The Last Days

For our last two days in Jerusalem, we had the opportunity to walk through the last week of the Savior’s life.  This entire week has been among the most sacred and spiritually enlightening weeks of my entire life. Words nor Pictures will ever come close to fully captivating this blessed experience.

 

Bethany. John 11.

The home of Jesus's good friends: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

We had a beautiful devotional on Christ Raising Lazarus from the dead. This is a critical moment in the scriptures, for this is the time where Jewish leaders decide the Savior of all mankind must die. 

 

 The tomb of Lazarus 

Jesus walked from Bethany to Bethphage where He made the triumphal entry (on a donkey) into Jerusalem as King of the Jews.  

Luke 19:31-40, 41-44

 

  

Dominus Flevit. 

The Church (built in 1955) is shaped like a tear-drop. It symbolizes the location where Jesus wept over Jerusalem.

We gather at each site and sing hymns. 

The Acoustics=amazing. 

 

we walked for 45 minutes up the streets of Jerusalem to the sacred Upper Room. Matthew 26. We had an incredible lesson on the sacrament. 

"The road to the sacrament Table, is the road to safety."

We  read the account of the Upper Room and sang numerous hymns, reflecting this sacred event.  

Dormition Abbey

 St. Peter in Gallicantu & Caiaphas's Palace

St. Peter's Basillica is built over Caiaphas's Palace. 

We discussed Peter's Denial and the Savior's imprisonment.

 

 I stood in the cell the Savior was imprisoned in, as He was making his way back to Bethany. The entire room was dark aside from a beam of light which streamed in through the ceiling.
five students and I stayed behind to sing, "Abide With Me Tis Eventide."

One of the most humbling and sacred experiences of my life.

The Lord suffered completely alone, so we may not have to.

First Century Steps the Savior willingly climbed to meet his fate.

 That Evening, we participated in the "Upper Room Experience." We reenacted the Last Supper.  We gathered outside of the Jerusalem Center and walked around the center, to symbolize Christ as he walked Through The streets of Jerusalem to the Upper Room for the Last supper with His disciples, exactly two millenia ago. (This was the first time this event actually coincided with the night of Jewish Passover.) Our Professors set the table and for 3 hours we learned of passover, Read the John 13-17, and bore testimony of Christ.

The Garden of Gethsemane

Detour:

St. Anne's Church. 

Location of Mary's birth.

Only Crusader Church still existing.

This Church is Notorious in Jerusalem for having the most amazing acoustics.  

Pool of Bethesda. John 5:1

 Church of the Flagellation

(Look at the background of the Last Ensign Cover. Look Familiar?)

The Garden Tomb

My heart is full of love and peace. MY testimony of the Savior is burning within my soul. I know with everything that I am, that Jesus Christ lives. I never want to forget these sacred, still moments where the spirit has so powerfully borne testimony of the reality of the Savior.  

This semester in Jerusalem has deeply rooted in me a testimony of Jesus Christ, the power of the Atonement, my love for the bible and its teachings, a re-dedication to virtue and charity, a love for my family and loved ones, a burning desire to continue strengthening my relationship with God and His son.  this place has such a beautiful spirit because it is so deeply rooted in Jesus Christ.

  I see Christ in EVERYTHING around me. 

However, I do not need to be in the Holy Land to feel this spirit and this imminence to the Savior. 

  

Jesus Christ has been my center focus for the last 4 months and needs to always be my center focus, for He is the reason I live. 

Joy=Centering Life on Christ

Jesus Christ Lives.