Ancient Jerusalem Main Street at the Temple Mount

Mark 11:15

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,

John 2:15

So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

When the guide told us that we were standing on the "Once Upon A Time ..." main street of Jerusalem, it was really hard to believe that in the midst of all these ruins, this place was once filled with activities and noise of people moving about their daily business of buying and selling very much like our wet market in KL.

And when the guide told us that one of the 4 arches found at the side could have been the shop of the Money changers that Jesus had their tables overturned, I could not picture the scene at all in my mind. From what I have seen in movies before, the tables that Jesus overturned was more like the tables of our Pasar Malam traders. Here, I am looking at the possibility of the Money changers'  tables being in one of these "shops".

As I stood in the midst of all the ruins around me, I can't help feeling a tinge of sadness that nothing that was once so beautiful and majestic is left standing for us to admire today. Why didn't God allow His beautiful Temple to be preserved? It would be a fantastic testimony to His power and greatness.

As I stood there, I actually "questioned" the wisdom of God. If the Temple was still standing today, I would be so proud to associate myself with it's grandeur and magnificence. Now all I have are pictures of a pile of stones that is not even nice or valuable, to go back with. How can I declare the glory of God with these photos? 

But at the end of our guide's briefing, he said, "This is exactly as Yeshua had said ..." Now who can question what Jesus has already said will happen? My apologies Jesus. I shall not question your wisdom. Jesus had already said that this would happen and it is recorded in the Bible.

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times

Mark 13 

As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”

2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Matthew 24

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Luke 21                                                                                                                                      5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

Video 1 : Introduction to the Ancient Jerusalem Main Street

Video 2 : Explanation on the Walls along the Main Street

Video 3 : How the Jews declared the start of Sabbath back then

Video 4 : The personal markings of the ancient builder on the wall

Video 5 : Intro to the underground road from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount.

Western Wall on Temple Mount

I have very often heard from people that the Western Wall has a special effect on a person when they are standing in front of it. I was told that tears automatically falls when we stand there. Is that why this wall is also called the Wailing Wall?

Well I have been there and I have joined in the ranks of those people whose tears fell automatically while standing in front of it. 

I learned something unique about the way the Jews pray. Most of them will be nodding like rocking front and back while they are praying. Ever wondered why?

We were told that they do this because they are telling God that they are alive and worshipping Him. They are not standing in His presence like statues that has no life but they are living beings worshipping Him. WOW!!! From now on, I must make it a point to move a bit during worship time. I want to tell Him, I am alive and worshipping and I am not standing as a "statue" in His presence.

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

A Living Sacrifice

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 This video is our Tour Guide's explanation on the Western Wall

This video is a compilation of photos at the Western Wall with 

Ps Chris Choo's explanation on the Wall

Temple Mount

The Videos below are the explanations given by our Israeli Tour Guide about the Temple Mount. We were standing in line to go into the Temple Mount for about 1 hour. Our waiting time was made bearable by our Guide's commentary.

Video 1 : Introduction to the Temple Mount

Video 2 : Intro to the Walls surrounding the Temple Mount 

Video 3 : Intro to the "Wall Street" 

Video 4 : A brief  on the security control on the Temple Mount

Video 5 : A brief on the 2nd Temple or Herod's Temple

Video 6 : A brief on the 1st Temple or Solomon's Temple

Video 7 : A brief on the Western Wall

Video 8 : A brief on the West Bank

Video 9 : A brief on the difference between an Israeli citizen and a resident

Video 10 : A brief on Solomon's Stables & Mt of Olives

Video 11 : A brief on the Dome of the Rock

Video 12 : A brief on the Russian Orthodox Church and their Cross

Video 13 : 1st Clip : The Gate of Mercy or Palm Sunday Gate

Video 14 : Continuation from the above and a little on Gethsemane at the end

Video 15 : Continuation from the above and a little explanation on the Olive Tree

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This is a drawing of the Temple Mount where Solomon's Temple was located.

 This is another drawing giving the names of the different locations on the Temple Mount

 This is an aerial view of the present Temple Mount

This is the present site of the Temple Mount

 This is a drawing with names of the locations on the Temple Mount

Please note : The above pictures have been taken from other online sites. This is to give us a better understanding of the Temple Mount. 

