DAY 8 – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
We left the Sea of Galilee today. The day was once again a bright and sunny day, with comfortable temps in the 80s. Leaving at 7:45 after packing up our luggage, we traveled west and south to the Lower Galilee region. Our fist stop was Sepporis, a large city from the 2 century BC through the Late Roman Period (5th Century AD). The city existed in Jesus’ day and was the primary city in the region. Jesus grew up in the shadows of this influential city. Here we saw numerous mosaics, including the Nilometer and the Mona Lisa of the Galilee. We also sat in the Roman theater that seated 4,000 people. Upon leaving the site, we walked a little of the “Jesus Trail” where we enjoyed a quiet time of worship and reflection. John 1:46ff was read, focusing upon Philip’s words in the text, “Come and see.”
From here we drove to the Precipice of Nazareth. From here not only is the city of Nazareth in full view, but this vantage point provided us our first view of the Jezreel Valley. From here we saw Mt. Tabor (Judges 4,5), the Hill of Moreh (Judges 6,7), Mt. Gilboa (1 Samuel 31), and Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18). We also could see the Mountains of Gilead to the east across the Jordan Valley.
Crossing the Jezreel Valley, our next stop was Megiddo. This is a site that has about to dozen levels of occupation. We saw various gate structures (Late Bronze through Iron Age), the palace area, an Early Bronze round altar, and a grain silo. We then walked don 180 steps into the water systems used here in order to bring water safely and secretly into the city.
Next, we drove to Mt. Carmel. After lunch at another Druze place, we visited the Carmelite chapel at Muhraha. We read the story from 1 I Kings 18 about Elijah “defeating the odds” against the 450 prophets of Baal. The view from the roof of the chapel was very good, allowing us to clearly see across the entire valley.
Our last stop of the day was Caesarea, the city built by Herod the Great. We saw the theater where we read from Acts 10, 12, and 26, among others, about the boldness of both Peter and Paul. Paul sailed in and out of the city’s large port several times. We also saw the palace area, the hippodrome, the Crusader city, impressive marble statues, and the aqueduct. From here we drove to Jerusalem. We arrived for check-in and dinner at our hotel, the Dan Boutique, followed by an optional walk to the Western Wall. Another great day!
DAY 9 – MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
We will visit the Mt. of Olives, walk in the Old City (Via Dolorosa) in the morning, and visit Herodium and Bethlehem in the afternoon.