Monday 30 April

Our final full day in Israel began with a 5.15 am wake up call and a 6.45am bus departure for the Temple Mount. As we made the short journey, we read from Psalm 122 and committed our day to the Lord in prayer. We met our new local guide, Rami, a Palestinian Christian. The Temple Mount is hotly disputed territory - but we were reminded of just how central Mount Moriah is and has been in the redeeming purposes of God - a place of sacrifice for Abraham, David and Solomon - the site of the Temple where God's presence was manifest among His people in the Holy of Holies by the Ark of the Covenant, the Mercy Seat and the Shekinah glory of God. Now controlled by the Muslims, the raised platform structure that once housed the Jewish Temple, destroyed by the Romans in 70AD, is now home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.  We viewed the internal access point of the main eastern gate, the "Golden Gate", which Jesus likely passed through on the day of His triumphal procession by the Palm Sunday road.

Much of the structure appears to be original Herodian stone. Just as in Jesus' day, the soreg fence/dividing wall, highlighted the difference between Jews and Gentiles, so today all non-Muslims cannot enter the two buildings and behaviour/dress is strictly controlled. Thanks be to God that in Christ, the dividing wall of hostility has been broken down.

Then on to a tour of the Western Wall tunnels, an underground maze of largely man-made vaulted cisterns, aqueducts etc that have built up around the western retaining wall to the Temple Mount - built by Herod the Great. Several Ashlar stones cut and placed to form the foundation course of the wall are simply huge, 12 - 15 metres in length, one estimated to be over 500 tonnes in weight. These stones mark the closest physical place to where the Holy of Holies once stood, leading a number of devout Jewish woman to be praying there. These stones are to this day the largest stones dressed by hand ever to be incorporated into any man-made structure. How did they do it?

Along one section of the tunnel, our guide pointed out that the ancient paving stones we were standing on were original Herodian and certainly where Jesus would once have walked.

After a much welcomed coffee break in the Jewish quarter, we visited the Burnt House - an archeological site approximately 5 metres below street level - and viewed a film that sought to interpret the site as evidencing remains of the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans.

Our final tour destination in Jerusalem was the Palatial Mansion in the "Herodian Quarter", a large and luxurious residence dating from Herodian times/ the time of Christ - potentially similar to the home of Caiaphas, where the Sanhedrin met at night to put Jesus on "trial".

An early start led to an early finish, leaving time for last minute shopping or return to the hotel for a well earned rest. We conclude our tour of Israel with a renewed appreciation of the love of God, the redeeming grace of Christ, a deep love for Israel and its people, and a commitment to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem".

Phil Mercer

Our group heads up the raised, enclosed pathway to the Temple Mount

Phil and guide for the day, Rami, on the Temple Mount near the Dome of the Rock

One end of the huge cut stone in the Western Wall - nearly 15 metres long and weighing over 500 tonnes

Lem "holds up" the other end!!

Emerging from the Western Wall Tunnels onto the Via Dolorosa

Tim and Lavena entering The Burnt House

One of the rooms in The Burnt House

Room with mosaic tiled floor in the Herodian Quarter

A spice stall in the Muslim Quarter as we walked back to the hotel

Sunday 29 April

After an easier start, 8.30 on the bus to the Jaffa gate, we walked to the Christ Church in the old city for Sunday service. When the doors opened we entered and sat at the back because we planned to leave early. It soon became obvious that the church would overflow so we decided to leave and had an informal service led by Mal in the gardens.

Continuing down through the old city of Jerusalem we entered the City of David. Changing into our water walking clothes we continued down a level and observed the archaeological ruins of the City of David. At the next level down we passed another set of ruins which may have contained King David’s private toilet 😀.

Down more steps, more steps we finally reached the spiral staircase leading to Hezekiah’s  Tunnel. The Immediate force of the water entering the tunnel was intimidating but even though the water was quite deep at the beginning, 70cm, it soon decreased to shin deep. The tunnel is pitch black so torches are required. The width was approximately 60cm give or take and height as low as 150cm. The 700m tunnel is a masterpiece of engineering, perhaps the greatest engineering achievement of the Pre-Classical Iron Age built 700BC.  2 Chronicles 32:30.

