Introduction
The Mount of Beatitudes
The location was amazing, overlooking the Sea of Galilee. The breeze off the sea was perfect for the delivery of a sermon, carrying the speaker's words to the rest of the crowd, which probably explains why this site was used in ancient times for an assembly. The overall experience was incredibly powerful. During worship I was overcame, kneeling down to worship with tears running down my face. This was the first moment on the trip that it would hit me, the significance of land in which we were walking. These are the actual areas of Jesus' footsteps and ministry. That statement seems like an obvious one, but it has a whole new meaning when actually being there. The reality of the bible has a whole new significance after the experience, and I will never read of the footsteps of Jesus the same way, because I can now picture the locations that I am reading about, making it all the more real by providing a new level of depth that never would have been possible if it were not for being here personally
Tabgha
Capernaum
"Jesus came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days." Luke 4:31
Capernaum was the center of Jesus' preaching. This site was really the first stop with ancient archaeological evidence so it was pretty incredible, but I supposed in may ways it would pale in comparison to some of the ancient ruins that were to come. The greatest impact here is the ancient synagogue. We know that Jesus came to the synagogue in Capernaum in his teachings. The synagogue pictured here is not actually the one that He would have taught in. These ruins are from around 300 A.D. However, this later synagogue was built upon the older one that Jesus would went to, so it remains as being the site where Jesus preached. We were allowed to go in the synagogue, so when we say that we walked in the footsteps of Jesus, there is a high probability of that being literally true in this place!
The Sea of Galilee
There are really countless scriptures that I could list referring to the Sea of Galilee. I chose the one above for sentimental value because there was probably about about 10 times when our tour guide, Avi, said something about the mountain where this verse may have taken place, and every time all of us in the bus were wondering where exactly he was talking about. The picture above is the only cliff that I saw that runs into the Sea of Galilee, and this view was directly across the water when he referred to this verse multiple times over the course of a few days.
This next picture was taken from a boat that we boarded and went out on the Sea of Galilee. I really like this picture because it shows the wake of the boat that I was on as we went out on the water. I suppose it is somewhat of an active picture in this sense because it reminds me of actually being there and being on a boat on the Sea of Galilee! We had a worship service while on this boat. This is probably stating the obvious, but it was really amazing to be able to worship while on the Sea of Galilee.
Lunch at the Sea of Galilee
(Okay, I admit it, this isn't my plate after the lunch. This is actually a picture of Nick Brown's plate. Nick is another Liberty student that was on the trip. I have to give credit where it is due.)
Baptism in the Jordan River
This was another of the great highlights of the trip, quite possibly the best one of all. We visited a site called Yardenit that is a Jordan River baptismal site for Christians. I suppose that some could miss the significance of this event since it is clearly a tourist trap to make tons of money off of Christians touring the Holy Land. They have a monopoly on Jordan River baptism and that comes with the expected gift shop as well. Also, I heard some people complain that there was a sort of amusement park feel to it with the guardrails and waiting lines through which people were herded like sheep. I did not feel this at all. I guess that Yardenit is what you make of it.
Personally, this was a very important step in my life and Spiritual journey. There was not a single time that I had any negative feelings toward the site. I actually liked seeing the long lines of Christians in white robes that were seeking to follow Christ with a baptism in the Jordan River. My original baptism was at a time in my life that I was very young and I am not really sure that I comprehended what I was doing. This was my chance to do it over, knowing that my heart was in the right place, and fully rededicating my life to our Lord and Saviour.
The picture above is my baptism. My sister Tara took this awesome picture. Performing the baptism is Dr. Ergun Caner (for those of you that do not know, he is a former Muslim, born in Turkey, that found Christ and now shines in his love and service of Jesus). The person assisting in the baptism is Dr. Gary Yates. I am infinitely thankful to both of these men for making this possible, and to the Lord for working through them and for making this entire trip a reality.
An interesting story that comes with this baptism is that when I was next in line, I took my first step into the water, which went about ankle deep, and realized that the water was freezing! It was ice cold. I said a quick prayer to our Lord asking if he could help me a little in this ice water that I was about to plunge into as I recognize Him as my savior and rededicate my life to Him in an event that would serve to glorify His name. When I was stepping out of the water after the baptism, it occurred to me that I never felt the cold water from the time I stepped in past my ankles and throughout the entire baptism. Praise the Lord! Of course, the emotion going through me during the baptism was so great that it is possible that it overwhelmed me to the point where I wouldn't notice the water, but I am not sure that any level of emotion could overpower water that cold! Imagine, the Lord answered my prayer as I followed in His steps, to be baptised in the Jordan River, and by a former Muslim that had also found Jesus Christ! Our Lord is an awesome God!
“And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.” Mark 1:9
Caesarea Maritima
Caesarea Maritima was once a major port city of Israel. This is the site of Paul's imprisonment before being sent to Rome to eventually meet his execution. He would have left by ship from this city as well. The ruins are from the time of Herod the Great. This was also the headquarters of Pontius Pilate.
