Walking Where He Walked- Day 12

Wow, I can't believe it! Today is our final day of a twelve-day journey in the Holy Land!  We started our morning with a visit to the Garden Tomb for a tour and our closing communion service.  Then we made another visit to the Mount of Olives and ended our tour at the Southern Steps of the Temple Mount to talk about Pentecost. 

The Garden Tomb, located north of Damascus, was suggested in the 19th century as an alternative site of calvary and Jesus' Tomb. While the setting is very suggestive of what the garden would have looked like in the time of Jesus, excavations would seem to indicate that the tomb is too ancient to have been the one built by Joseph Arimathea. The details of the chiseled walls and the bench type of arrangement suggest a date during the Old Teatament. Were it not for the New Testament statement that Joseph's tomb was new, this would have been the possibility.

He is Risen! He is not here! 

Southern Steps

The main public access to the Temple was from the Southern Steps. People entered and exited through a double and triple gate, together called the Huldah Gate. These gates had to handle enormous crowds during feast days; estimates as high as 500,000 people at a time. The triple arched gate was the entrance and the double arched gate served as the exit. Although the double and triple gates have been filled in, you can still see their outlines in the walls near the well- preserved steps of the monumental staircase. 

     

Walking Where He Walked - Day 11 in Israel

Yesterday, we started our look at Passion Week in the life of Jesus.  This morning was a VERY interesting experience.  It was the most holy day in the Jewish calendar…Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement.  There was no traffic in Jewish Jerusalem. We spent our day walking in the Old City.  We picked up our Passion Week study and walk the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. 

     

 

Although the Church of the Holy Sepulcher ("tomb") is now within the city walls, it was outside the walls of Jesus' day. Various places within the church contain remains from the first century, adding credibility to its identification as the location of Calvary and the empty tomb. Up the stairs you will see the bedrock at a considerable height above the current floor; this is all that remains of the outcrop of rock which is the probable location of Calvary. 

  

    (This is how the tomb looks like in the 1st Century)

(This was probably the stone where Jesus' body was laid down after crucifixion) Many religious people come and kiss this stone.

(Many believed that this was the location where Jesus was buried). 

Bible Records:

Mark 15:21-27- Jesus' Crucifixion

Matthew 27: 62-66 - Guard at the Tomb

Matthew 28:1-7 - The Empty Tomb

John 20:10-17 - Mary mistakes Jesus for a gardener

 

Walking Where He Walked - Day 10 in Israel

Yesterday, on day 9, we finished the Galilee portion of our trip and drove back to Jerusalem. 

• We started our look at Passion Week in the life of Jesus.  We began the day at the top of the Mount of Olives and overview Bethany and Bethpage where we talked about the Triumphal Entry.  

• We walked down the traditional Palm Sunday path, and at the bottom, we reviewed the events of Sunday through Wednesday of Passion Week.  

• After lunch, we visited the Upper Room and then walked across the Kidron Valley to the Garden of Gethsemane. 

     

•  We ended our day at Caiaphas' house where Jesus was tried by the Jews.

Walking Where He Walked - Day 9 in Israel

Yesterday, on day 8, we finished the Galilee portion of our trip by heading to the very north to Dan and Caesarea Philippi, with a final stop at the church of Primacy. Today, we headed back to Jerusalem to start the last third of our trip.  

• We started day 9 by hopping on the bus and heading down the Jordan Valley. 

• Our first stop was Beth Shean which is one of the 10 cities of the Decapolis, and the only one on the west side of the Jordan River.  We took a nice hike to get to this site and we talked both Old and New Testament context. 

      

• Then we got back on the bus for a 2 hour ride down the Jordan Valley.  We crossed into Palestinian Territory and traced the route Jesus most often took when he travelled from Galilee to Jerusalem.

      

• We made a stop at the ruins from New Testament Jericho.

• Then it's up to Jerusalem from Jericho…and back to the Gloria Hotel.

Walking Where He Walked- Day 8 in Israel

Yesterday, on day 7, we hiked Mount Arbel, checked out the Jesus boat, sailed on Galilee, and visited the "other side".  Today we traveled  by bus to the northern part of Israel. 

