The day was finally here: the day when I would go to the Temple Mount and walk in places where Jesus certainly walked. As always, it was still hard to get out of bed and get moving, but once I woke up the excitement set in. Chris MicKinney was leading our trip today, and I was excited to hear his take on New Testament Jerusalem.
After the bus ride, we left our stuff by a tree for Mishaela to guard, and headed to security for the Temple Mount. I was expecting something much more like TSA security: removing shoes, emptying backpacks, and the like, but I was pleasantly surprised. We walked through a metal detector, and put our bags through a scanner, and that was it. The Temple Mount was nothing like I expected it. I actually had a bit of culture shock. Muslims were practically everywhere yelling out their prayers. A group of Muslim women followed a group of Jewish men around shouting that Allah was great in Arabic. Chris led us through to a quieter spot and began to teach. We were standing in the places where the altar likely stood during Jesus' time. The Dome of the Rock covered the Holy of Holies, and the Al Aqsa Mosque stood where the Royal Stoa once was. Then, Chris started talking about the theology of the Temple. The Spirit of the Lord descended in a cloud onto the Temple and filled it. In Ezekiel, the Spirit of God left the Temple, went over the Mount of Olives, and ascended into heaven. The Bible doesn't record God's Spirit ever returning to the Temple in the Second Temple Period. Jesus comes to earth, the curtain in the Temple is torn in two, Jesus rises from the dead, and ascends on the Mount of Olives. The next time we see God's Spirit is at Pentecost. God's Spirit then descends on individual believers, making us living stones of God's Temple, and a Royal Priesthood.
After taking lots of pictures in front of the Dome of the Rock, we headed to the Davidson Museum, where Benjamin Mazar excavated the side of the Temple after 1967. Rubble from the destruction of the Temple in 70AD was everywhere. We stood on the Siloam Road and saw the crater that Robinson's arch left in the ground when it fell. Looking up at the corner of the wall, Chris told us that this might be the corner where Satan told Jesus to cast Himself off of. It was pretty high up. Herod laid the stones in such a way to give the illusion of the building rising up instead of falling on you.
After the bus ride, we left our stuff by a tree for Mishaela to guard, and headed to security for the Temple Mount. I was expecting something much more like TSA security: removing shoes, emptying backpacks, and the like, but I was pleasantly surprised. We walked through a metal detector, and put our bags through a scanner, and that was it. The Temple Mount was nothing like I expected it. I actually had a bit of culture shock. Muslims were practically everywhere yelling out their prayers. A group of Muslim women followed a group of Jewish men around shouting that Allah was great in Arabic. Chris led us through to a quieter spot and began to teach. We were standing in the places where the altar likely stood during Jesus' time. The Dome of the Rock covered the Holy of Holies, and the Al Aqsa Mosque stood where the Royal Stoa once was. Then, Chris started talking about the theology of the Temple. The Spirit of the Lord descended in a cloud onto the Temple and filled it. In Ezekiel, the Spirit of God left the Temple, went over the Mount of Olives, and ascended into heaven. The Bible doesn't record God's Spirit ever returning to the Temple in the Second Temple Period. Jesus comes to earth, the curtain in the Temple is torn in two, Jesus rises from the dead, and ascends on the Mount of Olives. The next time we see God's Spirit is at Pentecost. God's Spirit then descends on individual believers, making us living stones of God's Temple, and a Royal Priesthood.
After taking lots of pictures in front of the Dome of the Rock, we headed to the Davidson Museum, where Benjamin Mazar excavated the side of the Temple after 1967. Rubble from the destruction of the Temple in 70AD was everywhere. We stood on the Siloam Road and saw the crater that Robinson's arch left in the ground when it fell. Looking up at the corner of the wall, Chris told us that this might be the corner where Satan told Jesus to cast Himself off of. It was pretty high up. Herod laid the stones in such a way to give the illusion of the building rising up instead of falling on you.
Making our way to the Southern Steps, I realized that we were nearing a place where Jesus had to have walked to get into the Temple. We stopped on the sunbathed stairs and read Matthew 23, discussing how Jesus came to Jerusalem with every detail planned. He purposefully orchestrated events so that He would be crucified on Passover Friday. Matthew 23 details the final event in Jesus' earthly purpose before going to the cross. After Chris finished teaching, he pointed us to our right to where the old entrance to the Temple Mount would've been; a place where Jesus walked. We all scrambled over the ruins to get to the spot. Lots of people took fun pictures and climbed around the site, but I couldn't help but pause. Jesus walked here. JESUS walked HERE, in this very spot. I stared down at the ground for quite some time, just thinking about how I was standing on a place where God incarnate's feet touched. Just as I started to move on, the Muslim call to prayer started. It seems like every time we're in a significant spot like that, the Muslim prayers start. They have the eeriest sound. Moving on from there, we visited another excavation site, called the Iron Gate. The site dated back to the time of Solomon, and detailed how Solomon refortified the city.
