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ISRAEL DIARY
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 1998
Jerusalem-More to Do

Choices are a part of life.  Everyday we choose the kind of day we will have, the places we will go and the things we will do.   Many times our choices are influenced by how we feel or who we are with.   Today, our choice for ending the day was based on two key places that are related.   St. Peter in Gallicantu and the Upper Room on Mt. Zion.  St. Peter in Gallicantu is the place which Christians have venerated since the 6th Century as the location of Caiaphas' house and where Peter denied Jesus (Mark 14:66-72). 

1Jesusroad.jpg (8091 bytes)Jesus would have been led up this road to Caiaphas' house on the right.  The stones are from the Roman Period.  This is the stepped road down to Siloam and would have been used when traveling across the Kidron Valley up to Caiaphas' house. 

 

 

 

 

The courtyard in the upper right of the picture is Caiaphas' house at St. Peter in Gallicantu.  Our group was impressed with the stepped Roman Road.

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We walked down the stepped road toward Siloam.

 

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The view of the stepped Roman road from the bottom is impressive.

 

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St. Peter in Gallicantu is an impressive edifice.  I am impressed with the stained glass windows in the auditorium.

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We visited the Upper Room on Mt. Zion.  Mt. Zion is thought to be a more likely location for Caiaphas' house because it is at the top of the hill.   Luxurious homes from the Herodian period have been found near this location. 

7upperroom.jpg (4084 bytes)How much can we say about the Upper Room.   When we arrived, a charismatic group was completing a worship service.  They were very focused on their worship of Christ.  The level of emotion was high.  I was reminded that we often take precious experiences and images from our lives too lightly.  Lord help me to pay more attention to my brief time here on earth.

 

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The Upper Room, Cenacle, has an uncertain tradition.  It is possible that the tradition relates to the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles in the Upper Room.  We weren't as concerned with the archaeological surety as we were with the memories of the Lord's concern for us.  This place always stirs me to think about the final hours of the life of Christ. 

 

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I stopped Irvin on the way out to get a picture.  The Upper Room is up the stairs and the Tomb of David is around the corner below the upper room.

 

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We visited at Moshe and Dov's shop on Tifferet Street in the center of the Jewish Quarter.

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Dov at the counter.

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Our group is buying stuff.  Shopping is important!

 

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We left the old city behind.  The day ended too soon. 

 

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Friday would be a long day.  Thursday was just great. 

 

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