Pastor Dana’s blog

It is the last night in Israel.  We leave Jerusalem early tomorrow for the flight to Paris before heading to D.C.  I haven’t posted since Sunday because of a combination of a lack of internet at some hotels and long days on the others.

Monday  started with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, starting from the east side of the sea and ending in Capernaum, which was kind of the home base for Jesus during his ministry.  Being in the this place where so much of Jesus’ ministry took place is a powerful picture and helps one to really imagine Jesus being right there teaching you in person.

Tiberius, a city set on a hill can not be hidden.

We also got to see the 1^st century fishing boat that many of you may have heard about and is often referred to as the Jesus Boat.  We had the treat that day of witnessing an active dig at the site of Magdala, the home town of Mary Magdalene.  No pics allowed there due to the fac that it is a live dig and has not been published yet.

Monday also was the day we traveled in to Jordan and the rest of the day was spent on the bus traveling.

On Tuesday we visited Jarash, one of the Decapolis cities during Roman Rule and a city that gives us a good idea of the kind of cities Paul ministered in without traveling to Greece or Turkey.  We also saw the Madaba Map which is on the floor of a church in Madaba Jordan.  It is a map of the holy lands that also tells the story of God’s people and the journey out of Egypt but also the story of Jesus.

Part of the Madaba Map Mosaic

 Wednesday was Petra day.  I don’t think one can ever get over being amazed at the magnificence of what man has created at Petra, it is only surpassed by the beauty of God’s creation.  I walked up to the high place of sacrifice, not a Christian site, more like one of the places that the Israelites would have been commanded to destroy.

Cathy and I in front of the man made Treasury

God created this one. How Beautiful.

On Thursday we visited the most accepted sight for the baptism of Jesus on the Jordan side of the Jordan river.  We witnessed many getting baptized nearby in the main channel of the river on the Israeli side. 

Jordan River Baptism

After crossing the border back into Israel it was on to Jericho and Qumran.  Jericho is a rich oasis surrounded by barren ground.  The spring continues today to put out over a thousand gallons of water per minute and it is considered to be the oldest city on earth with inhabitants dating back to 8000 B.C.  Pop Quiz: why has no one ever found the fallen walls of the city of Jericho?

Qumran was our last stop of the day which is where they found the Dead Sea Scrolls.  We were blessed on Thursday Evening to have a private Lecture with Stephen Pfann, a member of the International Team of Editors for the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Friday finished our trip with a visit to the traditional sight of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of our Lord, The Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  We also visited the Garden Tomb, an alternate site that some believe to be the location of our Lords crucifixion, burial and resurrection and concluded our time with communion together.  It has been another fantastic trip to Israel and we need to continue to pray for this nation and for the people here.  I look forward to sharing so much more than I could ever share in a blog.

See ya soon.

Israel

Still going strong.  We had an off day on Thursday so Cathy and I did some sightseeing at different churches.  We walked up the Mount of Olives to the Church of the Ascension and stopped by the another couple of Basilicas.  Later we walked the wall around the west and south sides of the city and visited Christ Church, the only protestant church in the Old City of Jerusalem.

 Friday it was time to leave Jerusalem and head north.  The highlight of the day was Caesarea on the Mediterranean.    A port city used by Herod the Great, it is named in the Bible a number of times, including the imprisonment of Paul when He appeals to Caesar.  One of the fascinating things at Caesarea is the engineering of the water system.  An aqueduct brought water 5 miles from a mountain spring.  Much of it still stands today, even though it was built over two thousand years ago.

Aqueduct at Caesarea

Saturday was spent in Nazareth, the place of Gabriel’s visit to Mary along with being the boyhood home of Jesus after the excursion to Egypt.  One of the great things about Nazareth is the Living History Museum “Nazareth Village” that was built on sight of an actual First Century AD farm.  They have built a number of buildings to help people get a real feel for the Nazareth Jesus knew, including a home and a synagogue.  The museum includes pasture area for sheep, goats and even a shepherd, a watch tower, a grape press and olive press and terraced fields used to produce grapes, olives, pomegranates, figs and grain.

"Joseph" drilling a hole.

On Sunday we headed to Hazor, a city dating back to the Canaanite period.  We had a nice excursion through the Hula region and ended the day at the base of Mount Herman at the city of Dan and the springs of Dan and Caesarea Philippi.  These Springs are the two largest sources of headwater for the Jordan River.  One of the things that hits me at Caesarea Philippi, which is filled with cultic worship of many different gods including Pan, is that it is in this region where Jesus asks the disciples who the people say that He is.  When I think of Jesus knowing that this region is filled with worshipers of all kinds of different cultic gods, it makes sense to ask the disciples, “so who do people say that I am”, and then follow with the question, “who do you say that I am.”  Its like Jesus is asking, “do people just consider me another choice, no better, no worse than any of these other gods they worship, or do they, do you know who I really am?”

