Day 13 – Wednesday, March 20: Precipice of Nazareth, Megiddo, Mt. Carmel, Caesarea, Jerusalem, Western Wall
This morning we depart the Galilee towards Jerusalem. We checked out of our hotel at 7:30 enroute to the area of Nazareth. The showers continued off and on this morning, but the skies gradually cleared to sunny skies by the afternoon. High temps reached about 70 in the afternoon at Caesarea. We read the kingdom parables from Matthew as we departed.
Precipice of Nazareth
We drove south through the Lower Galilee to the Precipice of Nazareth. The visibility from here was fair, with a leftover cloud cover from the morning rains. But at least it didn’t rain. From here we saw Mt. Tabor (Judges 4), the Hill or Moreh (Judges 7), and Mt. Carmel to the west (1 Kings 18). This was essentially the “backyard” of Jesus while he grew up in Nazareth. We considered the life of Jesus as read from Luke 4. Jesus came for the purpose of offering redemption to both Jews and Gentiles alike.
Megiddo
Located along the edge of the Jezreel Valley is Megiddo. We drove slowly across this broad Jezreel Valley to get here (the traffic was heavy!). This archaeological site was about 25 layers of occupation spanning a period of about 2,500 years! It was a Canaanite and Israelite city. Pharaohs like Thutmose III conquered it in about 1468 BC. Climbing the site, we saw 3 series of city gates, Solomon’s stables and palace, a sacrificial altar from the Early Bronze Period, and a grain silo. We also had a great view of the Jezreel Valley referred to as the Valley of Armageddon in Revelation 16. In the end, God wins when Jesus returns! We walked to walked to the water system that was engineered to bring water safely inside the walls of the city. However, the entrance was closed.
Mt. Carmel
Driving along the “byways” (edge) of the valley, we then ascended to the highest peak of Mt. Carmel. This is a mountain range overlooking the Jezreel Valley on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other. Upon arriving at the site, we first entered a Carmelite chapel called Muhraha. The passages of Amos 1 and 9, Isaiah 35, and Songs of Songs 7 all refer to Carmel. The primary story (1 Kings 18) involved Elijah who confronted the 450 prophets of Baal, the Phoenician/Canaanite god of rain and thunder! Elisha was also on this mountain range (2 Kings 4). The view of the Jezreel Valley from the top of the roof of the chapel was descent, with rays of sun peaking through by now. Nearby we ate a great buffet lunch at a nearby Druze restaurant.
“We traveled south from the Galilee to Jerusalem. It was another great day of engaging with the land, the Bible, and specific stories where they actually happened. There is nothing like being in Jerusalem though! Wow, it is so special!”
Caesarea
Following lunch, we descended down to the Sharon Plain to Caesarea. In the theater of this city built by Herod the Great in 22-10 BC, we read from Acts 10 (Peter), Acts 12 (Agrippa 1), Acts 21 (Philip), and Acts 26 (Paul). We then walked across this ancient city to see the palace, hippodrome, the location of the grand harbor, and the Crusader gate, wall, and mote. We also saw an impressive periphery (purple) statue. Before leaving the site we saw the aqueduct and enjoyed sticking our feet in the Mediterranean Sea.
Jerusalem
In the late afternoon we began our drive around Tel Aviv before we ascended to Jerusalem. We entered this magnificent city and saw our first glimpse of the Temple Mount and the Old City. We checked into our hotel and enjoyed an later dinner. Following dinner, many walked to the Western Wall, the most hotly place for Jews today! We are looking forward to our first full day in Jerusalem tomorrow, Israel’s capital!
Day 14 – Thursday, March 21: Jerusalem, Yad Vashem, Israel Museum, Mt. of Olives, Old City
