Masada (The Stronghold)

Masada was the location of a massive series of palaces and storehouses designed to protect Herod in case of war.  There were gardens, a swimming pool, elaborate bath-house, cisterns (refilled by rainwater), stores, and a synagogue.  Of course only the stone remains of these elaborate structures is visible today. 

To get to Masada, we took a cable car straight up a huge desert mountain to the plateau.  It must have been an incredible challenge to get the materials up to this location to build such elaborate rooms.  That's what made it such a safe haven for Herod.  The approach was difficult.  The Romans built a ramp on the west side that is still visible today although tourists are no longer allowed access to it. The ramp gave them access to the few Jews that were still living at Masada but by the time the Roman's entered, there were none still living.  There's a lot more to this story if you want to read about it. http://www.bibleplaces.com/masada.htm

View from the cable car.....we were really crammed in and really high up!

Ally and Mimi looking down from where the palace was once located.  It stands 1300 feet above the Dead Sea which was in clear view from this location.

Masada style toilet....pretty big. There was a stream of water that flowed through slanted channels so there was the ability to flush waste.  Most toilets we saw were in one room and there were several using the same channel.  This one was private indicating the elaborate nature of this palace.

Tyler and Ally outside the visitor center at the foot of Masada.  If you look through the fog behind them you can see the Dead Sea.

The Upper Room

The Upper Room was the location of the "Last Supper" or Passover meal that Jesus shared with the disciples.  It's recorded in Luke:

Luke 22:7-20

New International Version (NIV)

The Last Supper
⁷ Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸ Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” ⁹ “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.
¹⁰ He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, ¹¹ and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹² He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”
¹³ They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

This is the Upper Room from a distance.  It's not the large building you see but the one just in front of the black dome to the left of the large building (2-story building).

This was a resident cat at the Upper Room.  It made friends with everyone and especially loved Ally.

This is the present room, which was built in the 12th century - not the original Upper Room. It is possible it stands over or near the original site of the Last Supper and/or Pentecost. This location has been taken over by Muslims and there are stained glass windows with Arabic inscriptions indicating the direction of Mecca (A city in western Saudi Arabia, considered by Muslims to be the holiest city of Islam). 

Garden of Gethsemane

At the lower part of the Mt. of Olives is the Garden of Gethsemane.  It is named for the ancient olive trees that grow there to this day.  Gethsemane was gat-shamna in Aramaic and referred to an olive press.  The Garden of Gethsemane was where Jesus brought his disciples to pray.  This is where he was arrested by the soldiers of the High Priest and taken away for indictment.

Aside from the beautiful Church of All Nations that beautifully depicts Jesus praying and agonizing over what was to come, the Garden itself is beautifully kept and there's a quietness and peacefulness within it's gates that is hard to describe.  We were lead in a brief devotional and then given an opportunity to walk through the Garden and pray alone.  What a moving experience!  The song, "I Come to the Garden Alone" was on my mind and still is everytime I think about being in that wonderful place. 

I Come To The Garden Alone Lyrics
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The son of God discloses.

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.

He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet that the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.

I'd stay in the garden with Him
'Tho the night around me be falling
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.

This is Tyler walking through the Garden.  Just about where he's standing, you can look to the right (his right) and see the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem where Christ will return one day.  I was warmed by the thought that Jesus prayed in this place as he looked upon the city gate where He will one day return. 

Ezekiel 43:7

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ He said: “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever.

Ezekiel 44

The Priesthood Restored

¹ Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. ² The LORD said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it. ³ The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the LORD. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.”