Getting a bigger picture of the last days of Jesus

This is the Western or Wailing Wall. Directly to the East of this wall was the Holy of Holies. When the Temple was being rebuilt the second time everybody was asked to contribute what they could. The poor offered their labor and built this wall. The Western Wall was the last wall standing after the burning of Jerusalem.








This is the site that is believed that Jesus was born. I am facing the manger where it is believed that Jesus was placed after he came into the world. The star that I am touching is to represent the star that guided the wise men from the East.






The tour is slowing down in pace. We spent the morning visiting with a scholar who explained the final three days of Jesus life. He said that they are two different stories with Jesus betrayal and death. The first story has Jesus more human and while he was in the garden the pending death overwhelmed Jesus to the point of a nervous breakdown and slowly he pulled himself together. The second story has Jesus more pious and in control. The reasoning of the more pious and controlled image is to provide comfort because of a vulnerable understanding of Jesus and his humanity. Another layer of understanding was discovered.

We then spent the remainder of the morning reviewing the material and visiting the Dead Sea scrolls. The building itself was designed to duplicate the "cave" that the scrolls were found. The review took place was we looked at a model of Jerusalem during the 2nd Temple period.

That afternoon we drove to Bethlehem and toured the sites where Jesus was born and where the shepherds were told of Jesus' birth. The site is an active worshiping site and every Christmas they sing Christmas Carols.

It is the Palestinian side of the "wall". That was a study in contrast. More on that later.

Be well