Day 10 - Jerusalem: Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Saint Anne's, Pool of Bethesda, Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Farewell Dinner

Thank you for following our Israel Study Tour blog! It has been an inspiring, challenging, and fulfilling trip full of new adventures each day! To find the complete photo gallery of our trip, visit rivercitychristian.smugmug.com/Events/Israel-Study-Tour-2022

We were blessed with lovely clear weather today as we made several stops around Jerusalem. The first was the Mount of Olives. This place is mentioned many times in the Bible, but Pastor Jesse’s teaching focused on Luke 19:41-44, where Jesus sees the Temple Mount from above and weeps for Jerusalem.

We made our way down the crowded meandering streets (many of which serve as a sidewalk AND a 2-way street!) to the Garden of Gethsemane where we had an opportunity to take communion. We also reflected on Jesus’ moment there on his way to be crucified, in Luke 22:39-46.

On our way to our final stop, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we headed up the Via Dolorosa on foot. The Via Dolorosa is believed to be the path that Jesus would have taken, forced by the Roman soldiers, on the way to his crucifixion. Nowadays it is lined with shops of all kinds. We had to squeeze through the crowds of people and fight to stay together!! When we arrived at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we entered into a magnificent display of paintings and mosaics. There were many levels and rooms to explore.

The day concluded with a Farewell Dinner, where we had time to laugh with one another and reflect on this memorable trip of a lifetime. We will never forget the new memories, new friendships, and new ways God has spoken to us on this tour around Israel.