Mount Zion and More

Saturday began with a stop at the Southern Steps, the teaching steps of the Temple, where Jesus taught. We read John 7:10-24 and, while gazing on the location of the Beautiful Gate, Acts 3:1-11:


We weren't able to get onto the steps; for some reason they are closed.

From there we drove the short distance to the Zion Gate (scene of a pitched battle in the Six Day War) and from there we walked to the coenaculum, the traditional site of the Upper Room where Jesus had the Last Supper with his disciples:


We read Luke 22:7-20 here, and then went directly below, to the "Tomb of King David." While King David is certainly not buried there (1 Kings 2:11), it is likely that some later kings of Judah are.

Just a short walk later, we arrived at the Syrian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, the church of our guide Nader:


This church is on a site maintained since the first century as being the location of the home of Mary, John Mark's mother, and thus the possible site of the giving of the Holy Spirit to the disciples:


We read John 20:19-23 and Acts 11:19-26 here:


From there we returned to the bus and took a short drive to St. Peter in Gallicantu, the site of the house of Caiaphas and one of the most beautiful churches you'll ever hope to see! That's where the next post will begin.

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