Final Day in Israel

We got up early Tuesday morning for a fast and furious final day of sightseeing, beginning with a boatride from Tiberias to Capernaum. I enjoyed my views of the western shores of Galilee as well as the thought that my Lord and his earliest disciples had traveled these waters and viewed these same shores. At Capernaum, we visited a later Synagogue that is believed to be built upon the 1st century synagogue in which Jesus ministered during his Galilean ministry (Mark 1:21 ff., 3:1). At the local museum, we also saw a simple fishing boat found in recent years which is believed to date to the first century; some call this "The Jesus Boat" and while I doubt it was the actual boat Jesus went on, it gives us a very good idea of what those boats would have looked like. We also paid a brief visit to what's left of the Jordan River, a quarter mile stretch that is released from the Sea of Galilee and is maintained for the sake of tourists.

The Synagogue In Capernaum



















At the Jordan River (such as it is)


















We continued our trip with a stop at Tel Megiddo, an ancient city at the western end of the Jezreel valley which commanded the great road connecting Egypt in the South with Syria in the North and Mesopotamia in the East. This strategic site was the scene of countless battles in biblical and world history. The city itself shows archaeological evidence of having been destroyed and rebuilt about 27 times over a period of 3600 years! No wonder the book of Revelation envisions this location as the site of the last great battle of the world: Armageddon (which comes from the Hebrew "Har Megiddo"). Due to its strategic location, Megiddo was one of King Solomon's chariot cities and also for King Ahab (husband of the infamous Jezabel). I couldn't help but wonder how much of our human history is really the story of Megiddo: build and destroy, rebuild and destroy, rebuild and destroy (sadly, this pattern can also be true for churches); I found myself thinking, "This is such a waste and a shame; there has to be a better way!"

A commanding view from Megido: It still sits along an important trade route


















Our final stop of the day was on the Mediterranean Coast, at the most impressive ancient city of Caesarea Philippi (not to be confused, as I often do, with Caeserea in Northern Israel). The city was initially built by Herod the Great in tribute to Caesar. During the time of Jesus, the city boasted a 4,000 seat theater, a huge hippodrome (horse track) that could accomodate 12,000 spectators, a luxurious public bathhouse (complete with hot, medium and cold water baths), a lavish temple dedicated to Rome and Caesar Augustus, a high level aqueduct bringing in water from 12 miles away, and an impressive man-made port. It is difficult not to be impressed by these ancient Roman building projects that utilized engineering and aesthetics in such remarkable ways! This is the city of which we read in Acts 21:8-9 where Philip the evangelist lived along with his four daughters who prophesied; this is also the location at which Paul made his defense to Governor Festus and King Agrippa and appealed to be sent to Caesar (Acts 25-26). Here Festus gave the famous response: "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go!"

The Aqueduct at Caesarea Philippi



















Part of the Hippodrome at Caesarea

In Northern Israel

On Monday, Evertt and I drove to the northernmost regions of Israel; from there we were able to see parts of the bordering nations of Lebanon and Syria. We visited the Tel Dan Nature Reserve, site of a 5,000 year old city (originally called Laish), which the Hebrew tribe of Dan captured during the conquest/settlement period of Israel (Judges 18:27-39). This is also the location at which King Jereboam tried to create a rival location to Jerusalem for the worship of Yahweh, God of Israel, during the divided kingdom (which grew out of the high taxes levied by Rehoboam, son of Solomon). Jereboam put up a golden calf in Dan and created a place to offer sacrifices to it (see I Kings 12:28-30; 2 Kings 10:29).

The location where Jereboam's altar sat


















We also drove to Banias, which was also called the Hermon Stream Nature Reserve. During the time of Christ, this ancient city was renamed Caesarea Phillipi. Mark 8:27 ff. records that this was the location at which Jesus famously asked his disciples "Who do people say that I am?... But who do you say I am?" It was a city with temples dedicated both to pagan and Roman emperor worship, a place in which Jesus' question to his disciples takes on special meaning.