After lunch at the Israel museum we looked over a 1:50 scale model of the City of Jerusalem in the time of the second temple. Nat led us around the model and pointed out many features.

In the same complex we visited the Shrine of the Book which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Aleppo Cordex - 1000year old bible.

We ventured over the road to the privately owned Bible Lands Museum. Nat surprised us with an emotional departure speech saying how much he enjoyed spending time with us Aussies. Our group sang the Aaronic Blessing to him and each said our individual goodbyes. We will certainly miss him. 

We continued the tour of the museum with guide Sabina who explained the many ancient antique collections of the early biblical times. So ending an interesting day.

Rudy and Barbra

Christ Church in the Old City of Jerusalem

Ruins possibly including parts of Nehemiah's Wall in The City of David

Was this the toilet of a rich man in the City of David?

On the way to Hezekiah's Tunnel

Walking through Hezekiah's Tunnel

Phil emerging from the Tunnel - shorts wet up to the thighs!

We survived the Tunnel walk!!

Roof of the exhibition building of the Shrine of the Book - The Dead Sea Scrolls

Scale model of the Second Temple and the city of Jerusalem 

 A Christian sarcophagus from about the second century AD

The authors of today's blog - Rudy and Barbra - otherwise known as "Rhubarb"

Saturday 28 April

Today was a totally free day for everyone to do as they wish. A number of people were very grateful for the opportunity to rest and catch up on various tasks such as doing washing, communicating with family and friends, updating diaries and emails.

For others it was a chance to retrace steps to favourite places and to explore new places such as enjoying coffee and strudel at the Austrian Hospice, an oasis in the heart of the Muslim quarter.

These are some of the experiences had by individuals in our tour group:

-  walking the ramparts (the city walls)

-  morning tea in the gardens of the Austrian Hospice and taking in the magnificent view from the roof. 

   Some also went back there in the evening for a Mozart concert.

-  visiting Gesthemene and walking the Palm Sunday route up the Mount of Olives

-  Solomon's Quaries also called Zedekiah's cave, which runs deep under the Muslim quarter

-  climbing the tower of the Lutheran church which gives another great view of the city

-  revisiting the garden tomb

-  afternoon tea at the American Colony Hotel

-  the Tower of David museum 

-  shopping and bargaining

-  lunch at Christ Church cafe

Everyone seemed to be very satisfied with what they had chosen to do. Some had aching legs by the end of the day and others were very refreshed.  Hopefully everyone will be ready for our last two busy days in Jerusalem before our departure on Tuesday.

Entrance to Solomon's Quaries (Zedekiah's Cave) - then goes for 250 metres under the Old City

Morning tea at the Austrian Hospice - a haven of peace in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the Old City

Looking across the Temple Mount to the Mount of Olives from the roof of the Austrian Hospice

Church of the Holy Sepulchre from the top of the Letheran church tower

Looking across the Old City from the Lutheran church tower

Crowds at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre 

Text on the wall of the cafe at Christ Church

Friday 27 April

After thunderstorms and heavy rain which resulted in flash flooding along the Dead Sea and caused the tragic loss of life of 10 young hikers, we woke in Jerusalem to a warm sunny day.  Inching through heavy traffic in Jerusalem due to closed roads for a cycling race, we finally arrived at the top of the Mount of Olives to commence our walk down the path that Jesus took on Palm Sunday. The path was steep but we could see ahead of us the old city of Jerusalem and the site of the temple which was where Jesus was heading that day.

At the bottom of the Mount of Olives, before the Kidron Valley, we entered the Garden of Gethsemene. This ancient garden is still filled with olive trees some of which could date back 2,000 years. The garden now also contains Hollyhocks, Lavender bushes and roses but the Garden of Gethsemene that Jesus knew was probably mostly olive trees as Gethsemene means 'olive press'.

Phil wasn't with us as he was unwell so Mal Armstrong read from Matthew 26 v 36 - 46 where Jesus prayed in the garden on the night of his betrayal. We spent a short time looking in the Church of All Nations then hurried to our bus to drive to the Garden Tomb. This is a Protestant owned and operated garden staffed mostly by Christian volunteers from England. It was established about 150 years ago and during excavation of the site a wine press, cistern and empty tomb were found. It seems to be the tomb of a wealthy man which was set in a vineyard or garden - maybe Joseph of Arimathea!

