6th Day, 26th May, Jerusalem; the Way of the Cross

Holy Land Tour - 6th Day

The schedule for the 6th day would be:
Cover Mt Zion visit the Tomb of David; the Upper Room and the church of the Domition
Cover the Old City entering through the Zion Gate; visit Wailing Wall; exit through Dung Gate.
Re-enter Old City through - Lion's Gate; St Anne's Church; Pool of Bethesda; Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross); Monastery of Flagellation; Ecce Homo; Convent of the Sisters of Zion; Stations of the Cross; Church of the Holy Sepulchre; leave City through Jaffa Gate.

Domition Sanctuary towers above Mt Zion and commemorates the tradition that here Mary, mother of Jesus, fell into eternal sleep. This church is also shown in the 6th century Madaba map found in the Jordon (see Blog Day 1)

Mosaic work depicts the Holy Trinity and the Apostles

Mary's sleeping statue
The Domition. Located in Mt Zion that here Mary, mother of Jesus, fell into eternal sleep. Mother of all Churches. Also depicted on the 6th century Madaba map found in Jordon.

Located next to the Dormition.

The Coenaculum - The Upper Room of the Last Supper.
Below the Coenaculum is the "Hall of the Washing of the Feet" where Jesus washed His disciples' feet.

John 13:4 (Jesus) rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

Coenaculum ceiling

City of David located on the Spur of the hill.

Mount Zion - David's Tomb Ps 132:13

Mezuzah - Entrance to Davids Tomb - A mezuzah is affixed to the door frame of Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah (Biblical commandment) to inscribe the words of the Shema "on the doorposts of your house" (Deuteronomy 6:4-9
4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. )

Having completed the tour of the City of David, we then proceeded to Jerusalem proper, entering through the Zion Gate proceeding through CARDO and heading for the Western Wall of the Temple Mount. ie from the South heading towards the Eastern portion of the city and exited through the Dung Gate.

Zion Gate entrance. Entrance is not an open one but kinked to the right to make it difficult or impede the entrance of the enemy in a battle.

Cardo . Entrance to the Jewish Quarter

Hurva-

Looking NE as we proceed down to the wailing wall. Dome of the Rock on the right.

Meriam, before we proceed down to the 'wailing wall'/ Western Wall (which also means west of the Temple)

Wide Angle view of the Western Wall. Note the two sections. The one on the right is the females only section.

Prayer requests being inserted in the crevices of the stone slab joints. This is the only section of the original wall which was not destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. "Deut 6:4-9. In part- "And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."

Jewish worshippers.

Worshippers in a room beside the wall.

One of the numerous subterranean tunnels beneath Jerusalem built by Hezekiah?

After the Western Wall we proceeded to exit the Jewish Quarter at the Dung Gate (South of City). Below is a view of the city of David looking south. Note: It is not part of the walled city of Jerusalem

View from Dung Gate of the City of David (SSW) Lion's Gate or Sheep's Gate or Mary's Gate, ( also known as Stephen's Gate).

We entered through this gate to proceed to Church of St Anne, Pool of Bethesda, and on to the place flagellation and the stations of the cross. Note the figure of a Lion on the left of the archway. We now commence "the Way of the Cross" portion of the tour.

The Church of St Anne (Mother of Mary) was built in 1140 AD on the remains of a Byzantine Church to commemorate the traditional site of Mary's birthplace.

John 5:2-9: Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"
7 The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me."
8 Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

Bethesda Healing Pools. Imagine how hard it would have been for a crippled man to get into the pool in time for his healing ?

Inside the Church of St Anne.

Meriam is seated last left pew.

Group along Via Dolorosa heading towards the Condemnation Chapel (Place of Flagellation where Jesus was stripped and lashed 39 times - "by His stripes we are healed"

As above heading for the Condemnation Chapel.

Wall Map on the stations placed at the 1st where Jesus was condemned to death. 15 Stations of the cross, ending at the Holy Sepulchre (Calvary). The Lord was crucified according to the Prophets and scripture. predicted in the time of Isaiah approx 600 years earlier.

Isa 53:4-54

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

Isa 53:99

"And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth."

Total of 15 stations have been set by the Catholic church.

1st Staion- the Praetorium.

Mark15:16-19

Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. 17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, 18 and began to salute Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" NKJV

Basement of the Chapel of Ecco Homo. It was here that the Pilate ordered Christ to be brought forth to the Jews, proclaiming 'Ecco Homo'- 'Behold the Man' showing Lithostratos, Stone pavement

Interior of the Dome of the Convent of the Flagellation. (John 19:1-4 "So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.)

2nd Station - Jesus takes up the cross.

2nd to 3rd

Meriam and I were assigned to carry the cross from the 3rd to 4th down Via Dolorosa

3rd to 4th

At the 4th

Station 5- Jesus falls for the 1st time.
On the way to the 5th, where Mary encountered Jesus. This event is not mentioned in the New Testament. Maybe by Josephus?

6th Station- Veronica wipes the sweat from Jesus' face.

Church at the 6th. The veil of Veronica. Probably lies on the site of the house of Veronican ,who wiped the blood and dirt from Jesus' face with her veil and the imprint of His face was left on it. Original cloth is kept at St Peter's in Rome.

( Seen in the picture below is our dear Tour Leader, Imbam, owner of the Tour Agency. She has been through this route several times never once indicated that she was bored with the proceedings. She was like a good mother hen and worships at St Paul's in PJ.)

Inside the Church at the 7th.

