Day 14 Old Jerusalem

Where to Begin? 

Today we visited Old Jerusalem.  We saw so many things that it would be impossible to mention them all.  As we entered the city we first laid eyes on the Western Wall, which is also known as the Wailing Wall.  This is the holiest site in Judaism since it is the only accessible remnant of the Temple built by Herod the Great.  Notice the fence.  The men pray on left side and the women on the right.

Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus

After visiting the Temple Mount we then traveled the Via Dolorosa, the way of the Cross, that Jesus traveled after He was sentenced to death and was taken to Calvary.  The journey has several churches along the way commemorating the Stations of the Cross that the Roman Catholics observe.

The Crucifixion and Burial

The Way of the Cross ends at the Church of the Holy Seplechure, a church that tradition states was built on the site of the crucifixion and the burial of Jesus.  The picture above show the large dark chamber which is built above the place of the tomb.  This chamber is inside and immense rotunda.  The structure dates only to the 1800's but a church has been on this site since Emperor Constantine built one in the mid 300's A.D.

The Other Site

There are actually two potential sites for the death and burial of Jesus.  The first as listed above, and the second which is called the Garden Tomb.  This site has been undisturbed for years and is in it's natural state as it would have been in Jesus day.  There is definitely a "skull" in the hillside like the Gospel of Luke mentions, and there is a tomb very much like the one mentioned in the Gospels.

We were able to enter the tomb and spend a short bit of time in it.  Irregardless of whether this was the tomb of Jesus, this was a fascinating experience.

After visiting the tomb we gathered for a worship service.  We read from the crucifixion and resurrection account found in the Gospel of John and then were forgiven and strengthened in our faith through the body and blood of Christ in the Lord's Supper.  And on that high note we ended the official part of our tour.  Tomorrow we have a free day in Jerusalem.  

There will be more pictures and video from that day, but it will not be posted until we return home as tonight is the last day with access to the internet.