Today was our last walk around Jerusalem as a school. We followed Jesus' journey from his triumphal entry on the donkey on the Mount of Olives, to the garden of Gethsemane, to the church of the Holy Sepulcher (where Jesus' tomb is), to the garden tomb (the alternate site of Jesus' burial). Jesus' entry on the Mount of Olives took place on the Passover, indicating that he would have been among a crowd of people. The palm branches were a symbol of freedom and redemption, which would have had both political and spiritual meaning. When Jesus approaches the city, he sees it and weeps. This parallels David's crossing the Mount of Olives, after his son Absalom revolted against him (2 Samuel 15). David also weeps at this time (vs. 30). There is a church built on the Mount of Olives that is called "the Church of Jesus Crying." The architect built to look like a tear drop.

Today was my third visit to the Garden of Gethsemane and the All Nations Church. This and the Western Wall are my favorite places in Jerusalem. Every time I have come here I have an overwhelming sense of peace and calm. I start getting excited when I walk through the 2,000 year old olive trees because (apart from the mere fact of walking through 2,000 year old olive trees) I know I am about to walk into a place where I can sense God's presence. I think it has to do with the purple stained glass that makes the whole sanctuary dark, but also what it represents and does such a beautiful job of commemorating. When I sit down and listen to God everything becomes obsolete: the millions of clicking cameras, time, the monks and nuns that wander around. I feel kind of thrilled that I found a specific location that holds peace and where I have so clearly heard from God.

Dr. Wright spent some time describing the crucifixion. It would have taken place on ground level, rather than how we may have envisioned it on a hill. The bodies would be left to hang on the cross after their death for birds and dogs to eat away at, then the bones would fall to the ground. However, Jesus had loved ones that took his body and laid it in a tomb. Returning to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was stressful. There are so many people, and I can just feel the tension of so many traditions competing for the same space. They even have designated times during the day for each tradition to use the church. A priest in robes kept walking through clanging a bell and spreading incense. People were frantically lining up to go inside Jesus' tomb, touch the rock from calvary, and the stone where he was laid after his death. And by touch I mean kiss, rub cloths over, and put rosaries on. There are so many shrines, altars, icons, and things that there isn't even room for Jesus!

We ended the walk at the Garden Tomb, where the exact same tour guide gave us our tour to the exact same script...jokes and all. It was pretty entertaining.

We ended the day back at school with a Roman dinner. They had set up the room with tables in a U shape, all low to the ground, with mattresses for us to lie on while we ate. They hung rugs and brought in plants, all to create an authentic environment. Two of the guys dressed in togas and served us our meals of dried fruit, nuts, flat bread, dips, and soup. This was in honor of the last super, where Dr. Wright explained all the particulars of Jesus' meal with his disciples. At these meals everyone lay on their left side and the host would be among the three at the end. Therefore, Jesus would have been lying in front or against Judas, which creates a powerful image of Jesus perhaps against Judas' chest/heart.

In keeping with Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth," we are now moving our journey to the ends of the earth...Cesarea and the road to Damascus. But that will be tomorrow.