Jerusalem

Today we spent the entire day exploring the city of Jerusalem. We started by entering the Muslim controlled Dome of the Rock area on top of the city. This is where the temple would have stood thousands of years ago. We also toured the western wall and the many tunnels beneath the city. Even to this day, this is the closest Jewish people can get to the Holy of Holies in the ruins of the temple. Because the current city is built on multiple older cities, the first century city during the time of Jesus is close to 50 feet below the current streets. We were able to see how many centuries of growth and expansion truly buried the past.

We also had the opportunity to walk through Hezekiah's tunnel. This tunnel was dug during the Assyrian invasion during his rule. Because the only source of water for the city was outside of the city walls, Hezekiah ordered a tunnel to be dug underground to feed into the city.

We also visited the mount of olives where Jesus spent time with his disciples and also to the estimated location of the garden of Gethsemane.

Finally, we walked from the garden into the city through the lion's gate near where Jesus would have entered the city. After a quick visit to the pool of Bethesda, we saw the place that is thought to be where Jesus was tried and began his final walk through the city. Though the city has changed over the many years, scholars have estimated Jesus' final path through the city to the hill of Golgotha. We walked this path to where Jesus was crucified and buried. It was incredible to be walking the same streets Jesus had walked nearly 2000 years ago!!