Good Friday and Easter Thoughts

These pictures are all taken in Jerusalem. Today is Good Friday here and I can't help but think of the sacrifice made for me. Being able to see the potential locations of these accounts deepens my understanding of the scriptures. 


36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called [a]Gethsemane (olive-press), and He told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Matthew 26:36 AMP

Olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane

There is no way to really know how old these trees are, but how cool would it be if these were the same trees?! I wonder if it could be related to the original. 

The Church of All Nations built by the Roman Catholic church next to the garden on the Mount of Olives. It enshrines a section of bedrock where they believe Jesus prayed before his arrest.

Service being held inside the Church of All Nations. 

View of the Church of all Nations from the Temple Mount. There is a valley (Kidron) that separates the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives. 

Jesus Is Buried

57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus [so that he might bury Him], and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth (burial wrapping), 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock; and he rolled a large stone over the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other [q]Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

Believed to be the site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus. 

Inside the tomb

Inside the tomb

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This is inside the Old City area of Jerusalem and is also believed to be located at Golgatha or Calvary where the tomb of Jesus was. That's right, two different locations claiming to be the location of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. The building is divided with the following denominations sharing parts of the church: Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Egyptian Copts, Syriacs and Ethiopians. 

The Immovable "Status Quo" Ladder. This ladder can be seen in the picture above as well. Its right under the window.  This ladder has been here since at least 1852 but possibly going back to 1757. The understanding is that no christian order may move, rearrange, or alter any property without the consent of the other 5 orders. 

Big beautiful doors at the entrance

The Aedicule surrounding the tomb itself. This was incurring major renovation at the time of our visit.

Kelt Canyon

The Kelt Canyon is a rocky canyon (wadi) between Jerusalem and Jericho. 
It runs from west to east, draining a significant part of the northern Judean wilderness. The Wadi Qilt is very deep and a barrier to traffic – travelers must travel alongside it rather than cut across it. The route around it is called the “Ascent of Adummim,” the main route from Jericho to Jerusalem. 

Possible biblical references: 

Isaiah 40:3-5
"A voice is calling,
“Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness;
Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.
4 “Let every valley be lifted up,
And every mountain and hill be made low;
And let the rough ground become a plain,
And the rugged terrain a broad valley;
5 Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
And all flesh will see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”"

The Good Samaritan

Luke 10:30 

"30 Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and [a]beat him, and went away leaving him half dead."

The Temptation of Jesus

Matthew 4:1 "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. "

God Sows

The Jezreel Valley is a large, triangle shaped valley in Israel. The soil is rich, black gold, making this some of the most fertile farmland. This valley is mentioned in the Old Testament by name, including references to a city of Jezreel located in this valley. Because of it's location, it has always been a military battle ground. This valley played a role in battles for Deborah, Gideon and Saul. Some say that this area is mentioned in Revelation 16:16 as being the site of Armageddon.

The dual nature of this land is striking to me. The same land that provided a perfect battle ground for the armies of the world, is also a place where God sows. The ground is so rich, I think even I could successfully grow something!