Don't forget to check out parts 1, 2, and 3....
Friday started with a trip to the pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the blind man. (Read the story here.)
We weren't able to go into the pool but entered a large cistern that used to hold water for the city.
Lions Gate, one of the gates into the Old City of Jerusalem
inside the gate
ruins of the old city
ruins of the pool of Bethesda
going down into the cistern under the old city
underground
Mom, in the cistern
St Anne's Church
Garden of Gethsemane
It is entirely possible that Jesus rested under this very tree.
From the Garden, we headed to the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall. The wall is the only remaining wall of the Second Temple that was destroyed in 70 AD. It is tradition to write prayers on slips of paper and stick them in the cracks of the wall. Unfortunately, we didn't know this, so we weren't prepared. So our prayers went into the cracks between the stones written on gum wrappers. Twice a year the prayer are cleaned out and buried on the Mount of Olives. The prayer plaza is divided into men's and women's sections. There were many Jews gathered here praying, and crying. They are praying to God for the messiah to come, but we know that their prayer has already been answered in Jesus, if only they would realize it.
inside the walls of the old city.. there is a path that you can walk around, it was used to defend the city in ancient days.
Stacy and Mom
Me, preparing to defend the city against invaders. :)
The Wailing Wall
hundreds of prayers
sticking my prayer into a crack in the wall
the men's side, on the left, had tables and chairs. the women's side, did not
Mom, Me, and Stacy at the Wailing Wall
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