Day 8 in Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

After a restful night at the Olive Tree Hotel, we began our first full day in Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives with a beautiful view of the Temple Mount.

We read the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday which began in Bethany and continued down this road which Jesus most likely took as he decended the Mount of Olives with people lining the street and waving palm branches and laying down their cloaks while shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of The Lord!"

Halfway down the Mount of Olives you come to the Garden of Gethsemene where we read together the story of Jesus time of agonizing prayer while in the presence of these olive trees, some which may be as old as 2000 years.

This area was actually very crowded, especially as you enter one of the most beautiful churches in the world, the Church of All Nations. 

Inside the church Mass was being celebrated. You also find the ceiling is painted to look like the stars at night when Jesus would have been praying in the garden.

 

Below is the rock in the front of the church upon which Jesus may have prayed.

Our next stop was the tomb of King David where Jews go to remember the greatest king of Israel. The tomb probably does not hold the remains of David but it is still a powerful place to pray. You see a statue of David as you enter the holy space. In the room adjascent to the tomb you find a place that remembers the Upper Room where Jesus celebrated the Passover before his death. We sang and read scripture together here. Both of these spaces sit atop Mt. Zion, south and east of Old Jerusalem.

Our final stop of the day was the Church of St. Peter Galicantu (which means "rooster music"). This church sits atop the ruins of the house of Caiaphas, the High Priest where Jesus was put on trial and then in jail for the night before his crucifixion. You see the exterior of the church below.

Inside the church we read the story of Peter's denial of Jesus.

After the reading we decended to the lower level where we read the trial of Jesus. The icon in the back of this chapel is of Jesus in prison in darkness.

The lowest level of the church contains the ruins of Caiaphas' house and the prison cell where Jesus spent the night before his death. We read Psalm 88 as we sat in the cell in darkness together.

 

As you depart the church you see this beatiful statue of the denial of Peter as well as a clear view of the Mount of Olives and Church of All Nations. It was a powerful way to end our day in Jerusalem.