Our English tour guide in the garden cited the similarities between the description of Calvary and tomb of Jesus in the Bible and this location but, as he stated, it's not so important where Jesus died and rose again, but the important thing is that he did! 

We viewed the empty tomb and then in the peacefulness of the garden, with birds singing around us, we had a very moving communion service led by Mal and assisted by Rohan, Graeme and Bob. Lem and Regina led us in singing 'When I survey the wondrous cross'.

Following this time of peace and worship and remembrance of our Lord's suffering and resurrection, we went to a place of remembrance of the great suffering of the Jewish people, the Holocaust Museum. The museum is only 13 years old and is very confronting in its coverage of the persecution of the Jews particularly before, during and after WW11 until the formation of the state of Israel in 1948. However, as our guide Net (a Jew) pointed out, the persecution of Jews and especially Israel, still continues to this present day. It seems that the nations have not learnt from the horrors of the past.

After leaving this solemn place we had the rest of the afternoon free.  It was a chance to unwind and to remember- we remembered Palm Sunday when Jesus was hailed as King; Gethsemene when he struggled with what he knew was to come; communion reminded us of his crucifixion and resurrection and then the continued suffering of the Jews. 

We completed the day with a Shabbat blessing by Net as we sat down for dinner in the evening. In Hebrew he blessed the cup of wine and shared it, then blessed the bread and broke it to share - amazing how familiar that is to us!

View from Mount of Olives over Jerusalem 

Walking the Palm Sunday route

The Garden of Gesthemene

Listening to our blind guide at The Garden Tomb

We enter the Garden Tomb

Mal leads our communion service at the Garden Tomb

About to enter the Holocaust Museum (no photos allowed inside)

Nate gives the Shabbat blessing before our Friday evening meal

Thursday 26 April

Walking in the footsteps of Jesus in Jerusalem!

Today we spent a blessed 12 hours in the old city of Jerusalem, on foot interspersed with periods of sitting in beautiful or informative places, and being reminded to ‘watch our steps’ on the slippery limestone pavements. 
In this ‘holy city’ we were also warned to protect our bags and belongings from pickpockets!
On our walk outside the wall of ancient Jerusalem, we first passed Damascus Gate, then Herod’s Gate and an inscription in Arabic to Suleiman the Canaanite. Nearby we saw the limestone bed rock of Mount Moriah (which is Mount Zion ) on which the walls currently stand. These walls were not the ones of Jesus day.
Before entering the old city we passed through a Muslim cemetery and viewed the lights of a soccer field on our right over the wall inside the Muslim quarter. On our left was the Mount of Olives over the Kidron Valley (The Valley of Jehoshaphat which continues east down to the Dead Sea).

We entered the old city through the impressive Lion gate with four lions carved in limestone above. (St Stephen’s Gate, where he was stoned to death, is likely to be underneath this).
The whole of the old city was occupied from 1948-1967 by Jordanians, with limited access, until freed by Israel in the six day war. Since then Jerusalem has been open to all nations to visit. Jerusalem is the only city with a duplicate in heaven!
On our left was the way to the Temple Mount, but we turned right along limestone pavements with lovely gardens past the ancient crusader Church of St Anna resonating with gospel singing as we sat under a palm tree full of chirping birds. Here above Bethesda Pools, we prayed and read how Jesus, on the Sabbath, healed the man paralysed for 38 years waiting by this pool, John 5. The church was named after the mother of the Virgin Mary. In fact, Mary was born here. Bethesda means house of grace, or even more: house of Love and Kindness.
Phil related how modern day paraplegic Joni Ericsson Tada came here and was overwhelmed with the love of God for her ... now really looking forward to the resurrection body in Heaven!
What a privilege it was to sing Amazing Grace, with wonderful acoustics, inside St Anna’s church.

