This section of the page is one of our favorite projects. On this page, we will post pictures and video of our visit to a particular Holy site as well as provide a brief biblical history noting where you can read about the site in your Bible.
GARDEN TOMB
There are two sites believed to have been the site of the crucifixion, death, & burial of Jesus. The first location is written about under the Church of the Holy Sepulchre section (scroll below). The second location is the Garden Tomb where we recently accompanied CBN Partners & WorldReach directors. For Catholic & Orthodox faiths, religious tradition holds the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as the true spot. For Protestant and Charismatic believers, the Garden Tomb is considered the likeliest spot. Without suggesting any sort of doctrinal schism, we’ve presented a few of the reasons why we think the Garden Tomb “just makes sense.”
1) The tomb is one block from the city walls, near Damascus Gate. The gate was the most traveled gate during the time of Jesus and is known to have been a popular place for the Romans to conduct crucifixions because of the high visibility afforded to the citizens.
2) The tomb is located near a hill that has a rock formation in the shape of a skull. Golgotha means place of the skull. As paraphrased from the Bible:
"And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, A place of a skull ... they crucified him. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his blood, suffered without the gate. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made the curse for us; for it is written cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree."
3) We know that the tomb was located near the site of crucifixion as mentioned in the gospels (He was buried on Sabbath eve, so the tomb had to be located nearby according to Jewish law). This tomb is about 25 yards away from Skull Hill.
4) We know that Joseph Arimethea was very wealthy, and he could afford a tomb in a wealthy place. This tomb is located in a wine vineyard. Also, the size of the tomb is one only a wealthy man could afford (the tomb is also hewn out of the natural rock in the garden...pretty expensive).
5) The tomb was new at the time and hadn't been used yet. Also, the "loculus" (actual stone where the body is laid) had never been used. To this day, only one of the two burial stones has been used, and testing shows that it was not used very long (body decomposition on the loculus was minimal, different than other tombs).
6) The loculus was extended to accomodate a body that was 3 inches longer than first measured. The chisel marks in the granite show that the added length was done roughly and hurriedly. The suggestion is that Joseph of Arimethea was 5'8" tall and that the body of Jesus was 5'11" tall, since the extension provides 3 inches more leg room than the original hewn loculus.
7) If one walks in the tomb, they must look to the right to see the loculus. Back in the day, the traditional spot where mourners would stand to mourn the body would be directly accross from the body and near the front entrance of tomb. In the Garden Tomb, the mourner’s spot is to the left. Assuming the gospels are correct when they say that Mary Magdelene & company "looked to the right and the body wasn't there...", then this is further proof.
8) The matter of the stone is also important. We know from the gospels that a large stone was placed in front of the tomb. The hewn track in front of the tomb door suggests that the rolling rock fitting it was quite large.
9) Finally, there are several crosses and the Greek letters Alpha & Omega painted in red inside the tomb. It is believed that these must have been left by early/First Church Christians, because the tomb was sealed by dirt & debris for nearly 1900 years following the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Using the words of one Garden Tomb groundskeeper, "There is additional proof that this is the authentic place of Jesus' burial, but these few I have related are, to me, enough proof."
The burial stone & sign inside the tomb 
Skull Hill or Golgotha
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CAPERNAUM
The ancient city of Capernaum existed from about 2 B.C. to 700 A.D. and sat on the edge of the Sea of Galilee. It was the home of Jesus during his ministry. Perhaps it isn’t coincidental that Capernaum was a fishing community, and Jesus taught believers to be “fishers of men.” Capernaum wasn’t a very large place; in fact, its population peaked at 1500 residents. Meaning, everybody probably knew everybody else. Therefore, one might imagine the tension when Jesus cursed Capernaum for its lack of faith.
Although Capernaum is little more than ruins today, it is still an exciting place to visit. It is one of the few holy sites we know in fact to be the actual site itself. First of all, there is the synagogue. The synagogue standing today was actually built on top of the first synagogue where Jesus would have worshipped. It was at this synagogue that Jesus was confronted by a demon-possessed man (Mark 1:21-27). It was also in the synagogue where Jesus healed the servant of the Roman centurion credited with building the synagogue (Luke 7:3). Finally, it is also in the synagogue where Jesus taught on the “bread of life” (John 6:35-59).
