The Jerusalem University College

The highlight of our day was a visit to the Jerusalem University College, formerly the Institute of the Holy Land. JUC has its main campus on Mount Zion between the Joppa and Zion Gates.

I had an appointment with Dr. Paul Wright, the dean of the college. I guess you might say that "we were comparing notes."

I learned that the first dean of the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies, Dr. Jim Fleming, is a graduate of the college. Dr. Fleming's impact on JCBS certainly reflects well on Jerusalem University College.

The campus provides an entrance to the Protestant Cemetery and the Essene Gate. Briefly, the cemetery is the final resting place of many of God's saints. One that you probably know is Horatio Spafford, the composer of the gospel hymn, "It is Well with My Soul."

As for the Essene Gate, Bargil Pixner surmises that the Essenes had a monastery on Mount Zion. He goes further to speculate that Jesus and the disciples utilized the monastery for the Last Supper. Interesting!

A walk back through the Old City made for a nice morning despite the cold and the overcast skies.