DAY 7– SATURDAY, MAY 3
We left the Sea of Galilee area this morning. Loading up the bus and departing at 7:30, our first stop on our way to Jerusalem was the precipice of Nazareth. From this high vantage-point, the view is great. In one direction, we looked across the valley to the city of Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus. Looking the other direction is the Jezreel Valley. We saw Mt. Tabor (Judges 4-5), the Hill of Moreh (Judges 6-7), Mt. Gilboa (1 Samuel 31), and across the valley to the west, Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18). We also enjoyed a time of reflection and worship, reading John 1 and Luke 4.
From here we cross the Jezreel Valley (The “Emek”) to Megiddo. This huge archeological site has about 24 levels of civilization. We read from Revelation 4 and 16 and rejoiced in the fact that the final victory belongs to God! We saw a number of city gates from various time periods (including a Solomonic gate), store houses, stables, and a grain silo. We left the site by descending down 180 steps through the water system.
The third stop of the day was to Mt. Carmel and the Carmelite monastery called Muhraqa (“burnt offering”). We met in the small chapel to read the 1 Kings 18 story of Elijah vs. the prophets of Baal. We also sang a few songs, enjoying the beautiful acoustics of this place.
After lunch at another Druze restaurant, we drove to the Med coastline to visit our last site of the day Caesarea. Built in 22 – 10 BC by Herod the Great, this city was quite impressive. We visited the theater (reading from Acts 10, 12, and 26), the palace, hippodrome and the Crusader part of the city. We also visited the aqueduct that brought water into this city from the Mt. Carmel range.
After driving 1.5 hours and ascending the Judean Hills, we arrived at our hotel in Jerusalem, the Dan Boutique. Following dinner, many enjoyed an optional walk to the Western Wall. We’re excited to be in Jerusalem for the next few days!
DAY 8– SUNDAY, MAY 4
We plan to visit the Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Pools of Bethesda, Via Dolorosa, Israel Museum, and Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum).