MAUNDAY Thursday

the run down of this day- Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem and then went to the garden of Gethsemane at the bottom of the Mt. of Olives, across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem to pray. Man, the symbolism of Passover is so beautiful- how the Israelites had a set reminder for so many years of God's power, grace, and faithfulness in delivering them from the Egyptians and how it forshadows Jesus coming to bring ultimate deliverance. Beautiful! Anyhow, here are more pictures from Israel showing this day.

The area marked as the site of the upper room is actually next door, through the door in the back..

It was locked. We weren't allowed in that day..
But we had a good feel for where in Jerusalem it was... Dennis decided to partake in a little super here too.

Garden of Gethsemane
This tree is estimated to be about 2,000 years old, and is called 'the witness' because it may have been there at the time Jesus came to pray.
This is the Church of All Nations that is next to the Garden, called that because 14 nations contributed funds to build it. The rock slab in the middle may have been an area Jesus prayed on so fervently.

After Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden Thursday night, he was taken to the home of Caiaphas, the High Priest. He was probably dragged up these stairs and then down them on Friday when he was taken to Pilate.

Below this, there is an ancient dungeon that perhaps Jesus was lowered into for the night. We all went down into it and then had the lights turned out.. Next to it now is a memorial Catholic church called Church of St. Peter with a rooster weather vain on top, remembering the rooster that crowed after Peter denied knowing Jesus three times.