|
|
Excavations of recent
years have unearthed amazing structures related
to the second temple in the southeast side of
the Temple Mount, including the flight of stairs
leading to the temple, the gates that led to the
temple, and ritual baths, cisterns, residential
houses and fortifications.
One of the most important
findings of the Southern wall excavations is the
monumental flight of steps leading up to the
second (Herodian) Temple Mount, through the Hulda gates. The staircase consists of 15 pairs
of alternating broad and narrow steps. Although
most of the steps were reconstructed, this is
one of the remains of the southern entrance.
A closer look at the
stairs is seen above, with the Mount of Olives on
the background. The steps are arranged in a
pattern of broad-narrow steps, probably
intentionally, in order to force the temple
visitor to look down while ascending the steps, thus seeming to bow to the
holiness of the great temple.
On these steps Jesus
entered the temple. It is a certainty that Jesus
was here. The staircase
was used by visitors to the temple for entry and exit.
For more info on Hulda
Gates and the staircase - click
here.
|
Mk 11:11-33: "And
Jesus entered into
Jerusalem, and into
the temple: and when
he had looked round
about upon all things,
and now the eventide
was come, he went out
unto Bethany with the
twelve. And on the
morrow, when they were
come from Bethany, he
was hungry: And seeing
a fig tree afar off
having leaves, he
came, if haply he
might find any thing
thereon: and when he
came to it, he found
nothing but leaves;
for the time of figs
was not yet. And Jesus
answered and said unto
it, No man eat fruit
of thee hereafter for
ever. And his
disciples heard it.
And they come to
Jerusalem: and Jesus
went into the temple,
and began to cast out
them that sold and
bought in the temple,
and overthrew the
tables of the
moneychangers, and the
seats of them that
sold doves; And would
not suffer that any
man should carry any
vessel through the
temple. And he taught,
saying unto them, Is
it not written, My
house shall be called
of all nations the
house of prayer? but
ye have made it a den
of thieves.
And the scribes and
chief priests heard
it, and sought how
they might destroy
him: for they feared
him, because all the
people was astonished
at his doctrine. And
when even was come, he
went out of the city.
And in the morning, as
they passed by, they
saw the fig tree dried
up from the roots. And
Peter calling to
remembrance saith unto
him, Master, behold,
the fig tree which
thou cursedst is
withered away. And
Jesus answering saith
unto them, Have faith
in God. For verily I
say unto you, That
whosoever shall say
unto this mountain, Be
thou removed, and be
thou cast into the
sea; and shall not
doubt in his heart,
but shall believe that
those things which he
saith shall come to
pass; he shall have
whatsoever he saith.
Therefore I say unto
you, What things
soever ye desire, when
ye pray, believe that
ye receive them, and
ye shall have them.
And when ye stand
praying, forgive, if
ye have ought against
any: that your Father
also which is in
heaven may forgive you
your trespasses. But
if ye do not forgive,
neither will your
Father which is in
heaven forgive your
trespasses.
And they come again to
Jerusalem: and as he
was walking in the
temple, there come to
him the chief priests,
and the scribes, and
the elders, And say
unto him, By what
authority doest thou
these things? and who
gave thee this
authority to do these
things? And Jesus
answered and said unto
them, I will also ask
of you one question,
and answer me, and I
will tell you by what
authority I do these
things. The baptism of
John, was it from
heaven, or of men?
answer me. And they
reasoned with
themselves, saying, If
we shall say, From
heaven; he will say,
Why then did ye not
believe him? But if we
shall say, Of men;
they feared the
people: for all men
counted John, that he
was a prophet indeed.
And they answered and
said unto Jesus, We
cannot tell. And Jesus
answering saith unto
them, Neither do I
tell you by what
authority I do these
things".
Mt 21:17-24:
"And he left them, and
went out of the city
into Bethany; and he
lodged there. Now in
the morning as he
returned into the
city, he hungered. And
when he saw a fig tree
in the way, he came to
it, and found nothing
thereon, but leaves
only, and said unto
it, Let no fruit grow
on thee henceforward
for ever. And
presently the fig tree
withered away. And
when the disciples saw
it, they marvelled,
saying, How soon is
the fig tree withered
away! Jesus answered
and said unto them,
Verily I say unto you,
If ye have faith, and
doubt not, ye shall
not only do this which
is done to the fig
tree, but also if ye
shall say unto this
mountain, Be thou
removed, and be thou
cast into the sea; it
shall be done. And all
things, whatsoever ye
shall ask in prayer,
believing, ye shall
receive. And when he
was come into the
temple, the chief
priests and the elders
of the people came
unto him as he was
teaching, and said, By
what authority doest
thou these things? and
who gave thee this
authority? And Jesus
answered and said unto
them, I also will ask
you one thing, which
if ye tell me, I in
like wise will tell
you by what authority
I do these things".
Lk 21:37-38: "And
in the day time he was
teaching in the
temple; and at night
he went out, and abode
in the mount that is
called the mount of
Olives. And all the
people came early in
the morning to him in
the temple, for to
hear him".
|
92
|
During Passover, for six days Jesus visits
Jerusalem every day and returns to Bethany at night
|
|
(back) (next)
|
|