Pictured above is an ancient amphitheater. The bottom half is original and the top was reconstructed with added guardrails. We were able to have a worship service while seated in the amphitheater. The acoustics and entire worship service was awesome. It seems to have a sense of irony that thousands of years after the Roman persecution of Christians that we would gather here in worship of Jesus.
This picture (above) shows what is left of a Roman hippodrome (imaging the chariot races from Ben-Hur), which explains the oval shape and seating.
Har-Megiddo (Armageddon)
This site has tremendous personal value to me. Of course, who hasn't heard of Armageddon, the final battle, and to actually be standing in the place where it will occur! The picture below was taken from the top of Megiddo, over looking the plains of Armageddon, where this battle will occur.
This site has a personal value to me in that I was called upon to lead our group in prayer on top of Armageddon. I think that our tour guide called upon me for the prayer since I am one of the older ones in the group and he may have thought that I was a pastor. That couldn't be further from the truth. I have NEVER led a group prayer, and to be called to do so at such an important site! Of course, I could not say no so I did my best to glorify God and just prayed from the heart. Looking back on this, it is something that I will never forget and will always treasure.
Old Testament Reference:
As a site with such a rich history (multiple civilizations / battles, and a vital location for trade between Assyria and Egpyt) there are also many references to Megiddo throughout the O.T. Some references are listed below:
"In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him." 2 Kings 23:29
The following is from Zechariah 12:8-11:
8 In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.
9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
Mount of Precipice / Mount Tabor
“They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.” Luke 4:29
The picture above is Nazareth from the Mount of Precipice, the hill discussed in Luke 4:29. Below is a picture of Mount Tabor, which is believed to be the mount of Jesus' transfiguration.
“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them.” Matthew 17:1-2
Tabor and more specifically Mount Tabor, are referenced several times throughout the O.T., most notably as the site where Barak and Deborah were gathered with ten thousand men in Judges 4.
“Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.” Psalms 89:12
Chorazin
Caesarea Phillippi
Old Testament Reference: Psalm 42:7
"Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me." Psalm 42:7
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18
According to our tour guide, this spring (pictured) is what is being referred to here in Psalm 42:7. Also, later in the New Testament when Jesus is nearby Ceasarea Phillipi, our guide gave the impression that that the arch seen in the rock cutout in the pictures are what is referred to as "the gates of hell" in Matthew 16:18, saying that the worshippers of this pagan religion will not prevail over his church. This explanation seriously limits how we interpret this verse. Perhaps there is a double meaning in this passage.
Bet She'an
While here at Bet She'an, I was able to walk down the main street (lined with the pillars) and eventually into the center of the amphitheater. This came with mixed emotions because it had a very cool Gladiator-type feel to it, but at the same time it was bone chilling to think of all the Christians that would have been killed here.
Another interesting point of this stop was that it served to be my first real contact with an Israeli. This man intercepted me on my way back to the bus. His English was terrible, and I have no Hebrew skills so it became interesting. I think he probably saw my beard and my ball cap (head covering) and thought that I was an American Jew. His first words were, "You American?" We went back and forth trying to understand each other until eventually we worked out "Christian" pointing to myself, "Jewish" pointing to him, and then badly attempting to say each other's names. I couldn't even begin to say what his name was, but his wife was Rachel, so that was easy enough even though I am sure I messed up the guttural "ch" sound. We both smiled and parted ways. Both of us made a friend that neither of us can even talk to.
Old Testament Reference:
“But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan.” Judges 1:27
“And [the Philistines] fastened [Saul’s] body to the wall of Beth-shan.” I Sam. 31:10
Bet She'an is one of the cities that was instructed by God to have been completely cleared out of all non-Jews (Israelites), but that commandment was not followed and eventually the Canaanites took over the city and drove out and persecuted the Jews. Eventually, this would be the location that King Saul's body would be hung on the city walls.
Masada
Qumran
Bomb Hatch
The Dead Sea
The Mount of Olives / Eastern Gate
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Matthew 24:3
“And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem.” Zechariah 14:4, 8.
The Garden of Gethsemane
Of course, the landscaping has been done by the groundskeepers of the Catholic church next to it, but the trees that you see had been dormant for centuries and this area bloomed for the first time of our modern age in 1948, the year Israel was declared a nation once again, and without any human support. Incredible!
The Upper Room
The Dome of the Rock
I was hesitant to include these pictures, but being of some personal significance, my journal would not be complete without them. If you look at the top picture, to the right of the far right column, stands this ornate slab of limestone. Over years of weathering, this image of the texture of the limestone has become apparent. A close up is posted below. Take what you will from this, but it certainly bears the image of a demon to me (eyes, horns, big teeth, etc), and keep in mind that this is on an mosque built upon one of, if not, the most important Judeo-Christian location there is. Of course, we have no real way of knowing what the devil or a demon looks like, but a sign would have to fit our idea of what to relate it to. Again, take what you will from this.
The Western Wall
The Shrine of the Book
The House of Caiaphas
1 O lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.
8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.
11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
14 LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?
15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.
17 They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.