We returned to walk along the Via Dolorosa (the latter part dates to Jesus days) where Jesus carried his cross.
Next Nate took us to Nuns of Sion Convent purchased from the Ottermans in the 1850’s to discuss the building of the first and second temples and see the archeological digs showing unearthed layers with the second wall of Jerusalem, which was at the time of Jesus. The Via Dolorosa is parallel to this second wall.
Protestants believe the Praetorium of Herods Temple is where Jesus would have stood trial.
As we walked we passed through a security checkpoint between the Muslim and Jewish quarters. We got used to seeing young Israeli soldiers both male and female carrying guns. Military service is compulsory after leaving school for Israeli citizens except Religious Jews and Muslims?

Approaching the Western Wall we saw many of these conscripts arriving to pledge allegiance to the State of Israel and also many young 13 year old boys having their Bar-mitzvah (coming of age). Loud and joyous celebrations followed with pipe, drums, sax and singing as they proceeded towards the wall, with the Tora enclosed in a silver Mezuzah. Many religious Jews were robed, had long hair and wore black tefilin(prayer box)on their forehead. Some had black straps wrapped around their arms 7 times. Deuteronomy 6.
As one of their most holy sites, Jews like to pray at the Western Wall, as it is the nearest point to the original Temple site. Only men were allowed to approach the wall on the left side and women on the right, but many of them were leaning over the dividing fence and screaming loudly to participate with their families.
Jan paraphrased, that when King Solomon was dedicating the 1st Temple, he said the foreigner should pray and God would hear his prayer (2 Chronicles 6, 32 & 33). Most people approaching the wall write a prayer on a folded piece of paper and squeeze it into the wall and pray silently. Our young tour guide, offered us paper and asked us to pray for Jerusalem.

Nate related to us that his family are secular Jews but were keen to offer him a Jewish education and even celebrated his Bar-mitzvah. Now as a 33 year old he is growing in his passion for his Jewish heritage and “the Lord”.

At the Davidson Centre we were privileged to walk through the archeological digs. We saw a 2000-year-old road to Hebron and walked up the impressive flight of main entrance steps to the Temple (buried/destroyed), which Jesus would have used (like when he was taken there at 8 days old to be circumcised) and saw the Gates which are now sealed below the Temple Mount with the golden Dome of the Rock and the Al-aqsa mosque on top.
Behind us as we photographed these steps was the way to Bethlehem (The City of David) just 8 km away and the way to Hebron!
As we stopped at the southern corner of the Western Wall we saw the massive dressed Herodian limestones laid perfectly without mortar. The largest up to 500 tonnes at the base and about 5 tonnes each at the top. Near the Temple here, more than 170 ritual baths for purification have been unearthed.
Right next to where we bought lunch, tasted Halva, baklava and Olive oil we viewed the remains of a wall that could have been built by Hezekiah or his father Ahaz about 800 BC.
We visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (means resurrection) where Catholics claim Jesus was buried. Nate, our tour guide, says he asks which denomination, before answering where an event happened...he says “who can be sure”...with shrugged shoulders.
Enroute we temporarily lost Bridget in the crowds but were relieved when she appeared 20 min later, at the church, with help from store owners and friendly police.
In light rain we left the church and walked through the Muslim quarter to the Christian quarter beside a Cardo(roadway) dating to 6th C AD. Many of our group had fun putting themselves “into the picture” of a 10x5m recent “Cardo”/streetcape depicting bustling life in ancient times.

Our focus was on following Jesus, but this walk was enmeshed in such a diverse archeological record that it was hard to keep perspective at times.
Eg. we saw a replica of the Madaba mosaic previously seen by us in Jordan. Nate noted that there was no Temple recorded as this was not important to this author.

As the long day faded and the rain increased we left the old city through Damascus gate and followed the wall with ‘an escort’ of armed young girl soldiers.
King David’s Tomb is inside a “Religious Jewish Synagogue”. We walked past Religious Jews reading and studying the Torah. Upstairs the “Room of the Last Supper,” was dated to the 12th C, so was only identifying the suggested site where Jesus broke bread with his disciples.
Back in the old city, past the Armenian quarter which is enclosed by a wall- off limits- except for a few retail outlets namely ‘Authentic Armenian Ceramics and Pottery’. We saw Towers built by Herod the Great, and his swimming pool.