7th Station. Jesus falls for the second time. (through this Gate of Judgement he left the City on his way to Golgotha to be crucified)

Street sign between 7th and 8th station

8th Station. Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem

Luke 23:27-31 a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him.

28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

9th Station. Jesus falls for the 3rd time.

A roman column marking the 9th station. Close by are the apse and roof of the Holy Sepulchre Basillica, a reminder that Jesus collapsed within sight of the place of his crucification. . From here He could see the place of Crucification. The Crucification site marked by the Holy Sepulchre seen high above in the background
10th Station. Jesus is stripped of his garments Steps leading up to the Chapel of the stripping of Jesus garments ie. place of Crucification. The next 5 stations are all within the Basilica 11th Station - The shrine marks the place where Jesus was nailed to the cross within sight of his mother

The 12th Station - Jesus on the Cross - see below also

12th Station. Jesus dies on the Cross.

"Jesus cried, 'Eli,Eli, lama sabachtani?' and gave up His spirit (Mt 27:50)This Greek alter, stands over the Rock of Calvary. In the bedrock beneath is a large crack (see photo below) caused by an earthquake on the day Jesus died.

Wall painting depicting Jesus being laid down after being brought down from the cross.

Luke 23:50 Then a man named Joseph, a member of the Jewish Supreme Court, from the city of Arimathea in Judea, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus
So he took down Jesus' body and wrapped it in a long linen cloth and laid it in a new, unused tomb hewn into the rock at the side of a hill.

13th Station: Perfumed slab of marble at the spot where Jesus was placed after being brought down from the cross. Stone of Unction or also known as the Stone of Annointing.

Below the cross, on the lower floor, fissures seen in the rock, indicate a major earthquake that took place. Which is also mentioned in the Scripture:

Matt 27:50-54

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying,"Truly this was the Son of God!"

Photo below is of the Rock base below the cross.

14th Station- Entrance to the Garden TombIn the Tomb. The assumed place where Jesus was laid at burail - prior to his resurrection.

Entrance to the Tomb
Close up of the entrance to the Holy Tomb.

Our Tour Group:

Font Row (L-R)- Melania Iwata, Carmendra, Angelina, Martin, Samer Makari ( Tour Guide)
Back Row (L-R)- Inbam Solomon (Owner of World Discovery Travel & Leader), Freda Johnson,, Roger Chan, Cecilia Philips, Johnny Chan, me and Meriam, Theresa Jayasuria, Allan Pak and Cindy Lee (Honeymooners)

WHY THE CROSS??? or WHY CHRIST's CRUCIFICATION WAS AN EVENT IN ITSELF??

The book of Hebrews explains very well the significance of a blood sacrifice and why a one time sacrifice (blood being shed) was required for the redemption of all men both Jew and Gentile (all non-Jews are referred to as Gentiles)

Hebrews Chapter 9
Heb 9: 7 But only the high priest goes into the Most Holy Place, and only once a year, and always with blood, which he offers to God to cover his own sins and the sins the people have committed in ignorance. (The Old method of redemption from sin before Jesus)
9 This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them.
10 For that old system deals only with food and drink and ritual washing — external regulations that are in effect only until their limitations can be corrected. (Isn't this what 'religion' and a religious society is all about?)

11 Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that great, perfect sanctuary in heaven, not made by human hands and not part of this created world.
12 Once for all time he took blood into that Most Holy Place, but not the blood of goats and calves. He took his own blood, and with it he secured our salvation forever.

13 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people's bodies from ritual defilement.
14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to death so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

16 Now when someone dies and leaves a will, no one gets anything until it is proved that the person who wrote the will is dead.
17 The will goes into effect only after the death of the person who wrote it. While the person is still alive, no one can use the will to get any of the things promised to them.

18 That is why blood was required under the first covenant as a proof of death.

19 For after Moses had given the people all of God's laws, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God's laws and all the people, using branches of hyssop bushes and scarlet wool.
20 Then he said, "This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you."
21 And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the sacred tent and on everything used for worship.
22 In fact, we can say that according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified by sprinkling with blood. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.
24 For Christ has entered into heaven itself to appear now before God as our Advocate. He did not go into the earthly place of worship, for that was merely a copy of the real Temple in heaven.
25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the earthly high priest who enters the Most Holy Place year after year to offer the blood of an animal.
26 If that had been necessary, he would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But no! He came once for all time, at the end of the age, to remove the power of sin forever by his sacrificial death for us.

27 And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment,
28 so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again but not to deal with our sins again. This time he will bring salvation to all those who are eagerly waiting for him. NLT

So loved ones the next time someone states that "Christ died for your sins" you will know what it means. If I were you I would respond "Amen". The ONE TIME sacrifice to God had to be a perfect one without blemish or sin; and the Lord was sinless.

To ensure that the sacrifice was without blemish, Jesus was CONCIEVED OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, born of the Virgin Mary, for God's perfect plan and sacrifice to take place. The Nicene Creed which contains this statement, is declared in most Churches every Sunday.

Incidentally it is for this reason that Easter is a more important (should be) event than Good Friday.

Reflect on the verses below.

1 Cor 15:20-28
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.

24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.

26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

27 For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.

28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

NKJV

Christ is therefore a reconciliation between God and Man, for Adam was the first Man who sinned and Christ is the second Adam who has freed us and made us accepted by God. "Accepted in the Beloved". He is the bridge between Man & God . There is no more death but eternal life for those who choose Christ and are in Christ!

The illustration below summarises: