Garden of Gethsemane
One of my favorite places we went to. Many of the other holy sites are completely covered with giant cathedrals memorializing the sacred spot - which is nice - but I prefer something more peaceful and serene whereas the cathedrals tend to have a dark feel to me with lots of candles, monotone chanting and echoes of people walking around. So what I loved about the Garden of Gethsemane is that it is still just that- a garden. There's a pretty church nearby honoring the area - but there are still quite a few Olive Trees in this garden to look at, some that are believed to be over 2,000 years old in which case could have been witness to the suffering in the garden by Christ. Unbelievable to be in that very spot.
The Holy Seplechure and Garden Tomb:
Ok so of course there's no way to know exactly where Christ was crucified and buried, but they have a church of the Holy Seplechure where they believe it happened because they found a tomb back in Constatines time (300Ad) that seemed to match up according to Constantine's mother (he put her in charge of finding and identifying all the historical sites relating to Christ and the newfound Christianity). So who knows, I'm not sure how strong her evidence was but she declared this the spot. what is there now is a giant Catholic Church with a very small tomb inside you can look at. Lots of candles and worshipping going on there.
Although the Holy Seplechure is the most widely accepted spot, the Garden Tomb just outside the city walls is believed by some to be the spot of the atonement and tomb. Personally I prefer the ambiance of the Garden Tomb. It's outdoor and just a big garden. There is a big stone tomb that has been dated by archeologists to have been around a LONG time (can't remember the date), and it just looks the part to me. Nearby there's a hill that you can tell is skull shaped which some say is Calvary (described in the bible as being skull shaped). Historians also say that in Jesus' day there was a busy road next to the garden tomb and this hill - which would also make sense for the crucifixion because in those days they crucified people where others could see them, right next to busy streets. It's interesting to hear all the facts and put the pieces together, but we can't really know exactly where it was and it doesn't really matter. It's just nice to have a sacred spot you know is nearby where the actual event occurred where you can think and reflect on it. We loved the Garden tomb.
The garden area
Outside the tomb here. This is how I imagined it. Apparently it makes sense too because according to historians, back in Jesus' times most tombs you would walk into would be open space to the left where the body was placed. By tradition. In the scriptures it talks about Jesus being laid to the right inside the tomb and to the right of the door inside is where angels appeared once he was risen. Well this tomb has an open space to the right when you walk inside which is very unusual for its time, but paralleling the scriptures if this was in fact Jesus' tomb.
We also went outside Jerusalem to Capernaum where Jesus spent a lot of his time ministering. Here we saw ruins of the old city and the Sea of Galilee! The Sea of Galilee was amazing. It is very foggy all the time there and makes it look so mystical! It was so cool being there contemplating all the miracles that happened in Capernaum as well as all the events that took place on Galilee. We also go to see where the multiplication miracle of the fishes and bread took place and climb up to the mountain where Christ did the Sermon on the mount! They call it the Mount of Beatitudes.
The ruins in Capernaum
On the Mt of Beatitudes...lost in thought just candidly waiting for the camera timer to go off.
Can't forget Bethlehem. Bethlehem is just a short 30 min taxi ride out of jerusalem. I don't know what I was expecting, I never really thought about what it would look like today - I always had the 2,000 year old Bethlehem envisioned with fields, shepards, maybe some barns...and of course a manger!!! So when I had to come to the realization that it's not a city frozen in time, I was a little sad to see that it kind of feels like any other city in the middle-east. Even after that harsh realization I was still hopeful that a manger scene would be set up somewhere honoring the birth of the Savior. Am i the only one that would want that?! I love manger scenes, and besides - it was almost the christmas season! But sadly, no manger scene....but another big Catholic Church and a shopping area outside called Manger Square. No manger scene whatsoever!!! Come on!! I was really hoping for that. But I guess since technically Bethlehem is in Palastine and most Palistinians are Muslim and don't think too much of Christ's birth you can't expect there to be too much there. Beyond that disappointment it was still incredible to be there and know that this was the place - or very close to the place - that our Saviors earthly life began.
Inside the church. With no nativity scene :(
Funny story - a few days before we went to Bethlehem we had this big taxi driver with very few teeth had stop us in Jerusalem asking if he could take us to Bethlehem for an absurd amount of money. We said no and he smiled and said ok maybe tomorrow!?? (they are always so hopeful haha) Surprisingly enough the next day he popped up out of nowhere in jerusalem as we were walking on the street and was like hello my friends!! Remember me?? You want taxi ride to Bethlehem today?! Haha we were shocked he remembered us and found us...but we still said no. Now on the third day and in a city 40 miles away we are walking across the street when we see a taxi pass us, then quickly stop and put the car in reverse to speed right back to us. He had passengers in his car and they were obviously on their way somewhere, but the taxi driver was determined to say hi to us! He just smiled at us and yelled out "hello my friends, you made it here yourselves!!" Then drove off. Hahah we thought it was HILARIOUS he took the time to back his taxi up - with passengers inside - to talk to us. And how did he always pop up out of no where?!? We loved that guy! I couldn't stop laughing that we had run into him again and he always remembered us.
We went to other really cool places too! The Mount of Olives, the prison where they believe Christ went before he was sentenced to the crucifixion, tomb of the Virgin Mary and other beautiful churches that had major hisotrical significance. But if youre dying for more poor quality pictures and commentary come hang out with us in person. This is already too long and even I stopped reading it fifteen minutes ago.
The holy places we got to visit were incredible and it was surreal to be there. Although one thing I realized is that it doesn't take being in the places where Christ lived and walked to feel the magnitude of events that took place there and the significance of his life. You can feel it and know it wherever you are. But this was such a great experience that I will never forget.
There's one more Jerusalem post, I just can't help it.
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