Our last day's walk: Via Dolorosa, Gethsemane, Garden Tomb

Our last day in Jerusalem, again perfect weather greeted us. We are all reveling in “short sleeve” weather, blue skies, and flowering gardens.

The bus took us to the top of the Mt. of Olives. Bethany was on the side of the hill we couldn’t see, but Jerusalem, with its white stone buildings, spread out across the Kidron Valley between us.

Looking toward Jerusalem

A hillside full of cemetery graves stretched before us to one side. We heard that Jews from all over the world would like to be buried here, since they believe that when the Messiah comes, these souls will be the first to rise. Still, it costs close to $100,000 to secure a spot.

As we continued down the hillside, we understood how the Roman garrison watched these “rebellious” people who waved their palm branches on Palm Sunday, knowing that such demonstrations were signs (like the signs we see marking demonstrations today) of the Jews who had longed for hundreds of years for a Messiah who would free them from Roman rule. Hosanna means “free us.” But once they saw Jesus take the right fork in the road, turning away from the Lion’s gate entrance to the city, they knew this was no challenge to them. Instead, Jesus chose to enter by the Sheep gate, since it was the time of the Passover. Jesus knew that he himself was the Lamb sent to be slaughtered. This decision to turn away from a triumphal entry may explain, however, why just one week later, the crowds would turn and shout “crucify him.” He simply was not the conquering king they longed for.

To our left, as we continued down the hill, the quiet of the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in such anguish the night before the crucifixion, surrounded us. We all sought out separate places among the meandering paths and stillness of the rocky garden to reread the account of that night in each of the gospels. With new understanding we read of disciples “weary with sorrow”; of Jesus left alone by his closest friends in such a dark hour, pleading that this cup pass from him; of angels coming to strengthen him for what lay ahead. After hours of prayer, he turned to face his betrayers, saying “I am he….this is the hour when darkness reigns.” And then all of his closest friends ran away in fear, leaving him truly alone.

We had already seen how Jesus was hauled from the Sanhedrin’s court to Pilate’s hall.  We had seen the rock-hewn pit where he waited their decision. We saw the stone path where he staggered under the weight of the cross. Today, however, the Via Dolorosa is a crowded street, lined with vendors hawking their wares and cheap souveniers. The churches marking the stations of the cross seemed strangely out of place, with their gaudy displays of gilt and chandeliers, soaring ceilings and crowds of tourists. But it may have been through such crowded streets and raucous shouts that Jesus also walked, with he alone knowing the significance of this walk to the cross.

Our day finished with a visit to the Garden Tomb, a place of quiet, a garden next to what scholars and archaeologists believe to be the Place of the Skull. Our guide said that although we picture Christ’s crucifixion on top of a hill, that would be most unlike Roman crucifixions which took place along roadways, almost at ground level, so people could see close up what happens when someone defies Roman law. People passing by were supposed to enter into the spectacle, jeering at and mocking the victim.

A stone was rolled in front of the tomb

Tomb markings discovered near the place of crucifixion

Next to this place archaeologists discovered a private garden, with a tomb bearing the markings of the cross and the Alpha and Omega. What courage it must have taken Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, in the face of this brutal execution, to go public with their faith and claim Christ’s body, laying it in a nearby tomb. Our closing communion service centering on the words that if we keep quiet, the very stones themselves will cry out. So Bill took us back in our mind’s eye over all the stones we had seen, from Ibillin and Nazareth to Masada and En Gedi, from a cave in Bethlehem to the garden tomb. But those stones, although they “tell” a story, are silent witnesses. We are the ones God calls to tell of his great love for the world and the Savior who died to save it.

After a farewell dinner in Bethlehem, we set our alarms for 2:30 a.m. to begin our return to the our homes.

Goodbyes to our driver, Na'el, and our guide, Khalil,
as well as thank-yous to our spiritual guide,
Bill Vanden Bosch, who taught us much about
"feet for the path."

Our hearts and minds are full of the sights and lessons we will take with us, and translate, we hope, into lives that reflect the great Savior that we serve. ~ Lois

Blogger Lois Konyndyk (left) with fellow pilgrims