Spring Water at Dan, one of three main springs feeding the Jordan River

Well, tomorrow will see us on the Sea of Galilee riding a boat to Capernaum, a visit to the Jesus boat and then into Jordan for a couple of days.

Uncategorized

Cathy sitting outside Hulda Gate on steps that date back to time of Jesus.

The Temple Mount is certainly a unique experience although for me more of an academic one.  The scale of the place is incredible and helps to give insight into the scriptures that speak of Jesus speaking on the Temple Mount.

Monday Afternoon witnessed a young man traveling through the streets to the sound of beating drums and a trumpets blazing as they headed to the western wall for his Bar Mitzvah.  His father was so excited that He invited everyone in the square to celebrate with them by dancing and shouting.  More than one person commented that they wish Christian Baptisms were filled with this kind of excitement and joy.  I made sure to tell them that they are at Peoria Church of the Brethren.

Bar Mitzvah procession

The Journey with Jesus continued on Tuesday as we walked down from the Mount of Olives via the Dominus Flevit church.  Dominus Flevit means “The Lord Wept” and it is the traditional sight of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem before He enters the city on Palm Sunday.  We then went to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed before His arrest.  The Garden is quiet and filled with Olive Trees that are thousands of years old.  It is easy to see why our Lord often retreated here, especially at this important time.

Wednesday finds us in Bethlehem at the site of the Church of the Nativity.  The church is very ornate since it is shared by the Greek Orthodox and Armenian Churches.  It is a very different sanctuary than our own with very ornate surroundings.  In addition to being the site of the birthplace of our Lord, it is also the oldest church standing today.  OK, now a little history from our series on the Genealogies of Jesus.  The star that marks the birth place of Jesus has fourteen points, signifying the 14 generations between Abraham and David, 14 from David and the Exile, and the 14 between the exile and Jesus.  Bonus points if you are the first to post which Gospel has this Geneology.

Star marking birth site of Jesus

Our last stop today was to an orphanage in Bethlehem started by two sisters (nuns).  It was a place filled with laughter and joy and the elderly sisters were contagious with their love for the people and for Christ.

Israel

Wow, its only been three days in Israel and we have already done so much.

Sunrise over Jerusalem

Friday morning started with time on the roof with God and a beautiful sunrise. 

The day was spent walking around the "City of David" in Jerusalem, yes there is a city of David in Jerusalem on the Eastern Hill south of the Temple Mount.  It is the Jerusalem from the time of King David.  We walked through Hezekiah’s tunnel that was dug to prevent the enemy from having access to the Gihon spring outside the city walls.  Extra Credit for the first person that can name the place in the bible that talks about this.  Extra Extra credit if you can name the pool that it flows into where Jesus healed a blind man.

Saturday found us in the hill country where David met Goliath in battle near the ancient city of Azekah

Elah Valley where David fought Goliath

Then on to Ber-Sheba to see the place Abraham had a well and made a covenant with Abimelech.  Extra credit for anyone who can give the reason for the name.  Hint – Wikipedia doesn’t give the answer but does hint where to find it.

Sunday we went to Masada, the stronghold of Herod the Great that was later defeated during the Jewish uprising against the Romans.  To prevent the Romans from capturing them, they committed suicide.  Cathy and I walked down the “Snake Path to get back.  Long rocky walk.  You can see it as the white path on the side of Masada.

Masada

Later we went to En-Gedi Nature Preserve also named “Wadi David”.  It is the place believed to hold the cave where David could have killed Saul but spared his life.  While barren in many places, overall not a terrible place ot hide out.  And finally finished the day with a dip in the Dead Sea with over 25% salt content so you float even if you don’t want to.

Back in Jerusalem and looking forward to the temple mount tomorrow.

Israel

Long day today.  Actually the day started Wednesday moring at about 6:30am.  Arrived in Jerusalem about 3:30 Thursday afternoon.  Everything went smoothly unlike two years ago, but I am rather tired so I am not going to write anything tonight other than say we made it to Jerusalem and did a little walking around the old city and are now ready to get some sleep.  Bright and early tomorrow for a walking tour of Jerusalem during time of David.  Here is where we are staying.

Gloria Hotel Jerusalem

Israel