Via Dolorosa

8.30am At the Lion's gate, one of the seven gates located at the Old City Walls of Jerusalem. When I first saw the animals engraved on the wall, I thought they looked like sheep more than lions.

And then I was proven right! Apparently this is also called Sheep gate! Unfortunately, I can't remember the story.. a king had a dream.. and I can't remember after that he changed the lions to sheep or the sheep to lions.

The first thing which we were looking out for though, was the birthplace of Mary, Jesus' mother.

People believed that here is where the virgin Mary was born.

Along the way, one will see bible verses along the walls of the old Jerusalem. Here is a sign that has the verse John 5:8 written in different languages "And Jesus said to the man who had been ill for thirty-eight years, "Rise, take up your pallet and walk"

In case you don't know the following verse in the bible, John 5:9 states "At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. " It's amazing isn't it? A person who haven't walked before would have to start from crawling, toddler-ing, and then walk! But this man is able to start walking immediately!!

No wonder the end of the sign is written "Jesus is all powerful, omni-potent. He always has ways and means to help you."

9.00am

This is the interior of the church of St Anne. Intentionally structured such that the echoes of the voices singing resonate beautifully when we sing! Oh, by the way, the church is named after the mother of Mary, Anne.

9.55am the Beginning of the Via Dolorosa, the traditional observance of the last walk of Jesus from prison to execution.

Just so happened to see a man carrying the cross on the street.

The signs indicating the Via Dolorosa.

Matthew 26:27-30

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him."

Here is where Jesus endured all these for us.

Continuing the road along Jerusalem.

1pm Falafel for lunch again!

And Rev Stephen as poster boy for Isreali Coke can!