Also at Capernaum are the supposed ruins of Peter’s house. Archeologists believe it to be Peter’s house because it is distinctively different than all the other houses. On first glance, it might appear that this was the house of a city magistrate or other man of secular importance. However, there are 1st century Christian symbols lining the walls. If this house isn’t Peter’s, then it is most likely the home of a 1st century Christian.
2nd Synagogue ruins
Ruins of old Capernaum; Peter's house is to the right underneath the modern structure
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MOUNT CARMEL
Calling fire down from heaven in front of 850 false prophets, running down from a mountain to the Jezreel Valley faster than the king’s chariot, lying naked on his side for 365 days whilst cooking his food on cow dung, and being taken to Heaven via a whirlwind are just some of the ‘wild & crazy’ true stories about Elijah the prophet.
View of the Valley of Jezreel from Mt. Carmel
The story of Elijah on Mt. Carmel begins like this: Elijah met the prophet Obadiah on the side of the road one day. Elijah demanded that he meet with King Ahab, and Obadiah reluctantly brought Ahab to Elijah. Now, Ahab was an Israelite king who had gone the way of the wicked kings before him and served other gods. I Kings discusses Ahab’s worship of Baal, and Elijah’s worship of God. The two essentially decide to prove whose god is greater by conducting a sacrifice on top of Mt. Carmel. The trick was the god of each would need to send fire down from above to consume the sacrifice. Another interesting tidbit is that there were 850 prophets of false gods (450 for Baal and 400 for Asherah—Queen Jezebel’s god). Elijah pleaded with the people to choose for themselves a god based on the evidence presented to them.
Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God." Then all the people said, "What you say is good."
Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire."So they took the bull and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "O Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered, so they danced around the altar they had made.
At noon Elijah began to taunt and tease them saying, "Shout louder! Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Later that afternoon, they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response; no one answered, and no one paid attention.
Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins. He took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel." With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold about 15 liters of seed. He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood." "Do it again," he said, and they did it again.
"Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
Finally, Elijah prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."
Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!"
Then Elijah commanded them, "Seize the prophets of Baal. Don't let anyone get away!" They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered all of them right then and there.
Steps on top of Mt. Carmel
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BETHLEHEM
If you’ve ever read the Nativity story, then you have heard of Bethlehem. Some people say that it is the most famous small town in the world. This may or may not be true, but it certainly is a special place. First of all, visitors now have to cross over to the West Bank to visit. Secondly, visitors might be shocked to realize that the town doesn’t look anything like the storybooks or Nativity scenes. The Church of the Nativity, Manger Square, and Shepherd’s Field may be all that remain from that holiest of nights more than 2000 years ago. Below is the section of the Nativity story as written in Luke’s gospel and a few pictures of the modern-day town.
Wooden Nativity Scene for sale
View of modern day Bethlehem 
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
One of many paintings inside the Church of the Nativity & Manger Square
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TEMPLE MOUNT
Orthodox Jews praying at the Western Wall
The Western Wall may be all that is left over from the second temple, destroyed in 70 AD. The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, sits on an area known as the Temple Mount. The Temple Mount has a rich though often disputed history. The site was once home to two Jewish temples, and now the home of the Muslim Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Like much of Jerusalem, the history of the site began with the reign of David. During his reign, Jerusalem became the center of spirituality and religion after he brought the Ark of the Covenant to the city and established the area as a Holy place for the Lord. Some sources say this occurred in circa 1004 BC. Feel free to read I Chronicles for a more detailed (and we stress the word detailed) version of events.
Artist's rendition of the first temple circa 950 BC.
