Jerusalem: The City Where Jesus Walked
Just beyond the Mediterranean Sea lies a town held
sacred by Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Jerusalem, located in the hills
of the Promised Land, is now the largest city in Israel in both population
and area. In the time of Jesus, the white limestone city covered approximately fourteen
acres. Today the surrounding hills are covered with white houses, buildings
and traffic jammed, winding, asphalt roads. But visitors can still feel his presence.
Within Jerusalem’s city walls the town is divided into four noisy, bustling sections. The Jewish Quarter, tumultus over the years; Christian, home of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher; Muslim, the largest and most heavily populated area; and Armenian Quarter, the quietest part of the old city. Each quarter has their own historic sites, unique crafts and gifts stores. In the ancient city of Jerusalem you can put your feet upon the actual timeworn limestone walkway that Jesus trod upon. Stand upon the very same temple steps he taught on. While standing upon the temple steps your eyes can gaze upon the Kidron Valley and the same ancient Jewish cemetery Jesus looked upon and referenced in his teachings. Wander down the rough, dirt and moss covered; rock strewn pathway that Jesus and his unknowing disciples walked to the Last Super and Caffias Palace. Gaze and reflect at the small spring where the disciples drew the pitcher of water to take to the Last Supper. The celebrated palatial upper room of the Last Supper is located on Mount Zion, just beyond the walls of the old City of Jerusalem. Today it is part of a Crusader Church. Walk past the ruins of the jail, where it is believed Peter was held. The ruins lay along the pathway to the Last Supper room.
There are 14 Stations of the Cross within the walls of Jerusalem; each represents a particular event depicting the final hours of Jesus life. From where Jesus was tried, to the tomb where he was buried. You can actually walk the stations, called the Via Dolorosa “Way of Sorrows” this is the celebrated path Jesus took, it has moved over the centuries. The tenth to fourteenth stations lie within the church of the Holy Sepulcher the cross and the tomb are just two of them. Archeologists believe these are authentic sights. The architectural findings in Jerusalem are staggering. You can travel 10 to 20 feet beneath today’s modern city of Jerusalem to an engineering feat and The Wohl Archaeological museum where numerous ruins of the Old City of Jerusalem lie. Explore homes of the wealthy built in the Macabbean period with exquisite mosaic tile floors and painted walls, vases, tables, clay tablets with writing on them and steam baths along with many other archeological treasures. It is difficult with the conflux of people but be silent and take yourself back in time, don’t overlook this great opportunity to reflect upon the city and the earth shattering events that took place here over 2,000 years ago. I personally understand, read, and reflect upon the Bible in a way I could never imagine after walking upon the very paths Jesus once walked. Being able to see what they are referring to in the Bible makes it much easier for me to read and comprehend. It’s as if someone finally flipped the switch on and the New Testament came alive. Phyllis Strobel is a freelance writer for trade and travel magazines. Her passion is writing for travel magazines. She is a member of AWAI and ITWPA. © 2008 |
Across the Kidron Valley from ancient Jerusalem
at the foot of the Mount of Olives, lies the Garden of Gethsemane. Imagine
Jesus all alone, grieving, talking with his father, praying, conscious of
the actions that were ahead of him, while his disciples slept. Cast your
eyes upon the gnarled and twisted 1700 year old olive trees that withstood
the Roman invasion when the Jews were exiled. Although none of the trees are left
from Jesus time, nonetheless, the Romans tried and failed to destroy all of the trees
when they invaded in 70AD. They burned the trees not realizing they would
come back from the root.
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