Day 3 – Tuesday, February 21: Caesarea, Carmel, Megiddo, Precipice of Nazareth, Tiberias
Today was our first full day here in Israel. We are all excited to engage with the Bible and the primary land where biblical events took place. The day’s weather was ideal, with a mix of sun and clouds and highs around 70. After a wonderful full breakfast, we loaded the bus and left about 7:35. We read Psalm 44:8 as we drove north to our first site. We also learned the song, “Oh, the Sun’s Coming Up.” ????
Caesarea Maritima
We drove north in the Sharon Plain to get to our first site, Caesarea Maritima. It was a city built between 22-10 BC by Herod the Great.We started the the theater where we read from Acts 10, 12, 21, and 26. Peter, Phillip, and Paul were all here sharing their faith in Christ. Among the ruins the praetorium (palace, where we saw a replica of the Pilate Inscription found in 1961 in secondary use), hippodrome, and the area of the harbor. We then entered the Crusader part of the city. We saw a short movie about Herod the Great. Before leaving the site, we also saw a porphyry (purple) marble statue and the aqueduct that brought fresh water into Caesarea from the Carmel Range.
Mt. Carmel
Our next site was the Carmel Range (or Mt. Carmel). This range separates the Sharon Plain with the Jezreel Valley. We drove to Muhraha, a Carmelite chapel located at the highest peak. On the beautiful grounds of this Carmelite chapel we read from Amos 1 and 9, Isaiah 35, Song of Songs 7 and 1 Kings 18 (the story of Elijah). We then ascended to the rooftop of the chapel for a wonderful view of the Jezreel Valley below. The visibility was quite good.
Megiddo
After lunch at a family-owned Druze restaurant nearby, we descended to the edge of the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, an archaeological site that has about 25 levels of occupation that span 2,500 years! Upon arriving, we walked to the top of this Canaanite/Israelite site. We saw two Canaanite gate complexes, the gate, stables and palace area of Solomon (1 Kings 9:15), a sacrificial altar (Canaanite), and a grain silo. The also enjoyed a great view of the surrounding hills from here and the valley itself (Revelation 16:16). We left the site through the impressive water system that was designed and engineered to safely bring water into the city.
“Today was our first full day in Israel. We made four visits, each of them unique in their own way, but with many biblical connections. Israel is an amazing land and it is already coming to life for us.”
Precipice of Nazareth
We drove past Mt. Gilboa (1 Samuel 31), Jezreel (1 Kings 18, 21; 2 Kings 8), the Hill of Moreh (Judges 6-7) and Shunem (2 Kings 4) as we crossed the Jezreel Valley to the area of Nazareth. We ascended towards the top of the Precipice. A short walk took us to a panoramic view of the Jezreel Valley. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset from here over the Carmel Range. We read from Luke 4 about Jesus’ synagogue teaching. While Nathaniel asked, “What good can come out of Nazareth?” It was Philip who replied, “Come and see!” (John 1). We celebrated Jesus as Messiah here!
Sea of Galilee
It took about 50 minutes (driving past Cana, John 2 and 4) to arrive at our hotel (Nof Ginnosar) along the western coastline of the Sea of Galilee. We enjoyed dinner here followed by a gathering on the shoreline of the lake. It was a great first day here in Israel!
Day 4 – Wednesday, February 22: Arbel, Yardenit, Jordan River Baptism, Magdala, Capernaum, Mt. of Beatitudes, Sea of Galilee Boat Ride
