Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Holy Week - the King Enters Jerusalem

Back in November, we had the privilege of visiting Israel.  We toured 5 days with a private guide and learned so much.  Unfortunately, we have been very slow with blogging, but this week seems the perfect time to share some of the photos.  Our hope is that it blesses you as much as it blessed us.

We'll be basing this week's posts on a Holy Week timeline published at BibleGateway (also the source for the Scripture posts below).

Luke 19:28-44

Triumphal Entry

28 After He had said these things, He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the [a]mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. 
31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its [b]owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road. 37 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God[c]joyfully with a loud voice for all the [d]miracles which they had seen, 38 shouting:
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord;
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
A donkey working an olive press

Walking down from the Mt of Olives

View of Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives - so amazing to walk where Jesus walked

Gates of Jerusalem

39 Some of the Pharisees [e]in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”
41 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you [f]when your enemies will throw up a[g]barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, 44 and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

We love knowing that our Lord and Savior weeps over his people.  We are humbled to know that He is so deserving of praise that He can command the stones to cry out if we do not.  

In this same spot where it is believed Jesus rode the colt and donkey into Jerusalem, there is now a very large cemetery with over 150,000 people buried there. They are hoping for the front row seat of Zechariah 14:4 - 
In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south.

What great news to celebrate this week - He is alive and He will come again!















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