The first temple was prepared by David and built by Solomon over a period of seven years in the 10th century BC (perhaps 950ish BC). In 586 BC, the Babylonians razed the temple. When a small contingent of Jews returned 50 years after Babylonian captivity, construction began on the second temple in 536 BC, under the approval of Babylonian Kings Cyrus & Darius. After a 15 year interruption, construction began again in 521 BC and was finally completed in 516 BC. The Old Testament books I Chronicles and Ezra both contain information about the building of the temple. The temple was renovated by King Herod in 20 BC, with various portions like the surrounding outer courts being added later in 64 BC. It was 15 stories high (100 cubits high and 100 cubits wide) and was completed in 18 months. The Romans demolished the temple in 70 AD, under Titus, and aside from the Southern Steps (also known as Solomon’s Porch), the Western Wall is believed to be all that remains of the actual temple itself).
A model of the second temple circa 64 AD.
Today the site is an important archeological site, still the most significant and valuable place for Jews, a religious center for Muslims, and a popular tourist attraction. In all likelihood, the Jews are the rightful claimants of the site. The Jewish claim is mentioned numerous times in both the Old & New testaments. The Muslim claim is simply passed on through oral tradition (please note that the site is never definitively mentioned in the Koran). There is one site particularly on the Temple Mount that is at the heart of all the strife and bloodshed, the “rock.” Today, the rock can be found inside of the Dome of the Rock, the aesthetically pleasing but spiritually appalling, Muslim shrine to the large stone that sits on the Temple Mount. This rock is said to be the site of Mohammed’s ascent to heaven, a possible place where Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac (the other likely location is Mount Moriah), the place where Jacob saw the ladder to heaven, the location of the Holy of Holies, the stone on which the Ark of the Covenant rested in the First Temple, and according to Rabbinic legend, the place where the entire world was created (the Foundation Stone).
Dome of the Rock, Photo by Erin Zimmerman, most awesome CBN producer ever.
An orthodox Jew looking towards the Temple Mount
Regardless of whether you believe all or none of this to be true, perhaps you might now more easily understand the significance this place has for the various groups involved. Being Christians, we of course believe the Temple Mount area to rightfully belong to the Jews. We also believe, perhaps more importantly, that this will be the place the Lord rebuilds His temple in 3 days upon his second coming (see the book of Revelation for more on that story). We look forward to this third temple. Better yet, we look forward to the return of the Messiah and the glorious days ahead.
An aerial view of the Temple Mount
Certain factual information courtesy of Wikipedia & Zola Levitt Ministries.
Some pictures are courtesy of various individuals, organizations, and other identities that have made images available on Google Image.
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PENTECOST
Pentecost is the Greek word for fiftieth day, and takes place 50 days after Passover. Shavuot is the Hebrew term for the same holiday. Shavuot is the celebration of the counting of the Omer and the beginning of the wheat harvest, and also known as the Feast of Weeks. During this holiday, the Jews reflect on their previous slavery, exodus from Egypt, and on the Lord's promise to restore them as a people. For many Christians and Messianic believers, this day is also celebrated as Pentecost: the day the Ruach haKodesh (Hebrew for Holy Spirit) came to dwell in the people. The history behind the holiday can be found in Leviticus 23:15-16, Joel 2:28, and Acts 2. The day is both an agricultural holiday and a religious holiday, but more importantly, the day celebrates the end of seven weeks of expectation and anticipation (hence, the Feast of Weeks). The seven weeks are literally a time of expectancy that God will fulfill His promises. The Omer, or wheat harvest signifies that God fulfilled His promises, or mitzvah (blessing). The anticipation is signified in the period of prayer during the seven weeks. On this day, the shofar trumpet is also blown, to sound the Hand of the Lord among the people. The prophecy of Joel 2:28 (given on Shavuot) is fulfilled in Acts 2.
In the Jewish religion, Shavuot is one of three pilgrimage holidays. The other two are are Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. In the biblical tradition, Jewish men are required to travel to Jerusalem to celebrate the holiday. This pilgrimage might explain why there were so many different nationalities represented in the Upper Room at the time of Pentecost. Acts 2:7-11 tells us that there were people from all over, including Egypt, Libya, Media, Mesopotamia, Greece, Turkey, North Africa, Asia, and Rome. Even today, thousands of years later, Shavuot is still a special day. It is considered a special Sabbath and a time of thanksgiving.