After eating lunch and getting some ice cream in the Jewish Quarter, we headed to the Burnt House Museum. We watched a fun movie, describing the fate of a priestly family living just before the destruction of the Temple. The Jewish people explain the destruction of the Temple by saying that God was punishing them for fighting amongst themselves. The movie hit on this theme continually. However, we as believers know that it was because the Jewish people rejected their Messiah. We left the Burnt House, walked a street or two over, and went into the Wohl Archaeological Museum. These ruins used to be a large complex of houses with a courtyard in the middle. Almost every corner had a mikvah (a ritual bath). We discussed how the concept of baptism evolved from these cleansing ritual baths. Entering the courtyard, Chris explained how this was a good picture of where Peter was when he denied Jesus. Although this wasn't the actual site, it was an excellent picture of what it might have looked like.
Next we went to the Garden Tomb, or Gordon's Calvary. It was actually quite refreshing to see so many Protestant believers gathered in Jerusalem, singing hymns that I knew. Although the Holy Sepulcher is likely the actual site of Jesus' death and resurrection, the Garden Tomb was founded because Protestants wanted a place of worship separate from the Catholics and Greek Orthodox people. It does serve as a nice spot to think about Jesus' death and resurrection though. The Garden Tomb is one of two special spots for Protestants in Jerusalem. The other is Christ Church near Jaffa Gate.
After about an hour break in the Jewish Quarter, we headed to the Western Wall Tunnels. These tunnels spread out along the Western wall of the Temple Mount. You can see a lot of the old entrances into the Temple, walk along the Siloam Road, and see the layering of the Temple Mount. The stones down there are massive, one weighing about six hundred tons. At the end of the tunnels, we can to the Struthion Pool near Antonia Fortress. Some people believe this is where Jesus was tried before Pilate, but it is unlikely. Pilate was probably at the Herodian Palace.
With that, we exited the tunnels and came back to the Western Wall complex. A large gathering for an IDF initiation ceremony was under way, so there were people everywhere. Rushing through the crowds and trying to keep up with the group, we managed to wade through the people and get back to the bus to head home. Now, I can say I have been on the Temple Mount. I have walked where Jesus walked.
After eating lunch and getting some ice cream in the Jewish Quarter, we headed to the Burnt House Museum. We watched a fun movie, describing the fate of a priestly family living just before the destruction of the Temple. The Jewish people explain the destruction of the Temple by saying that God was punishing them for fighting amongst themselves. The movie hit on this theme continually. However, we as believers know that it was because the Jewish people rejected their Messiah. We left the Burnt House, walked a street or two over, and went into the Wohl Archaeological Museum. These ruins used to be a large complex of houses with a courtyard in the middle. Almost every corner had a mikvah (a ritual bath). We discussed how the concept of baptism evolved from these cleansing ritual baths. Entering the courtyard, Chris explained how this was a good picture of where Peter was when he denied Jesus. Although this wasn't the actual site, it was an excellent picture of what it might have looked like.
Next we went to the Garden Tomb, or Gordon's Calvary. It was actually quite refreshing to see so many Protestant believers gathered in Jerusalem, singing hymns that I knew. Although the Holy Sepulcher is likely the actual site of Jesus' death and resurrection, the Garden Tomb was founded because Protestants wanted a place of worship separate from the Catholics and Greek Orthodox people. It does serve as a nice spot to think about Jesus' death and resurrection though. The Garden Tomb is one of two special spots for Protestants in Jerusalem. The other is Christ Church near Jaffa Gate.
After about an hour break in the Jewish Quarter, we headed to the Western Wall Tunnels. These tunnels spread out along the Western wall of the Temple Mount. You can see a lot of the old entrances into the Temple, walk along the Siloam Road, and see the layering of the Temple Mount. The stones down there are massive, one weighing about six hundred tons. At the end of the tunnels, we can to the Struthion Pool near Antonia Fortress. Some people believe this is where Jesus was tried before Pilate, but it is unlikely. Pilate was probably at the Herodian Palace.
With that, we exited the tunnels and came back to the Western Wall complex. A large gathering for an IDF initiation ceremony was under way, so there were people everywhere. Rushing through the crowds and trying to keep up with the group, we managed to wade through the people and get back to the bus to head home. Now, I can say I have been on the Temple Mount. I have walked where Jesus walked.