Temple of Pan and Pan's Cave

















Holding up a keystone arch at the Palace of Agrippa II






















This site (Banias) is one that John Wilson and teams of Pepperdine students helped excavate during the 1990s.


















We also traveled to the highest and northern-most part of Israel, Mount Hermon, where we rode a ski lift up to an elevation of over 6000 feet and caught some great views looking southward toward Israel.

On our way down Mount Hermon

Sunday in Nazareth

Part of the blessing of my trip to Greece/Israel was being able to make connections with the local Christians. While in Israel, my travel guide Evertt Huffard introduced me to the congregation he served as a missionary during the late 1970s and which he continues to visit and encourage each year. They are a delightful group of Arabic believers; in fact, most of the Christians in the Galilee region are of Arabic descent, which ran counter to my expectations (which just goes to show my ignorance). They are prayerfully considering going through an elder selection process, which they have never done in their 60 year history.

In addition to attending several worship services, we were invited to some wonderful meals in the homes of various believers. I'll mention one meal in particular: following worship on Sunday, we were invited to the village of El Laboun (where there is a Church of Christ school that has been in operation for 40+ years). There, the Zeneih family hosted three other families and us to what I could only characterize as a full-blown feast: I counted at least fifteen unique dishes in addition to several types of grilled meats, with kinaffe (what else?!) for dessert. I was blown away by this gesture of welcome and hospitality!

A Feast in the Village of El Laboun! How many unique dishes can you identify?



















Nazareth Church Preacher Maurice Jadon, his wife Inam and daughter Natalie


















At the Nazareth Church

















At the Nazareth Church

Around the Sea of Galilee

During my final two days in Israel, we stayed in Tiberias, a resort town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. I enjoyed being close the the area of so much of Jesus' ministry. As I looked at various rock cliffs, I couldn't help but think that Jesus gazed upon these same cliffs during his time on earth. A few favorite memories from around the Sea of Galilee...

Sunset Over Galilee




















The hill commonly seen as the location of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

















At Capernaum, primary hub of Jesus' ministry

















On an early morning boat-ride traveling from Tiberias to Capernaum

















The mountain believed to be the location of Jesus' transfiguration

Father Knows Best!

When I asked my Dad what he'd would look for if he went back to Israel, he said to be sure to get some kinaffe, an Arabic dessert that combines the soft, salty taste of cheese with the sweet, crunchy taste of this syrupy concoction that is topped with what looks like shredded wheat.

I tried kinaffe three or four times, in two differing forms, and was not disappointed. My favorite came from Nazareth. So the age-old question, "Can anything good come from Nazareth," now officially has two correct answers.

Other favorite meals/foods inlcluded:
* Soulvaki/gyro (Greece)
* Felafel and Shwarma sandwiches (Israel)
* Several amazing dinners at the homes of one Greek and two Arabic families -- you simply cannot beat Mediterranean hospitality!!!

This One's For Dad! (Kinaffe)

Home Again!

I arrived home safely yesterday (Wednesday morning). Suffice it to say that the girls and I were very happy to see each other again! I'm very grateful for the opportunity I had to travel to Greece and Israel and for all that I was able to experience and learn there.

I will soon add a few posts about my last several days in Israel. Thanks for your prayers!

A Quick Post from the Sea of Galilee

Warning to all visual learners: I'm again on a computer at which I can't upload pictures.

Sunday was a wonderful day. I worshipped with the Nazareth Church of Christ in the morning and guest preached for a small village church (more like a gathering of believers) a half hour away from Nazareth. We are now staying outside of Tiberias, on the coast of Galilee.

On Monday, we got up early and headed north to Dan and Banias/Caeserea Phillipi, in the North of Israel. It was fun thinking about some of my friends from Conejo who participated in the archaeological dig at Banias. We also went to the top of mount Hermon. We tried to get into Gus Halav, Hazor and Capernaum but they were closed. I enjoyed a walk along the Sea of Galilee this evening.

Tomorrow is my last day in Israel. Your prayers for a safe flight home are coveted. Thank you to so many of you who have been encouraging Carrie as her Mom faces cancer -- it means so much to me to know you are caring for her in my absence!