Jerusalem – In and Around the Temple Mount

Today we visited several areas in the Old City of Jerusalem, mostly in and around the Temple Mount. We started in the southwest part of the city. None of the temple built by Solomon still remains, but parts of the Herodian temple are still accessible (built by Herod the Great). We visited one of the streets near an entrance to the temple where the street is 2000 years old – from the time of Jesus. We saw some of the chambers that would have held shops and money changers. We saw many of the stones that fell when the temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD (see the picture: "not one stone here will be left upon another"). We saw how the road had buckled when Robinson’s Arch fell on it. Amazing!

We walked around the corner to the southern steps leading up to the temple mount. Many of these steps are also 2000 years old and are where the Pharisees would often gather to discuss matters of the Law (Jesus could have also discussed issues with the Pharisees from these steps!). We saw some of the original gates, although they are now sealed, that people would have used to enter and exit the temple mount area.

We went up to the platform of the Temple Mount itself which is also 2000 years old, built by Herod the Great. Although he was a Jew, he had done so much to please Rome at the expense of the Jews, he built this temple to somewhat appease the Jews. None of the buildings from the original temple are here, including the various courts for Gentiles, women, or the Holy of Holies. Because of that, and because there are several Muslim mosques here now, most Jews don’t bother coming here to visit, preferring to spend their time at the western wall. We were standing on the same stones Jesus walked on!

We next walked over to the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the man who had been lame for 38 years. See John 5:1-15 for the story. Imagine: we were able to visit the pools where Jesus healed the man AND the temple where scripture says Jesus later saw him (verse 14). We are so thankful to have an opportunity to explore and visit these sites – we will never read these passages without remembering this visit!

After this, we had lunch in a nearby shopping mall and went to the Holocaust Museum. It was an emotional experience to say the least. This evening, we had the opportunity to listen to a Messianic Jewish pastor / rabbi talk about what it is like to be a Messianic Jew in Israel and some of the problems they face. Tomorrow will be our last day. Sad to leave, but forever the richer for it.