Mount of Olives

The Mount of Olives was one of my favorite places to go in Jerusalem. There was something peaceful and serene about it as you sit up on the ridge overlooking the city and the Kidron Valley. It's no wonder that Jesus used it as a place to escape.

There was one morning that me and good friend walked up the hill..well it really is more of a "mount". The road up is a steep one...and with the altitude..it makes you really appreciate the top. We had gotten up at 6am on the morning of Sukkot to hang out at the Wailing Wall to watch the happenings of Hoshanah Rabba...the final day of Sukkot..praying for water on the land, recognizing final judgment day and marking the end of the high holy days.

We left the Western Wall, headed out of the city, descended into the Kidron Valley and started climbing this mountain that Jesus found so appealing. As I sat there in the early morning, watching the sun start to glitter off the dome of the rock and heat the limestone, I wondered what Jesus saw when he came here. How many times had he sat on this very mountain overlooking the city, praying, seeking time with his Father?

It's Good Friday today....which is why I'm remember this special place...a day full of love, sacrifice, power, and fulfilled promises.

Here are some pics of this amazing mountain.

Garden of Gethsemane
View of the city from the top of the Mount of Olives.