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Tuesday, June 20
Today I visited the Mount of Olives. It’s the rocky hillside to the east of the Temple Mount. It contains thousands of ancient and modern Jewish graves patiently waiting for the coming Messiah.
The Mount of Olives is also important in the final days of Jesus. The Chapel of the Ascension is where tradition holds that Jesus ascended into heaven leaving his footprints in the bedrock. This is the chapel, both outside and in.
The next stop was the Church of the Pater Noster where many believe Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer to his disciples. It is displayed in every language to represent how the faith has spread throughout the world.
Dominus Flevit is another church on the Mount of Olives. It commemorates when Jesus overlooked Jerusalem, predicted the destruction of the temple, then openly wept (Luke 19:37–42). Here, Mass being conducted. (Look at the priests in the window.) After it was over, I entered and took a photo of the altar.
Like many structures in this area, the church was rebuilt several times. Recent restoration uncovered tombs from both the Canaanite and Second Temple periods. Here are several examples of ossuaries, part of the traditional Jewish burial. First, the body was placed in a tomb, then after some time, the skeletal remains were moved to boxes like these. Famous examples include: Simon the Temple Builder, Yehohanan ben Hagkol (the only remains we have of a real crucifixion), the ossuaries from the Talpiot Tomb, and the very significant: Caiaphas. It offers physical evidence of the high priest who presided over the trial of Jesus (Matthew 26:57).
For archaeology fans who like controversy, check out the James ossuary.
Gethsemane is at the base of the Mount of Olives. It is the garden where Jesus was betrayed by Judas then arrested before his crucifixion. The Church of All Nations is next door. It contains the rock where Jesus prayed that fateful night. When I visited, dark clouds were beginning to form. It's the first time I've seen that since I've been in Jerusalem.
In a wider sense, Gethsemane is a symbol of suffering accompanied by peaceful acceptance. My father often referred to his personal Gethsemane after he was diagnosed with cancer. Today, I am here to honor him in that garden, somewhere he was never able to visit. The quote below is Matthew’s version of the one he chose to adorn the cover of his funeral program. Dad, this one’s for you. Love you.
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