Mount of Olives
We climbed up the Mt. of Olives today on the East side of Jerusalem. This was Jesus’ most oft used route into Jerusalem and it passed through Bethany, the village of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. On this road Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey with the crowds welcoming him, waving palm branches and crying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
On this road Jesus wept over Jerusalem.
On this hill was a garden named Gethsemane, where he liked to pray and where his betrayer found him.
From this mountain the Jews believe that their Messiah will come on His way to enter Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate. Many Jews believe that the Messiah’s coming will bring about the Resurrection of the dead. For three thousand years Jewish people have been buried on this mountain so that they will be the first to rise and meet Him!
“Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown. The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” (Ezekiel 43:1-5)
Click the photos below to view them full-size…
Garden of Gethsemane
Jewish cemetery on the Mt. of Olives
View of the Temple Mount from the Mt. of Olives
The Eastern Gates through which the Messiah will enter Jerusalem when He returns!