Two friends and I just got back at around midnight from a walk over to the edges of the Old City where we wandered near the Citadel of David and over to the Jaffa Gate area, and we even walked down a couple of alleys. A rule in Jerusalem is that you don't go into the Old City at night. I was glad to get back to the hotel safe, but I can't say that I was worried. It was a fascinating late night walk. But that's not important. Today was all about what we saw earlier at the Mount of Olives and on our walk down from there.
In the afternoon we stopped to look out from the Mount of Olives, and we saw the panoramic view of Jerusalem from above the cemetery, a scene which you probably know as the most dramatic view of the city. This was emotional and most humbling to experience in person. You can see it and read all about it here: http://www.israelinsideout.com/Things-to-do-in-Jerusalem/the-mount-of-olives-jerusalems-most-iconic-view.html. There on the mountain we read the account from Acts chapter 1 of Jesus' ascension and the prophecy from Zechariah 14 which states that when he returns to the earth in glory he will stand on this same Mount of Olives.
From there we took the steep walk down to the Garden of Gethsemane where we stopped to reflect. We stood in the midst of the ancient olive trees and read the Gospel account of Jesus in that garden, the place where he prayed and suffered to the point of sweating blood as he thought of his death to come. Here Jesus was arrested and was abandoned by his followers.
On this most holy and sacred ground my main thought was, "Lord, I am not worthy."
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