bmartin's Blog

Hey Gang,
Day two in Israel. The weather turned colder but the damp chill added a lot of emotion to our journey.
First stop was the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is located to the east of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley. The Kidron valley is called the “Valley of the Prophets” because of the presence of ancient tombs, believed by some to be those of Absalom, James and Zachariah, father of John the Baptist.
Most of the recorded incidents associating Jesus with the Mount of Olives belong in the Passion Week.
From there we walked to the Garden of Gethsemane which comes from the Aramaic word meaning “an oil press”. It was the place of Jesus’ agony, His betrayal and arrest.
The Church of All Nations is directly next to the garden and is said to contain the very rock by which Jesus prayed.
Following Jesus last days we visited the House of Caiaphas which is on the eastern slope of the hill overlooking the Valley of Kidron. It is the site of the Palace of Caiaphas, who was taken immediately after the soldiers arrested Him in the garden.
I’m including a great shot of the old city and the Come of the Rock which stands on Mount Moriah. The rock is considered second only in sanctity to Mecca and Medina as a Moslem shrine. This mosque stands where Jewish temples once stood.
It’s been a very bust day and I’m exhausted. My body is still trying to get used to this time. We’re 7 hours ahead of you.
I’ll keep in touch.
Blessings,
Bill