When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I... Continue Reading →

Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He... Continue Reading →

After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has... Continue Reading →

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.Luke 19:41 As Jesus entered Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, the view would have been incredible. He would be able to see the walls surrounding the city and the temple.  But despite the view, as Jesus overlooked Jerusalem, he wept. On the Mount... Continue Reading →

Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the... Continue Reading →

The morning of our first full day in Jerusalem we visited the southern side of the temple. There was a beautiful courtyard and you could see the Mount of Olives across the valley. Mike, our tour guide, drew our attention to the stones that made up the temple walls. From a distance, the stones looked... Continue Reading →

On our last day in Jerusalem, we got up early and set out for the temple. Due to holidays the temple had been closed to visitors during our time in Jerusalem and was finally going to be open on our last full day. We arrived when visiting hours first began, as to avoid any crowds.... Continue Reading →

The afternoon before, upon arriving at our hotel in Jerusalem, I spent time writing out my prayer. I snagged a few sheets off the notepad on the table and dug a pen out of my backpack. What was I going to pray? Who was I going to pray for? I spent more time thinking about... Continue Reading →

One of my favorite parts of our time in Jerusalem was the way our days were structured. We would spend our mornings and up through the early afternoon on our guided tours, and then in the afternoons we had free time to explore Jerusalem and the Old City. Our hotel was not very far from... Continue Reading →

Do you think Jesus ever spent time relaxing at the Dead Sea? Covering himself in the mud and then washing it off while floating? Do you think he was amazed when he weightlessly floated atop the water? Did he laugh with friends, enjoying an afternoon spent at the Dead Sea?  Our last full day in... Continue Reading →