Come to Israel, Day 6
- Bernadette Welch
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
As we were leaving the Garden to begin walking toward Caiaphas’ house – Leo pointed out its colorful roof and wide grounds.
He explained that we were taking the same path that the soldiers walked/dragged Jesus over, since they were delivering him to Caiaphas. When we reached a set of steps, Leo had us walk alongside them – he told us that they were sacred because Jesus walked down those very stone steps the night He was arrested.
The steps date back to the second temple era – and they led from Mount Zion to the Kidron Valley, with a set leading down to the courtyard at Caiaphas’ house.
(A church is built over the house, but we didn’t go inside that.)
We walked past a gorgeous mosaic of Jesus before Caiaphas, along the side of the church, then we followed a path to the entrance that led to the Guard Room, passing many explanations of who Caiaphas was and how his castled was built with dungeons and deep pits. Two of the many explanations on the wall of the house. (4 & 5)
Before going down to the underground caves of the actual prison, we passed a realistic status of Jesus, bound and waiting, as the suffering servant of God. This marks the location where Byzantine Christians believed Jesus was bound by Caiaphas (his guards) before being sentenced by Pilate and it shows the mocking abuse of Jesus inside the house.
We were allowed to walk down into the cistern (pit); the walls near it were marked with stains and the pit itself was a good place to reflect on all that happened here. Leo said that the only night Jesus ever spent in Jerusalem was in this pit. I've included an explanation of finding the crypt and the deep pit below, where Jesus was kept.
... and a copy of the sign above the stairs that we walked down to get there ...
We walked under the sign and down stone steps to the pit. (9)
The only light in the pit came from the hole above it – inside the house. (9)
Supposedly these basins were a pre-curser to the modern-day holy water basins. Next, we were led out to the courtyard of the church, where Leo said it was normal for people to gather if they wanted to see the High Priest or just know what was going on. (10)
By the courtyard, on the outside wall of the church, there was a wash basin from the 5th century that was used for people to wash their hands before entering this church. (11)
In one section of the courtyard stood a full-sized statue of Peter’s denial of Jesus. It shows Peter, the maid, a servant. (12)
Just before leaving, Leo said softly, “Denial outside the house, suffering inside…”
Tomorrow, we would pick up right where Jesus did – at what is now the First Station of the Cross and the Via Dolorosa…
NOTE: Did you know that on Hallow Jeff Cavins and Jonathan Roumie, who went to Jerusalem last year, are showing videos of the exact same places that I am posting every day this week? What a great opportunity… I hope you’ll continue to review my pictures and Leo’s words, but then go to Hallow (it’s free during lent!) and see the pictures and places that mean so much come to life!
Comments