THE HOLY LAND REVISITED - Jerusalem

Later, in the afternoon we found ourselves standing at the edge of the Pool of Bethesda. The ruins were just that. Ruins! It was hard to distinguish that these five rectangular holes in the ground, shooting off from each other, had been the pools of healing. The weeds and the unkept area gave us pause to wonder; can this really be the pool? The scriptures tell the story, how the Angel would come and stir the waters. The first ones in the pools, when they began to stir would be healed. "Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called Bethesda, having five porticoes." John 5:2 Much discussion has been held on it's authenticity. The conclusion is that since all speak of the pools being near a church; and explicitly near the church of St. Anne, this, therefore, is probably the true historic site.

Next door to the pools, is a church built of stone called "St. Anne's Church." The acoustics were supposed to be phenomenal. We found the echo's to be intense and confusing. We tried singing but the sound seem to just bounce from one wall to another. However, the echo was there and so were we.

Later, our buses parked outside of a gift shop! An arched sign across the road said; Garden of Gethsemane. Oh my heart! To the left of the bus was half of the garden and thru the shop on our right was the other half of the garden. Of course we were directed towards the gift shop first. We exited the shop from the other side and entered the garden on the right and were faced with 2000 year old olive trees that the Catholic church had taken control of and built a church along side them to give further credence as to their authority. I suppose at one time this was one garden but now a road, gift shop and a church separates it. There were even instructions "do not touch" which gave us pause to wonder.

As we entered the gate to the other side of the garden which was set apart from the gift shop and church, we felt here was where Jesus prayed. Directly in front of us was a worn path taking us to a small incline in the far corner up ahead on our right. Jim took my hand and we slowly walked towards the incline. "He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron where there was a garden into which He Himself entered with His disciples." John 18:1

Many trees and large stones covered the area. Modern times placed bleachers in the upper right hand corner as you first come into the garden. Our guide left us to ourselves. Perhaps because he didn't want to talk about Jesus and/or perhaps he too couldn't find words to speak. We were moved again to think we were where Christ had been. Jim held me close as we prayed; thanking God for allowing us to be in this place; to experience even yet a closer walk with him. As we left the garden, Jim reached down and picked up a few small stones to remember this moment in time. To remember this feeling of absolute peace and joy that we felt in this place.

On the way to the Garden Tomb we stopped at a place where Caiaphas was known to have lived. Beneath the place where his house was, there was a hole that was used as a temporary holding cell. It is believed that Jesus may have spent some time there during His trials. Close to Caiaphas house there were some stairs; the stairway of the trials, which were carved into the rock on the slope of the hill. At one time these stairs ran all the way from the temple to the Garden of Gethsemane. It is almost certain that Jesus was up and down these stairs during His trials. Jim stood on the stairs and was again moved by his having the opportunity to experience first hand, what he has read about for years. It was Caiaphas who said; "It was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people." John 18:14b Once again, God using those He wishes to prophesy for Him. Yes, Christ died once for all! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 9/25/09