the #8 bus to Hebron Road before it heads east to the City Center. I stopped briefly at Succat Hillel, www.succathillel.com. Succat Hillel is a ministry that has 24 / 7 prayer, worship and praise for Jerusalem. The doors are always open. Talented musicians can sign up for 1 or 2 hour segments in advance. For some, this is their "tour" to Israel to praise the Lord Jesus until He comes again and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Below is the view of the Old City looking north just outside Succat Hillel.

For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns. Isaiah 62:1 This is the view from Succat Hillel towards the east and the Mount of Olives where I am headed.

Headed up Mount Zion. Found a road that I have never been on before. We'll see where it goes.

Looking back at the neighborhood Yemin Moshe and Montefiore's Windmill. King David Hotel on the right. Yemin Moshe was the first neighborhood outside the Old City Walls.

While "sucking air" and trying to catch my breathe after walking up Mt Zion, I took this photo of a crow sitting on the cross of a small chapel.

I came upon a walkway to Dormition Abbey just outside the Old City.

Dormition Abbey is nearly 100 years old and easily spotted in the Old City landscape.

There's a sign in case I did not know where I was.

A group of young IDF soldiers stopped just outside Zion's Gate. It was probably time for a history lesson about the fighting that went on at Zion's Gate in 1948. Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight." II Samuel 10:12

Tourist season starting to pick up with warmer weather.

The Jerusalem Archealogical Park outside the southern walls.

The Jerusalem Archealogical Park outside the southern walls of The Old City. The grey dome is the Al Aksa Mosque on the Temple Mount.

Still headed down Mount Zion to the Mount of Olives. Not lost yet.

Looks like a new museum at the City of David just outside the Dung Gate of The Old City. King David conqueored the City of David. Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. II Samuel 5:9

Main road into the City of David. The Ark of the Covenant may have traveled up this road. Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David. II Samuel 6:16

Major excavations outside the southern steps of the Temple Mount.

Sign directing you to Absalom's Pillar.

Below is Absalom's Pillar next to Zechariah's Tomb (?). Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King’s Valley. For he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument. II Samuel 18:18

In the distance are graves on the Mount of Olives. It is a very expensive place to be buried. Zechariah 14:4 is a very distinct passage where the Messiah (the Lord Jesus) will arrive. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.

The Church of All Nations looking past a budding almond tree. Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see a branch of an almond tree." Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word." Jeremiah 1:11-12

The Church of All Nations with the Garden of Gethsemane (Olive Trees) just to the left of it. Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." Matthew 26:36

The Eastern Gate of the walls of the Old City. Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. Ezekiel 43:1-2.

The Church of All Nations and the gold-domes of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Below is the Eastern Gate and showing the pathway I just completed. Ezekiel is probably talking about the East Gate of the Temple that is not constructed yet. And the glory of the LORD came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple. Ezekiel 43:4-5 After the Lord Jesus enters the east gate of the millinial Temple, the gate will be shut. One entrance will be from the north. Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it was shut. And the LORD said to me, "This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the LORD God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut...Also He brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple; so I looked, and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD; and I fell on my face. Ezekiel 44:1...4

Lion's Gate of The Old City is also called St. Stephen's Gate. This is the gate that the IDF Paratroopers entered in 1967 to liberate the Old City. ....and Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Jerusalem 21:24

On both sides of the gate you can see the lions etched in the walls.

The ascent to Lion's Gate is steep.

The Church of All Nations up close.

I don't know Latin but would guess the four statues are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. If so, this is John. Unless it's Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Then it is still John.

Looking back across the Kidron Valley.

The ascent up the Mount of Olives. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. John 8:1.

Another budding almond tree along the ascent.

Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: "‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Luke 19:37-38

Graves on the Mount of Olives up close.

Many are desecrated. These would be Jewish graves but located in Arab East Jerusalem.

Looking back at the Old City from the Mount of Olives.

I'm higher than the Russian Orthodox Church now.

Floral on the Mount of Olives.

Olive trees.

Flowers beginning to bud.

The Old City walking back down the triumphal pathway. And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." Luke 19:39-40

By the Garden of Gethsemane.

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." Matthew 26:36

As the season approaches, may we remember what the Lord Jesus did for us. He was God's totally innocent and unblemished Passover Lamb (Exodus 12). He was beaten, scourged, and crucified for our sins. He gave up His life and took it up again. He arose from the grave and ascended to His throne at the right hand of God. He is there today awaiting the appointed time for Him to return to the Mount of Olives. Then he will make the same triumphal entry one more time to establish His kingdom forever and ever. Amen.

Kassam Rocket Inventory at Sderot

Since my trip to Sderot, both the coordinator and the translator for CFI's Project Under His Wings have been back each week to visit terrorist victims. On a brief side trip, they were invited to go by the Sderot Police Station to see a collection of some of the kassam rockets. These are not my photos but below are some of the kassams.

