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.