Day 12 - Mt. of Olives & Bethlehem

The phenomenal opportunity to walk down the Palm Sunday Path has a special place in my memory. Beginning at the Mt. of Olives, where Jesus ascended into heaven, we made our way down to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He was betrayed.

 

 

 

The top of the church that is built on the site where Jesus prayed in the garden, is shaped like a tear drop running down His chin.

Our time in the Garden of Gethsemane was very precious to me. I am thankful that Ragnar and I could have a time of prayer together there in that amazing spot. As we were praying, tears were rolling down my cheeks when I thought of how Jesus must have felt as he was praying there alone while His disciples were sleeping. I am so thankful that He was willing to bear that cup - to carry that load and pay the needed price so that I can spend eternity with Him. That time among the 2,000 year old olive trees, that were there when Jesus prayed there too, was priceless.

 

We learned that Gethsemane means ‘olive presses’ and some of the ones still there are dated back to the time of Christ.

From the Garden, we made our way to the Temple via the Dung Gate. While we sat on the ‘Southern Steps’ our guide explained the archaeological reconstruction of the Temple steps where Jesus entered the Temple Mount and drove out the vendors and money changers.

 

Then we walked around to the Western Wall or what is commonly known as the ‘Wailing Wall’ - one of the original ancient walls that retained the Temple.

 

 

Our afternoon was spent in Bethlehem, and as I am sure you can imagine while we were walking down the streets we were singing the well known Christmas Carol, ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem.’

 

 

We had a good laugh when we saw this Cafe, down town Bethlehem!!

The ‘Church of the Nativity’, which is built on the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born, is the oldest church still standing in the world.

We waited in line 1½ hr. to view the spot where Jesus was said to be born, and where he was first laid. A star has been placed to mark where He was born, and a cradle where He was laid down to sleep.

We were also glad for a view of the Shepherd’s Fields, which are thought to be the place where Ruth and Boaz met as well. While in that area we sang both ‘Angles we Have Heard on High’ and 'While Shepherds Watched their Flock by Night’.

 

The church in this area was constructed over a typical cave where shepherds would take their flocks during storms. It was very cozy in there and had a 6th century feeling, as is the age of the church that has never been destroyed.