Below is the voice of Ps Chris Choo's explanation on the significance of the Temple Mount to us Christians. 

Ps Chris on the Temple Mount Part 1

Ps Chris on the Temple Mount Part 2

The Golden Gate

Mark 11 (NIV)

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

John 12:12-15 (NIV)                                                                                                                                12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;

    see, your king is coming,
    seated on a donkey’s colt.”

Zechariah 9:9

The Coming of Zion’s King

 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!

    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
    righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 

Luke 19:35-38 (NIV)

35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 

38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”                                                “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

These were the verses that Jesus and his disciples chanted while entering into the Temple grounds through the Golden Gate.

Psalms 118 24-26:

24 The Lord has done it this very day;

    let us rejoice today and be glad.

25 Lord, save us!

    Lord, grant us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

    From the house of the Lord we bless you. 

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Out of all the Gates found around the Walls on the Temple Mount, the most significant Gate to us Christians would be this Golden Gate. Through these gates, Jesus entered Jerusalem being welcomed as King by the people 2000 years ago.

That day, I stood there looking at the gates that are sealed by bricks on the outside and with iron gates from the inside, I had mixed emotions. In fact I was a bit confused. Why did God allow this very significant gate to be sealed by others? To add salt to the wound, there lies a muslim gravesite right next to the gate which actually blocks the entrance. Most of us pilgrims actually stood there shaking our heads as we looked at the "devastation" and "desecration" of this "once upon a time ..." beautiful, triumphant Gate which Jesus is supposed to walk through again the next time He comes.

While we all tried to encourage each other by saying, "Nothing is impossible with God" and asked "Do they really think that bricks and stones can prevent Jesus from coming through again?" 

We found our answer and encouragement only when we arrived home and sat down to piece our trip together. Thanks to my fellow pilgrims' research, I was told that it had already been prophesied in the Old Testament that this gate would be sealed and only will be opened again when Jesus comes again the second time.

Ezekiel 44:1-3 (NIV)

Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. 2 The Lord said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it. 3 The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the Lord. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.” 

View of the Golden Gate from Gethsemane on Mount of Olives

This is a Chart showing the directions of the Gates situated around the Temple Mount.

From this Chart, I see that Malaysia and Singapore are situated in the direction of  the Golden Gate. It is up to us as individuals to seek God and discover if there is a divine purpose as to why we are in the Golden Gate Zone.

After I came back from this trip, I was asked to listen to a series of messages that had connection with the Holy Land. I was both humbled and burdened by the message as the preacher said we in Malaysia has a calling and a mandate from God in the last days, before Jesus actually comes again to walk through the Golden Gate.

You may listen to the messages I am referring to by clicking on the links below :

Sat, 15 February 2014

FIND your destiny, FOLLOW your destiny, FULFILL your destiny

Speaker: Dr George Annadorai
Date: 15-02-2014 (Sat Svc)

Direct download: 15-02-2014_Sat_Svc.mp3
Category:Sermon -- posted at: 8:00 AM

Sun, 16 February 2014

Understanding the Times and the Season

Speaker: Dr George Annadorai
Date: 16-02-2014 (1st Svc)

Direct download: 16-02-2014_1st_Svc.mp3
Category:Sermon -- posted at: 8:00 AM

Sun, 16 February 2014

The Isaiah Highway

Speaker: Dr George Annadorai
Date: 16-02-2014 (2nd Svc)

Direct download: 16-02-2014_2nd_Svc.mp3
Category:Sermon -- posted at: 8:00 AM

Via Dolorosa

Luke 23 : 26-32

The Via Dolorosa, the road Jesus walked from the place of Pontius Pilate’s sentencing to Golgotha, means “way of sorrows.” 

The Stations are located along  many traders
like this so it is difficult to have personal quiet
reflection time.

Via Dolorosa is located within the old city of Jerusalem. It starts from the place where he was tried and convicted - near the Lion's Gate on the eastern side (Muslim quarter). It ends in the crucifixion place, Golgotha, where the Church of the Holy Sepulchre  is located in the west side of the old city (Christian quarter).

