THE GOD OF ISRAEL

Since we entered Jerusalem we haven't had a great deal of time. But what we saw and did from this city has been amazing. We drove down to the Judean Desert. There we ascended Massada by cable car to tour the 2000 year old fortress and palace of King Herod ( who didn't use it for long) This was also the place the Jewish people made their last stand after the destruction of the second temple. That whole story is amazing. Below is a picture of Ein Gedi. Remember the story of how David hid in a cave and as Saul entered it, he cut off the hem of his garment? Well below is a picture of the path to the cave. Beautiful waterfalls all along the way and we actually stood in the cave. Who would have thought all this was hidden in the wilderness? There were mtn. goats running up and down the hills and so fun to watch.
Below is a picture at Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. You can see one of caves in the middle of the picture. The next day we toured the museum where the scrolls were kept. This is what the wilderness looked like and I can't imagine what it was like to even spend much time here searching for scrolls. The stories of how they were found and what they did with them is incredible. From there we went and swam in the dead sea and floated like a cork. So fun.
The temple steps where our Savior would have entered the temple are pictured below. Pat is coming down the steps and it is one of the places they are absolutely sure that Jesus actually walked. If you look to Pat's left you can see an arch which was the entrance that has been sealed up to the temple and the Holy of Holies. We can't explain how it feels to be here! We also visited the pit where Jesus was imprisoned the night before He died. But visiting the Garden tomb was indescribable. And the list of things we saw and did goes on and on and on. Not only that, while we were driving the guide is constantly pointing out things and telling history.
The western wall was also a fabulous experience. Below is a picture of Pat praying at that wall. The wall is divided and the women and the men cannot be together and there is a wall separating them. How did Terry take this picture?

Below is a picture of the male side of the western wall where you can see the orthodox Jews in travailing prayer. It was awesome to spend some time in prayer here.

The tour that we were with has left and we are in Jerusalem alone. After visiting the western wall again for prayer, can you guess where Terry wanted to go? Here we are walking down in the Kidron Valley. Behind him is the wall of Jerusalem. It is the eastern wall where the temple is located and the gate through which Jesus is going to return. To his right is the city of David and looking up in front of him is the garden of Gethsemane and then the Mount of Olives. We spent a long time just walking around this valley. Needless to say, it was not crowded. In fact we were the only ones there. But down there was Absolom's pillar, the Tomb of Zechariah, and the Cave of Jehoshaphat.
Today we visited the Pools of Bethesda and also walked on the ramparts of the wall. That is the very top of the wall where the watchmen and the guards would have been. So cool. There is so much to see and do here. We walked around Jerusalem from morning until dinner. Indescribable.