Walking on the Walls of Jerusalem

You can see a lot from the top of the walls of Jerusalem. On a clear day view stretches for miles. It's incredible to see all of these historical places in perspective from up high.... definitely gives a new understanding of this important and beautiful city!

On a hot July afternoon, my friends and I decided to walk on the Northern route of the Ramparts walk, starting at the Jaffa Gate. In the distance (below) you can see the Tower of David (next week's post). These walls are almost 500 years old, constructed by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s.

The entrance to Jaffa Street!

I love this French hospital. Such a beautiful building!

Definitely very little shade up here! Bring water!

Looking out from the Arab quarter:

I'm not sure why, because I knew where we were, but when I looked up and saw the hillside beside the building, it took my breath away. There it is: Golgatha.

The ancient and modern together always amazes me.

Turning to look inside the Old City, here's the rooftop view with the Mosque in the middle:

A peek at the Mount of Olives:

That's it for the tour of the northern part of the Ramparts Walk. I hope to go back and walk the southern route later this year. Stay tuned!

Pilate's Praetorium

Here is another teaching from Charles Martin on his trip to Israel spring of 2019. This time he's teaching from Pilate's Praetorium, taking the reader through the night of Jesus' trial and torture before going to the cross.

click here or on the photo, then select the video with "Pilate's Praetorium"

By the way, the hole in the image above is where the Romans put a pole in the ground and tied Jesus to it to be flogged. Right there. Not somewhere in a fictional story. RIGHT THERE.

Right there. 

ROME

Okay, I'm going to change gears here just a little. As I mentioned in my first post, I love any and all kinds of history, especially when it comes to Israel and the Bible.

In fact, outside of actual Biblical history, my favorite time period is definitely the Roman Empire—which influenced and impacted the New Testament world in so many ways. You can clearly see Roman remains today in Israel, and of course, the Romans played a huge role in the Gospel story... since Jesus was crucified on a Roman cross.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Rome. It was everything I'd hoped it would be and more. It completely ruined my feet (story to come), filled me with the most delicious food and entranced me with her beauty.

So for the next few weeks, I'm going to share stories of that trip here. But not to worry—more posts about Israel are still to come!

At the foot of Calvary

The hill where many believe Jesus was crucified.

Except that contrary to modern depiction, He would have been crucified not at the top, but much lower to the ground - so people could walk by and spit directly on His feet as they mocked Him.

Known as Skull Hill, it sits steps away from the Garden Tomb. Both are outside the city walls, and along a main road - close to the Damascus gate. Historical evidence also proves that people were stoned nearby, and just steps away a grave was found with a man's body... that had a Roman nail in his arm (proving crucifixions happened there).

The land has changed a lot over the centuries, due to earthquakes. I saw a picture of it in the 1800s, where the skull was so obvious. But even today it is evident: you can see the 2 "eyes" above the buses.

Just another bus station.... the place where the world -and everything else- changed forever. #israel #apictureadayofIsrael