Mount of Olives

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.
(Mat 21:1-2)

Our first stop – the Mt. of Olives. Jesus came here several times, once specifically before riding the donkey in the Triumphal Entry.

View of the Mt. of Olives from the Old City.

Between the Mt. of Olives and the Old City lies the Kidron Valley (or the Valley of Jehoshaphat). Jews believe this is where people will be resurrected on the Day of Judgement, so as you can imagine lots of Jews want to be buried here.

Walking up and down the Mt. of Olives can make you very thirsty! We stopped in this place for a drink. We couldn’t complain about the heat. After almost 3 years in Russia, we were loving the sun, the heat, and people with a little color in their skin!

THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

Some of the trees in the Garden of Gethsemane are at least 2,000 years old, so they would have been there with Jesus…amazing!

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." …Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done."
(Matthew 26:36, 42)

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!
(Mat 23:37)

This picture was taken in a chapel, Dominus Flevit, which means, “The Lord Wept.” It was designed in the shape of a tear drop by an Italian architect. You cannot really see it in the photograph, but the view of the Temple Mount and the Old City is incredible.