At Christ Church,it was our turn to participate in a Messianic Passover Seder Haggadah while thunder and lighting and pouring rain came down heavier than any time since 1979. The tables were set beautifully with traditional wrapped unleavened bread full of fine holes representing Yesua’s side, a glass for wine/grape juice, a plate with parsley representing the hyssop for applying the blood on the doorposts and lintels. We dipped in a bowl of salted water representing tears of sorrow shed during the captivity of the children of Israel, bitter herbs remembering the slavery in Egypt and sweet fruit mince representing the mortar used in Egypt, and symbols such as an egg representing new life, the bone referring to Yesua as the lamb, a plate of dried fruits to add to these when eating.
We were encouraged to have The word of God written on our hearts like the Jews have the Torah.
We were encouraged also to allow the Holy Spirit to be our teacher opening our eyes to the word of God.
Referring to John 14 we were reminded that obedience is seen as love by Yesua and love is demonstrated in obedience.
Let us pray for this ‘agape’ love to be released through this ministry at Christ’s Church.
We finished our response by singing the Aaronic blessing to them and saying in unison
“Next year in Jerusalem!”

Jim & Bridget Grant

Entering the Lion's Gate

Four Ann(e)'s at St Anna's Church

Remains of the Pool of Bethesda

Walking the Via Dolorosa

Some of our men at the Wailing Wall

Lem with a couple of "short" Israeli soldiers"!!

At the southeast corner of the Temple Mount

The steps that Jesus would have walked on to enter the Temple

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre 

Caz at the Cardo

At our Passover Seder meal

Wednesday 25 April

And there was evening and there was morning - Anzac Day, when they were indeed remembered - and it was good.

It took a little while to go off to sleep last night - we're in Jerusalem! Woke to an alternative alarm at 4.30am - the nearby mosque's call to prayer. 

A few of us met in the lobby at 5.30am to walk to the Old City to see it without the crowds - early morning bread delivery hanging from a door handle, a roadside breadseller setting up, small groups carrying crosses through the Stations of the Cross. Then precious time spent in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Bethlehem - House of Bread - a desert area. We visited the Church of the Nativity (oldest intact church) which was not destroyed because the Persians saw the Persian-looking Magi there (in a painting?). Entered bending the knee through the low door of humility. Carefully descended 14 steep stone stairs into the grotto where Jesus was born, marked by a silver star. We sang "Away in a Manger" there. Very memorable.

A very short drive to the Shepherds' Fields - visited the cave which was far less elaborately decorated which made it a lot easier to imagine caves in Jesus' day. We sang "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". Also went into the modest Franciscan church which had 3 beautiful frescos, domed roof & acoustics which aided our singing of a few more carols - beautiful!

Then nearby Herodium - multistorey palace/fortress of Herod 'the Great' - a manmade mountain. A safe, quiet place for Herod to go to, away from busy Jerusalem & where he planned his final resting place.

Back in Jerusalem, we stopped for lunch at "The First Station", an old unused Ottoman railway station transformed into a lovely marketplace with eateries &  small shops.

Lastly, the Mount of Olives and the Paternoster Church, comemmorating Jesus' ascention, where The Lord's Prayer is displayed in 70 languages. We shortly heard thunder & it started spitting so we took shelter in the grotto in front of the church. There we said The Lord's Prayer together before wandering around to find the English version. Most of us then headed back to the Hotel as it was too wet to proceed down the Palm Sunday route - although four intrepid travellers braved the rain and walked the Palm Sunday road. We then had much appreciated time to relax & reflect before dinner.

... Yes, a very good day. 

Thanks for another wonderful day, Lord.

To God be the glory for the things He has done... is doing... and is going to do. Amen

Peter & Libby Tester

Our group at Manger Square in Bethlehem 

Libby and Lavena enter the Church of the Nativity through the low door of humility

The Star in the grotto where it is said that Jesus was born

The Franciscan Church at the Shepherds Fields

One of the frescoes in the church

John "drives" our bus

English version of the Lord's Prayer (among those in 70 languages) at the Paternoster Church on the Mount of Olives