Retracing Jesus’s Steps

Today was to be a day of discovery. I do consider myself a Christian but not a particularly devout one. Our day began with a brief tour and view of the city from the top of King David’s Tower in the Jewish Quarter. We then proceeded to the Muslim Quarter and in an ironic twist started to retrace the steps of Christ. We walked the Via Dolorosa following the 14 steps of Christ from where Jesus had been imprisoned by King Herod to the Mount Calvary where the cross was erected. Along the way we took time to acknowledge several of the points where Jesus had fallen carrying the cross and where he was helped to wash his face where the blood had been covering him from the crown of thorns. Again the location where Jesus was nailed to the cross and the place where Christ was taken down had a church built around the location. Pilgrims flock to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to pay homage. Many are seen praying at the precise location the cross was erected and many kneel and pray where the body of Jesus was taken down off the cross prior to his burial. The afternoon continues with stops at the house which contains King David’s tomb and the room where the infamous painting of the Last Supper was created though the actual location of the Last Supper was not there but was close by. Well I guess it is about time to get out of Dodge. On Friday the Israeli army killed 10 Palestinians in the West Bank. On Saturday a Palestinian terrorist opened fire and killed 7 Jews and injured a few more at a synagogue near where we were staying. In retaliation the army bulldozed the homes of the terrorist the following day. On Sunday a 13 year old muslim shot a Jewish father and son. Anthony Blinken, the US Secretary of State is due to arrive today and the secret service was around our hotel as this is where he will probably be staying. 60,000 were protesting in Tel Aviv yesterday against the new government and more protests are likely. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay but I think it is time to move on. Shalom!