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Monday morning started at the Temple Mount. This site is important to Muslims, Jews, and Christians. This was the site of the first and second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, as well as the site where Abraham fulfilled God's test to see if he would be willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. It is also the site of the Dome of the Rock. The Dome marks the spot from where most Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. And from this site, you can see Calvary.
We left Temple Mount near Lion's Gate and went to St. Anne's Church. This is built over the site of a grotto believed by the Crusaders to be the birthplace of Anne the mother of Mary. Mary's birthplace is not mentioned in the bible. We sang Holy, Holy, Holy in the sanctuary.
Next to the Church is the Bethesda pool, where David read from John 5:1-15, which is the story of Jesus healing the invalid at this pool.
From the Bethesda pool, we began the walk of the Via Dolorosa. This is the path that Jesus walked from where he was tried to Calvary, where he was crucified, and the tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where he is said to have been buried. We stopped at several of the stations on our way to the church.
When we reached the church of the Holy Sepulchre, we were able to see the Rock of Calvary, then touch the cross, see the stone believed to be the spot where Jesus' body was prepared for burial, and also see the tomb of Jesus. We also went into another tomb, which some believe to be the more likely site of Jesus' burial.
In the evening, we went to a local restaurant for dinner. That was a welcome change from the hotel, where we have had most of our meals.
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