When we visited the family with the children, the young boy said "he brought a piece of a kassam home one time, but my parents did not let me keep it." What a contrast between collecting baseball cards and pieces of kassam rockets intended to kill you.

I would presume each one is catalogued but no one seems to care.

Thankfully the Lord graciously pushes many of these rockets to fall harmlessly in the countryside. It's the repeated daily terror of not knowing where they are going to land which causes the anxiety for the residents of Sderot.

CFI may promote a program where donors could adopt a Sderot family that has been victims of kassam rocket terror. Donations would go directly to specific families.

Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Shabbat

From my December trip up north I have not yet shared the photos of Chorazin and Bethsaida. Along with Capernaum, these 3 cities were cursed by the Lord Jesus. Matthew and Luke both record the words of the Lord Jesus. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me. Luke 10:13 Below is entrance to the synagogue at Chorazin.

As the "crow flies", Chorazin would be 2-3 miles north of Capernaum which is right on the Sea of Galilee. President Bush visited Capernaum when he was in Israel last month. The Hebrew name for Capernaum is Kfar Nahum, which means Village of Nahum. Perhaps it was named after the prophet Nahum who condemned Ninevah after the 100-year reprieve from the Book of Jonah. The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7

The first thing you notice about Chorozin is the dark stones (basalt).

The ruins are actually very good and visible here. The elevation is higher and you can see the Sea of Galilee in the distance.

After driving up from Jerusalem, I was at Chorazin around 2:00pm. Check-in time for Vered HaGalil was 4:00. Vered HaGalil is just a half mile up the road from here.

The Lord Jesus would have walked here.

In the ruins of Chorzin's synagogue, this enscription was similar to Joshua and Caleb carrying the grapes from the Promised Land when Moses sent in the 12 spies. Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole... Numbers 13:23.

Below somebody here was worshipping a sun god. That is probably one of the reasons no one lives here today. The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, says: "Behold, I will bring punishment on Amon of No, and Pharaoh and Egypt, with their gods and their kings—Pharaoh and those who trust in him. Jeremiah 46:25

The pinnacle of the synagogue is well preserved.

It was a beautiful December day.

After Chorazin, I drove on to Bethsaida just a few miles east. In Hebrew, Bethsaida is Bet Saida (House of Fish) which makes sense that Peter, Andrew, and Phillip were from there. Bet Saida had "scripture rocks", so I don't have to add anything.

The beginning of Luke's version of the Lord Jesus's words.

Below a brief description of at least 3 of the apostle's birthplace. If John was also from here, it looks like he would have mentioned it. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. John 1:44

Bet Saida ruins formed a very long street which probably was on the shores of the Jordan at that time. The Jordan is very nearby just before it flows into the Sea of Galilee.

Bet Saida's street looking back from where I just walked. This is the location of one of the Lord Jesus miracles when he healed a blind man. Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking." Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. Then He sent him away to his house, saying, "Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town." Mark 8:22-26 After this miracle, Mark records that the Lord Jesus went on to Caesarea Philipi. Today there is still a road that leads north to Caesarea Philippi by Mount Hermon from Bet Saida.

The ruins at Bet Saida are not as well preserved as others.

Below is the Jordan River very close to Bet Saida. The prophet Isaiah saw the Messiah coming to the gentiles by the Jordan. ... By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. Isaiah 9:1-2 The Book of Matthew records the fulfillment of this prophecy. ... By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned." Matthew 4:15-16. After these verses in Matthew, the Lord Jesus began his ministry.

On Saturday, February 16th, I took a Shabbat walk in Armon HaNatsiv (East Talpiot) where I live. Below in the valley is the recreational sports ground where there are many soccer and basketball games played. I'm headed down.

Honey bees busily working getting ready for springtime.

A cluster of daisies along the way.

In Jerusalem, you can have lemon trees in your garden.

As I was coming back uphill from the valley, I took a picture of a typical rooftop with hot water tanks, solar heating, and satellite dishes. Jerusalem's population lives "up" not "out". To see individual homes with a tiny yard, you would head to other towns outside Jerusalem.

Remembering Saturday as the Sabbath Day is still very much a part of Jerusalem. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy..." Exodus 20:8. The Jewish day begins at sundown. So the evening and the morning were the first day. Genesis 1:3. By sundown on Friday, all stores are closed and the buses don't run. Traffic on the street is minimal. You can even hear a siren in Jerusalem that warns you it's almost time for the Sabbath. Friday night Shabbat dinners are special and meant for a time of relaxing, enjoyment, and fun. Usually I attend congregation on Friday nights, but last night a few of us from CFI shared a delightful evening of laughter and good food. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:15