We started day 8 by hopping on the bus and heading to the most northern spot in Israel.  We drove on the upper Golan Heights and headed to the foot of Mount Hermon.

Our first stop was Dan where we hiked along one of the sources of the Jordan River.  Dan is where Jeroboam set up a golden calf for idol worship after the 10 northern tribes of Israel broke away from the two southern tribes after the death of Solomon. This is a popular nature reserve with great Biblical connections.

Our second stop today was Caesarea Philippi (not to be confused with the ruins of Caesarea on the Med Sea). This is where Peter made his great confession of faith and declared Jesus to be the Messiah.  This is a second source of the Jordan River and we had our lunch right beside the tributary.

Our last stop of day 8 was at The Church of the Primacy along the Sea of Galilee.  Since we had to depart for Jerusalem the next morning, we wanted to end our Galilee portion of the trip with one last time at the water's edge. This is the setting for John 21 when Jesus restored Peter.

Walking Where He Walked - Day 7 in Israel

Yesterday, on day 6, we explored the 3 cities where Jesus did most of his miracles and then we took a fun hike down the Mount of Beatitudes.  Today we traveled by bus, on foot, and by boat.  We started day 7 by hopping on the bus and heading to the west side of the Sea of Galilee. We had a very little travel again today. We passed through the city of Tiberias, built by Herod Antipas, one of the sons of Herod the Great.  This is the Herod who beheaded John the Baptist and wanted Jesus to do a miracle for him during Passion Week. Jesus called him a fox.

1- Our first stop was on Mount Arbel, one of my favorite views in the Galilee.  We talked about the colliding cultures in the Galilee during the time of Jesus, and then hiked down the side of this small mountain.  Check out the pictures of this hike…

   

    

2- Our second stop today was Nof Ginnosar, a kibbutz on the Galilee. This kibbutz is famous because on its shoreline a boat from the time of Jesus was found…the only boat like this ever discovered.  The story of how they found the boat is pretty interesting.  You can watch a two part 15 minute video on the Jesus boat here:   http://www.jesusboat.com/Story-of-the-Jesus-Boat    

3- After lunch at the kibbutz snack bar (very good homemade cookies), we hopped on our own boat and ride across the Galilee.  I love this boat ride and the time to reflect on 4 key boat stories from the life of Christ. Here is a link to a very good 7 ½ minute video on the Sea of Galilee.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFeuId6wI5c&list=PLFE763A800EF8785D

4- Our last stop of day 7 was at Kursi. This is where Jesus cast out the demon from the man who was terrorizing the entire east side of the Sea of Galilee.  Some great lessons here.

Walking Where He Walked- Day 6 in Israel

Yesterday, on day 5, we left Jerusalem and headed to the Galilee.  We love our tranquil hotel setting on the edge of the Sea of Galilee.  We spent a couple hours late each afternoon, after our tour day ends, relaxing by the beach or on our patio looking out at the water.  It is so much fun to reflect on what we have just studied during the day, and to look ahead to the next day. And the pace was so different than Jerusalem.  Each location has it's own special appeal.

Here's our itinerary for day 6:

1- We started day 6 by hopping on the bus and heading north along the Sea of Galilee.  We had a very little travel today.  I think you will be surprised by how small the Galilee area where Jesus ministered really is.

2- Our morning was spent visiting 3 key cities on the north shore of Galilee  Matthew 11 tells us that Bethsaida, Korazin, and Capernaum were cursed because Jesus did most of his miracles here, and the people did not repent.  These 3 towns were part of the “Orthodox triangle” in Jesus’ day. They were filled with devout Jews who took the Law seriously.  And Bethsaida was home to at least 3 of the disciples…and maybe 5.  Today all 3 of these towns are ruins that contain many lessons for us. 

    

        

       

    

3- In the afternoon we drove to the Mount of Beatitudes where we walked down the hill to the edge of the water.  I LOVE this easy hike…gives me a great picture of all the times Jesus and his disciples were on the move walking and talking.