Day 3
Destination #1 Dome of the Rock & Al Aqsa Mosque
It rained cats and dogs for Day 2 & 3. We had to wear boots, thick jackets, hats, gloves & umbrella to defend ourselves from the cold & wet weather. Even though the rain was pouring really hard, we managed to visit the places that are in the open field. Mum said that if we were to go with her regular customers, they wouldn't want to go out in the rain. However, since we were with the pastors, they would take full advantage of the time given in the holyland to visit all the places mentioned in the Bible - rain or shine.
Al Aqsa Mosque is the 3rd holiest site for Muslim and is located in the Old City of Jerusalem. Muslims believed that their prophet Muhammad was transported from here to Heaven. Besides the Mosque, another famous spot is Dome of the Rock; it is located in the same area as the mosque. According to the Jewish, this is where they believed that Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Issac. However, Muslims believed that the son was Ishmael and not Isaac. As I mentioned in my previous post, this whole area is built on top of the ruined Jewish' temple of God - the holiest site in Judaism. The Temple of God stood here before it was destroyed by the Romans in the 70s.
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| AL AQSA MOSQUE |
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| AL AQSA MOSQUE |
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| US WITH OUR 'GADGETS' FOR THE COLD & RAINY WEATHER |
Destination #2 Bethesda Pool
It is said that the Bethesda Pool has healing powers. Whoever first enter into the pool when the waters were stirred by the angels would be cure of his/her sickness. So here is a short excerpt from the Bible.
A Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda [John 5:1-8]
"5 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda,[a] 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.[b] 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."
Destination #3 Garden of Gethemane
This is an olive garden at the foot of Mount Olives in Jerusalem where it is known as the place Jesus prayed the night before His crucifixion. In Luke 22:44, "And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground."
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| They built a church here. |
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CATHOLIC CHURCH BUILT IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
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| VIEW FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH - THE WALLS SURROUNDING THE OLD JERUSALEM CITY. There are 8 gates of which you can enter the old city. Out of the 8, only the Golden Gate remained close because it is believed by the Jewish & Christians that the Messiah will come for the 2nd time through this gate. |
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| The most expensive Jewish Burial Site. Why? This is the cemetery that faces the Golden Gate. So they believed that they will be the first ones to be risen again when the Messiah comes for the 2nd time as He descents from Heaven down this Mount Olives to the Golden Gate. |
Jewish Cemetery with such breathtaking view of the Old Jerusalem.  |
| The tree that was used as the crown of thorns for Jesus' crucifixion. |
Destination #4 City of David
This is said to be where King David's Palace is located at.
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| King David's Family tomb |
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| Part of the water tunnel dug underneath the City of David in Jerusalem in ancient times. |
Day 4
Day 4 marked the end of our 3 nights stay in the Holy City of Jerusalem. The rain stopped and the sun finally came out! On our way to Tiberias, we made few stops for more sightseeings...
Destination #1 Cesaria 2000 year old theater
This is a theater built by Herod the Great - a large auditorium with no roof and semicircular rows of seats ascending from the center stage. The theater is designed so that the sound from the stage will flow to the seat. It has a natural built in sound system. So we decided to sing a couple song to prove that theory. And true enough, their voices could be heard clearly from the seats.
Destination #2 Ancient Roman Aquaduct
A Roman Aquaduct to transport water from the sea to the city. This aquaduct is 16km long since the city was 16km away from the sea! It is crazy people would create this MANUALLY & with extreme hard work without the help of technology. I bet it took YEARS to complete this. Right now, we have been pampered by technology that this could be easily done without much human work.
After our stop in Cesaria, we made a stop in the City of Haifa that is located at the top of Mount Carmel. It is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third largest city in Israel. This city is also a pilgrimage destination to BaHai religion -The Bab's tomb. So what is Bahai religion? It is a religion that believes in one God & emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind.
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| City of Haifa |
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| The Bab's tomb. The gold circle tower is the temple for Bahai religion. |
Destination #4 Overlooking city of Nazareth & Valley of Ammagerdon
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| City of Nazareth - where Jesus' parents originated from. |
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Valley of Ammargedon. According to the Bible, this is where the final battle before Christ return will occur. Revelation 16:16 "Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrews is called Armageddon". This whole idea about the world's end used to creep me out. But right now I'm just trying to enjoy my life and rest everything to God. There is no point worrying because only He knows when the time is here.
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Destination #5 City of Cana where Jesus did His first miracle
Our final destination of the day is the city where Jesus did His first public miracle - turning water into wine in a wedding feast [John 2:1-11]
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| The church that was built so as to remember Jesus' first miracle. Excuse the HAND.. |
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| Inside the church |
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| The wine that they made and drank back in the days. It tasted really sweet, not my type of wine. |
During our stay in Israel, our everyday routine is to complete the day tour around 5pm, head back to hotel for dinner at 6.30pm and ended our day with prayers at 8.00pm. We will have to wake up the next day at 5am, 6am for morning prayers, 7am breakfast and 8am head out for tour. There are that many places to visit!!
We were pretty much exhausted by the end of Day 4.
- to be continued -
With Lots of Love,
Claraaaa <3
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