Sunday was a very good day in the city of Jerusalem.  We left the hotel at 7:00am for the old city, and had a worship service as a group on the south steps of the temple.  These are the original steps as there were in Jesus time.  This is where Simeon first saw Jesus at 8 days old when Mary and Joseph brought him to the temple for consecration.  Then 30+ years later it is the same spot where Jesus taught at the temple courts, and later was taken down these steps after his arrest to the palace of Pontius Pilot.  The worship time was really inspiring as the 800 member group sang great songs of the faith that echoed down the Kidron Valley to the modern city of Jerusalem.  We actually drew quite a crowd of spectators.
Later we toured the south western wall area and the original streets around the temple and the rest of the old city that Jesus would have frequented.  This tour ended up at the central western wall where we spent some personal time in prayer at the wall.  This weekend is Purim, so many orthodox Jews were also at the wall.  It was a moving and meaningful time.
We ate lunch at small cafe shops inside the old city at the market place adjacent to the main street of old Jerusalem.
After lunch we toured the area of David's tomb just up the hill from the temple, which is an active synagog today.  After a small Bible reading and worship time outside, we went up to the upper room above David's tomb.  This is the location of the last supper, and later where the apostles were when the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost.  We had a devotional time in the room and sang together.  The acoustics were great!
They day of touring ended by 4:00 today, which is a good thing.  It was all a lot to take in.

The internet connection here at the hotel is giving me a lot of trouble, so I am not trying to post pictures with this entry.  So I will try to post some pictures a little later tonight.

This is us on the southern steps of the south wall of the temple mount after the morning worship service

 The western wall, or wailing wall, of the temple just below the Dome of the Rock, where the Holy of Holy is located. (That now has a Mosque on it)

If you read the sign to the left, this is the Dung Gate to the city.  Very smelly in Jesus day.

In the Upper Room

David's Tomb

 

 

The streets of Old Jerusalem

 And of course we were going to do some shopping.  These are Olive Wood Carvings.