Antonia Fortress

Antonia Fortress

Crown of Thorns
A heap of thorns
Spiked into His head
Thorns used as kindling by soldiers
To light their fires
Blood flowed from His brow

He was scourged in the open air
In the streets where He walked
The drains received His blood
Our lovely Tender Shoot
Was crushed for me

Limestone pavements of Jerusalem

Limestone pavements of Jerusalem

In from the North
The Lion Gate
South to Jaffa Gate

All is small

One hour to walk

East to West

North to South

The Cardo
Remains of the arcade
Shopping centre of 2000 years ago
Through the covered street
Sellers of fabric, metal, fruits and spices

Homes behind doors
Off the streets
Family life

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Above the church
Over the grave of Jesus
Above when all is below

Catholic devotion
Gold and silver overlays the life within

Franciscan monks
Give their lives to live here
Above the church

Steps, steps down
The hill is clothed in stone
Overlaid with silver and gold

Three chapels
Orthodox, Catholic and Armenian
Down, down, down
To the tomb where He lay
Perhaps

Up, Up, Up
The incense rises as a smoking cloud
Dark and heavy
A peak into the darkness
Of a first century tomb
Death remains
Jesus is alive
He is not here

Kosher

Kosher

Kosher is when we have performed the ritual
External clean and clean inside
Passover lambs made pure
Within and without
Made Kosher with a whip on the back
By Jewish priests
Ropes spread Him to be
Broken and beaten
Jesus was made Kosher for us
By the Passover stripes
We are healed


Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing
Luke 23:34

Caiphus' House

The Dungeon

Place of the alter
This is the place of the sinner
The priestly house
Place of punishment
The dark place
The house in the rock

The old cistern is the prison
Jesus was lowered here
Down into the dungeon
Bleeding in the dark place
His last night
In darkness

But the Lord is my Shepherd
I will fear no evil
You are with me

Gethsemene - The Olive Press

The Olive Press

City oil was pressed here
Jesus slept in a cave here
He had access to this garden

Heart of an olive needs to be crushed
To make oil

He sweat blood
His heart was broken
He set His face like flint
For the joy set before Him

The Joy of the Lord is my strength

Gethsemane
Peter, James and John
Were with Him in the garden
Watch and pray
Sleeping
Temptation
The hour has come

Peter the Zealot
Had a knife
Assassin
Narrow stiletto knife
Not yet totally reformed
When challenged
Showed himself

Jesus set his face like flint

Passover

Passover

The day of preparation
Cleaning the house
Of yeast

Jesus cleaned the temple
On Palm Sunday
They waved myrtle, olive and willow
Remembering Tabernacles
Hosanna
Save us now

Jesus celebrated Passover ahead of time
In the Essene community
“Follow the man with the water jug”
Only women carried water
Essene men were celibate