Pool of Bethesda and Via Dolorosa

On the Tuesday, Oct. 18, after we left the Temple Mount we continued our walk through the Old City. We went to the Muslim Quarter and saw what remained of the Pool of Bethesda. Here Sam 'preached' a half an hour sermon about the Pool of Mercy and the Lord Jesus who came to give mercy and healed and paid for our sins. Sam told us that he sees his job as a tour guide as an opportunity to witness the gospel of truth in Jerusalem. May the Lord bless his witnessing.
Above is the excavated Pool and below we are sitting in the area where the Lord Jesus was brought before Pilate, below the Fortress Antonio.
On this picture we started to walk down the well known Via Dolorosa, which was very much a 'circus'. It was very, very busy and merchants were trying to sell their wares and people trying to squeeze in here and there.
Another tour guide is trying to make himself heard with a loud speaker.

You wonder how many religions mingle in this area.
This part of our walk did not make us think much of the path that the Lord Jesus took on the way to the cross.  It almost seemed disrespectful.
The crucifixion must have happened in this area where now the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is.

This church is owned by five different denominations. Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Armenian, Coptic and Syrian Churches. Each has their own area and time slot for Mass, etc. It has to be open to the public all the time. Imagine the confusion and noise going on. It certainly did not feel like worshiping to us.
It is a nice building but needs a lot of repair which, we were told, never seemed to happen as the various churches could not agree on what should be done and who should pay for it.
We had some time to buy a few souvenirs or just do some 'people watching'.
Enough to buy and make sure you don't pay too much. Good thing that we were good at getting the price down...!
We exited the Old City by the Jaffa Gate.
This is also in the area of the Jaffa Gate. Anyone hungry?
When we were back at the hotel we watched the news on TV about the prisoner exchange of the one Israeli soldier in exchange for 1200 Palestinians. During this trip we were confronted many times  with the sad and difficult political situation. So many people are suffering because of this conflict. My heart goes out to the innocent people who are suffering and whose lives are made so difficult.
One last delicious dinner in the hotel.
We have gotten to know our friends in our group very well. It was a strange feeling that after having experienced so much together these last two weeks, we may never see each other again. We had a strong bond from the start as fellow believers.
The last evening assembly for our evening devotions. Missing is Miriam who was admitted to the hospital with appendicitis. Roslynn decided to stay with her till she was well enough again to travel.
We prayed for the Christians in this land and prayed that interest in the gospel may grow among the Jews as well as the Arabs.
This has been an amazing trip for us. It was a faith affirming experience to be at the places where the gospel was fulfilled. It impressed on our hearts that Jesus fulfilled the promise of salvation, and that the gospel is for all nations and all cultures. We saw many groups from many countries who all believed in the Lord and Jesus Christ. We were so blessed with a tourguide, who not only knew the country and the history very well, but who also believed that Jesus is Lord and died to pay for sin. Only through faith in him will there be peace.
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow".