Part Six
Full Day #5
We say goodbye to Bethlehem, as today we head back to Jerusalem. Our drivers navigate the traffic as we arrive at the Old City, with our first stop being the Western Wall. As with so many others in our group, I very much want to approach the Wall, and do so with proper reverence.
Afterwards I reconnect with Geogal (the Wall is gender segregated). Both of us agree it was a meaningful experience even if we are not Jewish. Following this, our green bus group gets a tour of the outside of the Temple, and before long all three bus groups are sitting on the southern steps. It’s explained to us that Jesus spoke to crowds in this very location in the days preceding His crucifixion. To add even more significance, Peter also preached here in the days recorded in the first section of the Acts of the Apostles.
After lunch, we visit the Upper Room where it is believed the Last Supper took place.
Once again (a common them throughout this travelogue!) this was not ever how I pictured this location in my mind’s eye. It is just one room and it’s actually quite large. Also again, because we are just one of many tour groups, this Upper Room is quite crowded.
From there we take a walk to Caiaphas’s house. I saw this on the itinerary but I didn’t realize just how impactful this stop would be for me.
One of the features of the house was an area where they kept prisoners. This was not a jail cell or holding cell the way we typically think of them. Rather it is a very small area, rough walls, no way to really to sit down or lay. And our guides share with us how in Jesus’ time this room likely had vermin.
Hearing and seeing this, I reflect for a while and realize again Jesus’ sufferings on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday were to such an extent I may never fully understand them.
It’s now late afternoon and we had to our Jerusalem hotel (which is quite awesome). Soon it’s time for supper and this time it’s just a walk to a local restaurant. Instead of the larger tables we’ve become used to, this is a restaurant that has just your typical smaller tables and chairs, generally about four people to a table. As it turned out, we sat at a table with a couple from a different bus. Initially I wasn’t sure how it would go given that we were not at all acquainted.
I should not have been concerned. Turns out engaging in conversation with this other couple was very easy. Verdict?
Meal: good. Company: great!