Day 5 – Saturday, September 7: Gamla, Hippos/Susita, Boat Ride, Khirbet Cana (Theme of the Day: Guarding our borders!)
Today was another hot day, with temps in the high 90s. It was Shabbat today, with many Israelis out enjoying the water of the Sea of Galilee. Our day included two sites on the Golan Heights, a boat ride, and a unique visit to Khirbet (ruins) Cana. We read portions of the “kingdom parables” from Matthew 13 as we left the hotel at 7:35.
Gamla
We started the day by driving north along the western side of the lake before turning south on the eastern side. We ascended into the Golan Heights and stopped for an overlook of the northern end of the lake and the area of Bethsaida. We then continuedt o Gamla, our first site of the day. Gamla was a Jewish city that played a significant role in the First Revolt (66-67 AD). The Romans came here and defeated the city run 67 AD. Many in the group walked down (and then back up) the difficult trail to the excavations. We entered the 1st century synagogue where we read from Matthew 9. Even though Gamla is not mentioned in the Gospels, there is a high probability that Jesus taught from this rectangular synagogue!
Hippos/Sussita
We then turned south on the east side towards Hippos/Sussita. On the way we made a brief stop to see the cliffs mentioned in Mark 5. It is a transformational story of the demoniac. The demon-possessed boar (pigs) ran down this cliff. At the site of Hippos (a Decapolis city), we saw many Roman ruins. During the Byzantine Period (4th-6th centuries AD), there were no less than a half a dozen churches were built here.
Sea of Galilee Boat Ride
We returned to the western side of the lake to board our own boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. The water was calm but filled with boating activity from the locals. We enjoyed a time of songs and worship before reading from Mark 4 and Matthew 14. These two storm narratives came to life as we looked all around us. Jesus calmed the water in both stories, providing His care and compassion for His disciples.
“More of the life and ministry of Jesus came to life today! It is really an amazing experience to stand in a synagogue most likely where Jesus taught, and to sail on the Sea of Galilee as Jesus did, and read the story of the demoniac’s transformation near to where it actually happened!”
Khirbet Cana (Biblical Cana)
To end the day, eight in the group drove west towards the Lower Galilee. While others were dropped off back at the hotel. We then made our way through the Arab city of Arrabe to get us to the northern side of the Beit Netofa Valley. We then took a dirt road to get to Khirbet Cana. When we arrived, we climbed up to the top of this very “off the beaten path” archaeological site. While standing in what was possibly a 1st century synagogue, we remembered the story from John 2 about Jesus turning water into wine here and the story from John 4. We were only the fourth “DeLancey group” to ever to come here. No doubt no other groups come here let alone know where this true site of Cana is located. It was quite an adventure!
We returned back to the hotel for a dinner and our last evening here in Tiberias before we check out tomorrow morning in order to drive south.
Day 6 – Sunday, September 8: Beth Shean, Sahne/Gan HaShlosha, Shiloh, Jericho, Judean Desert (Theme of the Day: Obediently hearing God speak)
