JERUSALEM JOURNAL: DAY 3

JERUSALEM JOURNAL: DAY 3 - DECEMBER 29, 2009

GENERAL COMMENTS

Wake up was at 5:30 and breakfast was at 6:30. But, I woke up at 4 AM to the sound of Jim who was snoring quite loudly. Breakfast consisted of luncheon meat, cheese, bread, cucumbers, olives, scrambled eggs, beef sausages, fruit, and yogurt. We had a 7:30 AM lecture about the sites were going to see and then we were to set off sightseeing. The walking was brutal today. I am sore and did not do very well keeping up. Todd doesn’t seem to care very much for his students physical well being, because he seems to be very rigid and is not willing to slow the pace down for those like me who are having trouble keeping up.

JAFFA GATE

Our first stop was out by the Jaffa Gate, where we looked out on the Hinnom Valley. Most people don’t realize that there is very little left over from the time of Jesus. In fact, it was not until 1860 when people started living outside the Old City Walls.

CITADEL OF DAVID

Here, we saw a tower which still remains from Herod’s palace. There are many people in Israel who think that Pontius Pilot was living at this location rather than the Antonia Fortress (named by Herod after Mark Anthony), which many traditions think is the place where Pilot ordered the crucifixion.

CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER

Tradition suggests that this is where Christ was crucified and buried. The actual tomb was destroyed in 1000 AD, but the church was later built to mark the place. It is controlled by both Roman Catholic and Orthodox denominations.

DAMASCUS GATE

This is the East Jerusalem gate that is used by Moslems who live and work near the Moslem Quarter of the old city. There is a definite difference in the cleanliness. The Moslem Quarter is much more dirty and smelly than is the Jewish or Christian Quarters.


RAMPART WALL - Walk Along the Wall

We actually walked along the wall, ascending to the top through the Roman arch which was excavated below the Turkish reconstruction.

One hypothetical location of the crucifixion, as postulated in the 19th Century and promoted by British General Charles Gordon, was a hill with caves which, Gordon suggested had the appearance of a skull and is known as Gordon's Calvary.

After turning the corner, we came off the ramparts at Herod’s Gate after looking across the Kidron Valley at the Mt. of Olives and the location where Gethsemane was supposed to be located, according to tradition.

ST. ANNE'S CHURCH AND THE POOLS OF BETHESDA










St. Anne was the mother of Mary. The Pools of Bethesda were covered by both Byzantine and Crusader churches.

ANTONIA FORTRESS AND VIA DE LA ROSA

If Herod condemned Jesus at Herod’s Palace, as has been postulated by some, then the Via De La Rosa would be going the opposite direction from which tradition suggests.

(the Ecce Homo Arch is built over the Via Delorosa, and the Dome of the Rock is seen from the Antonia Fortress, which was built to guard the city, as well as the Temple Mount. Of course, neither of these two structures stood during the time of Jesus)