Overview of Jerusalem

This is an overview of Jerusalem from a Lookout Point in Mount of Olives. 

Here our Guide gave us an orientation of the places we visited so far.

Jewish Graves and Burial Rites on Mount of Olives

In this post, we learn about the Jewish tradition of placing a stone on the grave in lieu of flowers. This is in line with Biblical teachings - Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Listen to the interesting explanation by our Guide especially on why Jesus was buried so quickly.

Here are some photos of the surrounding areas of this grave site, which is actually in the middle of Jerusalem.

Judas Iscariot Betrays Jesus

Matthew 26
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

Jesus Arrested
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.

Matthew 27 
Judas Hangs Himself
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”                                                                                            “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.

5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

Listen to an alternative view of Judas' betrayal shared by our Tour Guide

St Peter in Gallicantu

We made a very quick stop to this Church where Peter the Apostle was to have denied Jesus three times as was predicted by Jesus. They erected a  pillar with a rooster on top and statues of Peter, a Roman soldier and two girls below to commemorate this event.

Mark 14 : 27-31

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:“‘I will strike the shepherd,    and the sheep will be scattered.’
28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”
31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

Mark 14:66-72 
Peter Disowns Jesus

66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,”he said, and went out into the entryway.69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Day 8 : The Sacred or Holy Steps

After our Guide's explanation on the water cisterns in Caiaphas' house in the previous post, we were told to look at another direction not far away. Our gaze was directed to some ordinary stone paved steps. All of our attention were captured when the Guide told us that these were no ordinary steps but the very steps that Jesus walked on during His arrest and trial.

The Sacred Steps. 

 Can you imagine Jesus walking on these steps 2000 years ago?

The Kidron Valley

This is a "must listen to" recording of our Guide's exhortation to us Pilgrims to Israel

Day 8 : Caiaphas The High Priest's House

John 11:49-53
Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish." He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life. 

Matthew 26:65-66
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered. 

After visiting the detention room that Jesus was believed to have been placed in after His arrest, we were led out of the building into the outside compound of the house. Our Guide then explained to us why they believe that this is the actual site of Caiaphas House

Listen to our Guide's explanation on this site

This is a Summary of the events that took place from Jesus' arrest to His crucifixion 

To learn more about who Caiaphas was, you may click on this link :

Caiaphas – High Priest of the Jerusalem Temple

Day 8 : Sacred Pit (Jesus' Detention Room)

We visited the dungeon in which Jesus was locked up after His arrest.

I have not put much thought to where Jesus was put in when He was arrested, but this would not be where I would have imagined it to be - A DUNGEON.

After visiting this place, Psalm 88 would never be the same again for me. While about 40 of us pilgrims were crammed in that small underground pit, a fellow pilgrim was asked to read Psalm 88 aloud. We were told to try to imagine Jesus sitting in that small dark pit and praying this prayer to God the Father. 

 The Sacred Pit where Jesus was imprisoned is right at the bottom. 

This is the hole by which Jesus was lowered into the pit back then 2000 years ago.

Listen to our Guide's explanation about the pit that Jesus was put in after His arrest.

Psalm 88

1 

Lord, you are the God who saves me;

    day and night I cry out to you.

2 

May my prayer come before you;

    turn your ear to my cry.

3 

I am overwhelmed with troubles

    and my life draws near to death.

4 

I am counted among those who go down to the pit;

    I am like one without strength.

5 

I am set apart with the dead,

    like the slain who lie in the grave,

whom you remember no more,

    who are cut off from your care.

6 

You have put me in the lowest pit,

    in the darkest depths.

7 

Your wrath lies heavily on me;

    you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.

8 

You have taken from me my closest friends

    and have made me repulsive to them.

I am confined and cannot escape;

9 

    my eyes are dim with grief.

I call to you, Lord, every day;

    I spread out my hands to you.

10 

Do you show your wonders to the dead?

    Do their spirits rise up and praise you?

11 

Is your love declared in the grave,

    your faithfulness in Destruction?

12 

Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,

    or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

13 

But I cry to you for help, Lord;

    in the morning my prayer comes before you.

14 

Why, Lord, do you reject me

    and hide your face from me?

15 

From my youth I have suffered and been close to death;

    I have borne your terrors and am in despair.

16 

Your wrath has swept over me;

    your terrors have destroyed me.

17 

All day long they surround me like a flood;

    they have completely engulfed me.

18 

You have taken from me friend and neighbor—

    darkness is my closest friend.