DAY 3 – WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25:
The Caesarea Roman Theater. Both Peter and Paul would have been here (Acts 10, 26)
Today was our first full day here in Israel. The weather would be overcast most of the day, with highs in the 60s. Leaving the hotel around 7:40, we drove north to Caesarea. Located along the Med Sea coastline, this was a city built by King Herod in 22 BC. Sitting in the theater, we read from Acts 10 (Peter & Cornelius), Acts 12 (Herod Agrippa), and Acts 26 (Paul’s bold testimony). Walking from the theater to the rest of the excavations we also saw the palace, the “Pilate Inscription” (found in 1961 in the theater), the hippodrome, the Crusader city, and the harbor area. The Apostle Paul used this port several times.
Next, we ascended up to the top of Mt. Carmel, a mountain range that overlooks the Jexreel Valley. We read from 1 Kings 18 about Elijah defeating he prophets of Baal here. We also remembered the stories of Elisha (2 Kings 4), and the romantic words of Song of Songs 7. The view from the top of the chapel of the Jezrel Valley below was limited, but we could at least see the Nazareth Ridge (Luke 1,4), Mt. Tabor (Judges 4-5), the Hill of Moreh (Judges 6-7), and Mt. Gilboa (1 Samuel 31).
Canaanite Gate at Megiddo
After lunch at a nearby Druze restaurant, we drove down to the Jezreel Valley and visited Megiddo. After view a map of the region highlighting the importance of this ancient city as well as a archaeological model of the tel of Megiddo, we climbed the site together. We saw three gates (Canaanite and Israelite), Solomon’s “stables”, an Early Bronze altar, and an Israelite granary. We read from Revelation 16 and celebrated the victory we have in Christ when He returns! We left the site by descending down through the amazing water system.
Crossing the valley, Sepporis was our next visit. This was the primary Hellenistic-Jewish city in Jesus’ day. Here we saw beautiful mosaics, including the famous “Mona Lisa of the Galilee.” We also saw the Nilometer moaic.
The “Mona Lisa of the Galilee” mosaic at Sepporis
Our last stop was the Precipice of Nazareth. The view from here provided our last perspective of the Jezreel Valley. Once again we saw Mt. Tabor, the Hill of Moreh, and Mt. Gilboa. We read from Luke 4 about Jesus’ synagogue encounter. We also were invited to “come and see” Jesus anew (John 1). We enjoyed a time of quiet reflection.
Driving through Cana (John 2), we arrived at our hotel called Nof Ginnosar located on the NW corner of the Sea of Galilee. After checking in, we enjoyed dinner and a brief gathering down at the water’s edge.
It was a great first day!
DAY 4 – THURSDAY, JANUARY 26: ARBEL, CAPERNAUM, SEA OF GALILEE BOAT RIDE, YARDENIT, MT. OF BEATITUDES