In just 3 days Susie and I will be heading to Israel with a group of new friends… I am looking forward to this trip for several reasons: Every time I visit Israel is a special occasion (this will be trip number 14); I love introducing people to the Land of Israel (watching the Bible come alive in people’s hearts is amazing); I enjoy building relationship with new friends. I believe this will be a unique and wonderful trip in so many ways… I thought a take a few minutes and tell you a little about what we have planned.
Day 1
Everyone on the trip is flying from their respective cities on Tuesday and we will all meet for the first time at JFK airport on Tuesday evening. There we will board EL AL for our trans-Atlantis flight to Israel around 11 PM. Once on board we will be served dinner – take a few hours nap – be served breakfast – and shortly thereafter land int Israel at about 5:30 PM local time. The entire flight takes about 11 hours.
Once in Israel we will go through customs, collect our luggage, meet our guide, Tsion Ben-David, and head to the Dan Panorama Hotel.
After checking in and freshening up, with will visit nearby biblical Joppa (Jaffa) and have Dinner at Dr. Shakshuka Restaurant in old Jaffa. Then back to our hotel for the evening.
Here’s a summary of the sites we will be visiting in the following days:
Day 2
Caesarea – The great Roman port city and one of the largest archeological digs in Israel. This is where the Roman centurion Cornelius was baptized by Peter and became the first gentile convert to Christianity (Acts 10) and where Paul was tried by Festus (Acts 25:6-12).
Mukhraka – Mt Carmel, where Elijah battled the prophets of Baal (1Kings 18:25)
Megiddo – (1 Kings 9:15) A fascinating tel (hill), comprising 26 ancient civilizations superimposed on one another, overlooking the Valley of Jezreel also know as the Valley of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16)
Nazareth Village – A recreation of Nazareth during the times of Jesus
Nazareth – The boyhood home of Jesus. We will visit the Church of St. Gabriel and Mary’s Spring.
Cana – Town where Jesus performed His first miracle, turning water into wine (John 2:1-11). Couples can renew their vows.
Tiberias at the Sea of Galilee
Overnight at the Scots Hotel
Day 3
Kibbutz Ginnosar – Man in Galilee Museum where 200 year old boat from Jesus’ time is on display
Sea of Galilee – Sail in a replica of a first century wooden boat
Capernaum – The town where Jesus lived during His Galilee ministry (Matthew 4:13; Mark 3:1)
Tabgha – The place that commemorates where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes (Luke 9:10-17); and
Mensa Christi - The chapel which commemorates where Jesus instructed Peter to “feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17)
Mount of Beatitudes – The hillside where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12)
Bethsaida – Birthplace of Peter, Andrew, Philip, James and John (Mark 8:22-26)
Golan Heights – Panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee from the Peace Vista. Descend by way of Yarmuk River Valley.
Yardenit – Jordan River baptismal site.
Day 4
Bet Shean – (Judges 7:4-8; I Samuel 31:10), The largest and most spectacular excavation in all of Israel. It was here that the bodies of King Saul and his sons were put on public display by the Philistines (also know as Scythopolis during Jesus’ time).
Dead Sea – The lowest spot on earth.
Qumran - The home of the first century sect known as the Essenes, the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Masada – We will ascend the mountain by cable car to view Herod’s desert fortress and the stronghold of the Jewish revolt against the Romans in 73AD.
En Gedi (Botanical Garden) – The desert oasis where David hid from King Saul (1 Samuel 24).
Neve Midbar Beach – Stop for a short float on the Dead Sea.
Jericho Road – Travel the road from Jericho up to Jerusalem an ascent of 4,000 feet in 13 miles, stopping at the Inn of the Good Samaritan along the way (Luke 10:24-26)
Mount Scopus – First view of the “Golden City” as the sun sets over Jerusalem.
Overnight at David’s Citadel Hotel
Day 5
Mea She’arim – A brief drive through this Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Neighborhood
Mount of Olives – View of the entire city of Jerusalem
Hosanna Road – Descend the mountain by foot on the same road that Jesus used on Palm Sunday.
Dominus Flavit – The church that commemorates where Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41)
Garden of Gethsemane – The Church of All Nations and meet in the Garden where Jesus and the disciples would often come to pray and rest.
Israel Museum – Shrine of the Book (where the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept), Model of ancient Jerusalem
Yad Vashem – National Memorial and Museum of the Holocaust, Includes: Valley of the Communities, Hall of Names, Children’s Memorial, and the new Museum complex
Knesset Menorah – The Parliament of the UK gave this monument to Israel in 1956. The Menorah built in the shape of the Menorah, which appears in Arch of Titus, includes engravings of about 30 important events, idioms, characters, and terms from the Jewish history.
Ein Karem – Picturesque village, home of Zacharias, and Elizabeth, where Mary visited her pregnant cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1,39-56) and where Elizabeth’s son John the Baptist was born (Luke 1,57-66).
Haas Promenade – Panoramic view of Jerusalem and the Old City basin.
Day 6
Saint Peter In Gallicantu – The church commemorating Peter’s denial of Jesus
Mt Zion
- Tomb of David
- Upper Room – Where the disciples gather after Jesus ascension. (Mark 14:12-26; Acts 1:13)
Jewish Quarter – Rebuilt Jewish section of the city
Cardo – Main street from the Roman-Byzantine times.
Western Wall (Kotel) – Judaism’s most sacred site.
Southern Wall Excavation Davidson Center – Computerized virtual model of the Second Temple.
Temple Steps – The actual steps used by Jesus and the people of His time to enter the temple. (Psalms of ascent)
City of David – Ongoing excavation in the ancient core of Jerusalem built by King David, including sophisticated underground water system.
Pool of Siloam – Where Jesus cured a blind man with a mud mixture and told him to go wash it from his eyes (John 9).
Day 7
Western Wall Tunnels – Rabbinic Tunnels revealing the base of the Temple Mount and the street level during the time of Jesus.
Pools of Bethesda – Where Jesus heal the lame man (John 5:1-24)
St Anne’s Church - Built during the time of the Crusaders
Lithostratos - Where Jesus was scourged.
Via Dolorosa – Stations of the Cross leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Church of the Holy Sepulcher – Considered by Catholics to be the location of the death, burial and resurrections of Jesus.
Tower of David – Modern day museum located in a citadel at the Joppa Gate of the Old City – while existing since Jesus’ time this fortress was re-built by the Ottomans, in the 16th century.
Arab Market (shuk)
Garden Tomb and Gordon’s Calvary – Considered by Protestants to be the site of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
Farewell Dinner
Day 8
Return Flight to the US
Speaking of pictures, here is a picture of our guide, Tsion Ben-David. Tsion is a wonderful man and a great guide.
George and I are getting excited about our first trip together to the Holy Land. Just thinking about walking where Jesus lived is mind bloggling! We’ll be making a big loop throughout the Holy Land so watch our travels as we post pictures and video. We’ll start off in Tel Aviv and then head up to Nazareth. From there we’ll stay in Tiberias by the Sea of Galilee for two nights. From there we’ll head south to the Dead Sea, and then back up the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized, and then west through Jericho into Jerusalem. We’ll be staying in Jerusalem for three nights. I think the highlight of the trip for me will be walking the Via Dolorsa where Jesus carried the cross. Wow. Thanks to the Israel Ministry of Tourism for this marvelous opportunity to join with other pastors and wives for this unforgettable trip!
