The Mount Of Olives - West Slope
As we top the Mount of Olives, we can look to the west and see the Old City of Jerusalem and the Dome of the Rock, sitting on the Temple Mount. The Kidron Valley which runs between the Mount of Olives and the OId City is also visible to the right:
We can zoom in on the Dome of the Rock, the structure with the gold dome roof. This is a Muslim mosque, Qubbat as-Sakhra as it is called in Arabic. It was built around 691-92 CE and commemorates the spot from which the prophet Mohammed ascended into heaven with the angel Gabriel to receive the Koran.
Is is also a holy place for Jews and Christians because it is the traditional place where Abraham took Isaac for sacrifice (Genesis 22), where David purchased land to build an altar (2 Samuel 24:18ff.), where Solomon built the temple (1 Kings 5-6), and where Jesus would later overturn the tables of the money-changers (Matthew 21:12). We will visit here later.
Turning our attention slightly to the right, part of our journey will come into view. The prominent roof in the center of the photo is Dominus Flevit, or the Tear Drop church. It commemorates Jesus' weeping over Jerusalem while looking from the Mount of Olives (Luke 19:41). Also in view are the golden caps of a Russian Orthodox church.
As we go down toward Dominus Flevit, another interesting feature of the western slope of the Mount of Olives comes into view on our left.
There are a lot of people buried here! Christian tradition holds that Jesus will return in Jerusalem. Jewish tradition holds that when the Messiah comes, it will be in Jerusalem. In either case, being buried on the western side of the Mount of Olives guarantees one a front-row seat to this event! The vast expanse below is part of one of the cemeteries:
Let's zoom in a bit. What this shows is the markers for the graves. The holes in the side are for the placing of candles by visitors. In addition, it is customary for a visitor to place a rock upon the marker. So one can observe rather easily who is most popular in the cemetery.
And here we are at Dominus Flevit:
From inside, we can get a marvelous view of the Dome of the Rock through the front window. On the left is the detail of a mosaic on the altar. It brings to mind Jesus' wish that he could gather Jerusalem as a hen gathers her chicks (Matthew 23:37, Luke 12:34).
Now we will proceed toward the bottom of the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray after the Last Supper and where he was betrayed by Judas
(Matthew 26: 36-56, Mark 14: 26-52).
The garden has many olive trees, common to this whole region.
Olive trees are very hardy. Some of these are very large, dating back to near the time of Christ.
Next to the Garden of Gethsemane is a church commemorating Christ's prayer here in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is called the Church of All Nations.
(picture used with permission from Israel: Pictorial Guide and Souvenir, copyright Palphot Ltd.)
Let's go in:
The church is called the Church of All Nations because before construction began in 1924, Christians from all over the world were asked to help with funding. Generous donations came from many nations, giving it the name. It is also called the Church of the Agony, since it remembers the agony of Jesus as he prayed for the cup to be removed from him, yet not his will, but the will of God be done.
Some revere the rock upon which the altar rests as the one Jesus prayed and wept upon:
Also visible is a painting depicting Judas' betrayal of Jesus:
As we exit the Church of All Nations, we can look across the Kidron Valley at the Golden Gate of Jerusalem. This is how Jesus would have entered the city on Palm Sunday. It is to Jerusalem that we now go.
