How does one put into words the feelings and emotions of a day spent in Bethlehem and the Old City of Jerusalem? I touched the birthplace of Christ. I touched the same wall He did when he stumbled with the cross. I touched the rock on which His cross was erected for His crucifixion. I walked the streets He did from receiving the crown of thorns to Golgotha. I entered His tomb and I touched the stone slab He was laid upon to prepare Him for burial. Even “awesome” doesn’t begin to describe the myriad of emotions on experiences spending a day like this.

The stone at Calvary is enshrined at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem. (Chronicle photo by Angela Kessler)

The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem was built over the birthplace of Christ. The church is separated into three areas – Armenian, Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic. A narrow passageway is open to visitors where a 14-point star marks the location of Jesus’ birth and a replica of the manger sits across the walkway. The space is very small, so visitors do not have very much time to reflect on the significance of what they seeing and touching, but there is no questioning the emotional experience. Surrounded by a throng of people, I knew I only had a short amount of time there, but I found myself trembling and incredibly moved as I knelt down to touch the star.

Just as moving was our visit later in the day to the Old City of Jerusalem. My head is still spinning trying to take in and comprehend the fact that I walked the very streets Jesus did during His passion. Called the Via Dolorosa, pilgrims traverse the Old City in the same way Jesus did. What’s most striking is that the distance from Jesus receiving the crown of thorns to the top of the hill is not very far. In fact our tour guide reminded us that the city was just 1.5 miles by 1.5 miles in all. As we walked in his footsteps and paused at the different stations (some only with a simple marker and others within churches and chapels), it is not hard to imagine that day. Highlights of this walk include station number five, where Jesus stumbled. With no more than a sign, there is one block in a stone wall that is said to be where Jesus leaned for support; the rock at Calvary and the slab on which Jesus was prepared for burial. Much like the experience earlier in the day, touching this slab on which Jesus body was washed and embalmed, I felt a certain energy in knowing I was touching something on which He had lain. There’s nothing in this world like that feeling.

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On another note, I found that I have been reducing the size of the photos in the gallery too much, making them difficult to see. As I am able, I will be replacing them with larger files. Today’s photos are sized properly.