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.