There are  14 Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa and each is marked with a plaque on the wall. 

Station 1:  Jesus is condemned to death

Mark 15:1
Jesus was tried and condemned by Pontius Pilate in the Praetorium, the Antonia Fortress, the Antonia Fortress, headquarters of the Roman garrison stationed in Jerusalem and residence of the procurator when he visited Jerusalem. 

    Today, the 1st Station is in the courtyard of the Al-Omariya school or Madrasa al-Omarira, 300m west of the Lion's        Gate 

Station 2: Jesus receives His Cross

 John 19:2-3

The Franciscan Chapel of the Flagellation and the Chapel of Condemnation commemorate the sites where Jesus was scourged and given the Cross to bear.

                                                           Every Friday, there is a Mass whereby Christians can
                                                          join in a service to carry the Cross and walk from here
                                                         to the last Station.

Station 3: Jesus falls the first time under His Cross

An Armenian Catholic chapel marks the spot where Jesus fell for the first time and above the entrance of this chapel, there is a relief of Jesus falling under the eight of the Cross. (This event is not recorded in the Bible)

Station 4: Jesus meets Mary His Mother

This is where Mary watched her son go by with the cross, and is commemorated at the Armenian Church of Our Lady of the Spasm. (This event is not recorded in the Bible.) 

Station 5: Simon helps Jesus to carry His Cross

This is where Simon of Cyrene was forced by Roman soldiers to help Jesus carry this cross (Mt 27:32; Mk 15:21; Lk 23:26). This is located on the corner where the Via Dolorosa turns west off al-Wad Road and begins to narrow as it goes uphill.

This is a hand print on the wall which is believed to be
the hand print of Jesus when He leaned to rest.

This is the narrow and uphill way to the next Stations

Station 6: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

Here according to a tradition dating from the 14th century, St. Veronica wiped Jesus' face with her handkerchief, leaving an image of his face imprinted on the cloth. The relic, known as the Sudarium orVeronica, is kept at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Veronica's name may derive from the Latin vera icon, "true image." This Church here now belongs to the Little Sisters of Jesus. (This event is not recorded in the Bible)

Station 7: Jesus falls the second time

Here Jesus fell for a second time. This is marked by a Franciscan chapel at the Via Dolorosa's junction with Souq Khan al-Zeit. (This event is not recorded in the Bible)

Station 8:  Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem

Here Jesus was to have consoled the lamenting women of Jerusalem 

Luke 23:27-28 "A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him. Jesus turned and said to them, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.'"

Station 9: Jesus falls the third time

Here, a Roman pillar marks the site of Jesus' third fall. This pillar was built into the door of the Coptic Church next to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. 

The Pillar that marks the place that Jesus fell is at the
far end of this lane.

Situated just next to Station 9 is the Ethiopian Church. Listen to the video to learn some interesting facts about the Ethiopian people and their Church.

The above 3 photos are of the Ethiopian compound

The low entrance door to the Ethiopian Church

Inside the Ethiopian Church

Stations 10-14 are all inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The 2 videos below are the explanation of our tour guide preparing us of what to expect and see inside the Holy Sepulchre.

Station 10:  Jesus is stripped of His garments

Station 11:  Jesus is nailed to the cross

Here Jesus was nailed to the Cross, believed to be upstairs just inside the entrance, at the Latin Calvary.

Stations 12: Jesus dies on the cross

Here Jesus died on the cross on the Rock of Golgotha in the Greek Orthodox Calvary.

Station 13: Jesus is taken down from the cross

Here Jesus was taken down from the cross. This place is marked by the Statue of Our Lady of Sorrows next to the Latin Calvary.

The Stone of Anointing - An altar marks the spot where Mary received the body of Jesus after He had been taken down from the Cross. Jesus' body was then laid out on the Stone of  Anointing (Unction) and anointed with a mixture of myrrh, aloe and aromatic oils in preparation for burial.

This is the Stone of Anointing or Unction

Station 14: Jesus is laid in the tomb

Station 14: Jesus was laid in the tomb marked by the edicule on the main floor.