It is no coincidence that Pentecost fell on Shavuot. Consider for a moment that Shavuot was the time that Moses received the law (Torah) from the Lord on Mt. Sinai. God not only delivered His chosen out of Egypt, He also established them as a nation. Just a few thousand years later, God poured out His Holy Spirit on the first believers of Yeshua and established the Church on Shavuot.
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VIA DOLOROSA/ CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE
Many Christian pilgrims revere this walk as a holy walk- the same steps that Jesus walked from Pontius Pilate's to Calvary. Along the route, there are 14 stations marking various actions as recorded in the Gospel. For example, station 3 marks where Jesus fell and station 5 marks where Simon the Cyrene was appointed to help carry the cross.
The last four stations are located within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This church is kind of like Mecca for Christians, especially for Greek Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, Ethiopian Orthodox and Coptic Christians (Orthodox sects stem from the Byzantine Empire, during the beginning of which, the church was built). Located in the church are several "holy" spots, including the place where Jesus was crucified, where His body was prepared for burial, and where He was buried. The route is also tied with historical controversy.
Various historians disagree to the actual accuracy of the current Dolorosa route. In fact, the route itself has changed several times. At any rate, it is a significant walk nonetheless, even if it is only symbolic (type and shadow) of the real thing. Also, a debate exists between the accuracy of the holy sites within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the nearby Garden Tomb and other possible Golgotha site (which has a skull-like formation on its side).
The 14 stations and some of their references in scripture are as follows (other references can also be found in various other books in the Catholic Bible):
1. Christ condemned to death
Mark 15:15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
the cross is laid upon him;
John 19:16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
2. The Crucifixion
John 19:16-17 So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
3. His first fall
4. He meets Mary, his Blessed Mother
John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
5. Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the cross
Mark 15:21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull).
6. Christ's face is wiped by Veronica
7. His second fall
8. He meets the women of Jerusalem;
Luke 23:27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' Then" 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!"
and to the hills, "Cover us!" 'For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
9. His third fall
10. He is stripped of His garments
Matthew 27:35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
11. His crucifixion
Acts 2:23 This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[a] put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
12. His death on the cross
Mark 15:37-38 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"
13. His body is taken down from the cross and prepared for burial
14. He is laid in the tomb
Mark 15:46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock.
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THE WALL
The Citadel in Jerusalem is the oldest part of the wall that surrounds the Old City. Multiple layers of the rock found in the Citadel can be traced from the time of King David through the Crusaders. For more details, follow this link:
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Archaeology/Citadel.html
Psalm 91:1-2 (ESV)
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.’”
The wonderful people here in the CBN News bureau have all contributed to a sense of welcome and peace for us here in this richly historic city. Chris Mitchell (Bureau Chief) and his sweet wife Liz picked us up from the airport. They allowed us a chance to phone home and, once we arrived in Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, drove us through the narrow streets of the Old City up to the Mount of Olives.
I imagine the feeling other travelers might have had long ago when they saw the gates open up in order for them to enter the fortress of Jerusalem. I’m certain that many of those ancient travelers felt a similar sense of protection and guidance from the Lord as we had that night.
In our case, the “refuge” came in the form of amazing servant-hearted people. They had already located an apartment for us within walking distance of the CBN News office. They helped us get our jet-lagged selves and our heavy luggage down two steep flights of stairs (wheelchair accessibility not being a concern, apparently). As soon as we got inside the little flat, we realized that someone had made the beds and even gone grocery shopping for us! Later on, we found out that our Hebrew angel was none other than Naomi, CBN’s local administrative assistant (a spry 80-year-old Messianic Jew).
Once we began our time in the office, we met John, writer/editor extraordinaire and Yoel cameraman/editor/miracle-worker. They have graciously shown us the ropes, surrounding us with their support. Thank you, fellow Watchmen!
Isaiah 62:6 (ESV)
“On your walls, O Jerusalem,
I have set watchmen;
all the day and all the night
they shall never be silent.”
More images:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mawas/300003567/in/set-72157594431095399/