Israel (Day 10)

4/12/08 We left Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee and headed for the Jordan River baptism site at Yardenit. The water was very dirty looking and contained many unclean fish. The verses of Jesus’ baptism were posted in multiple languages at the site. After four people from the group were baptized, we drove to Beit-Shean/Scyhthopolis. The told us it would be an impressive archeological site, but I was more than impressed with what has been excavated so far. Its location is at the juncture of the Jordan and Jezreel valleys and it has been occupied for much of human history. Most of the buildings were well preserved but many pillars were damaged in an earthquake. From the site, we were able to see Gilead. We continued to drive south past Mt. Gilboa and Jericho. We were less than one mile from the Jordan River, the border between Israel and Jordan. We stopped at Qumran and saw the caves were the dead sea scrolls were discovered. They were spread out through many caves in the rugged hillside. We kept going down to the Dead Sea where we would spend the night. I believe this is the lowest place on earth, at several hundred feet below sea level. That evening, I went down to the Dead Sea and went for a float. I was surprised at how easy it was to float. I had been assuming I would need to use a little bit of effort. I used a rock to help with balance. The water was warm and I could see crystallized salt everywhere. There was a boat attached to some steel poles. The poles had about six inches of sold salt surrounding them. The salt water certainly made any wounds or sores uncomfortable. I was able to pick some rocks up off the bottom of the sea. They were covered with crystallized salt. I brought them back to the US, but many of the larger crystals were knocked off.

The baptism site at Yardenit on the Jordan River. They had these verses posted in thirty to forty different languages. This one kind of caught my eye.


I think they actually dam up the river so there is enough water for baptisms. The pastor on our bus was only willing to baptize believers who had not be baptized before. As you can tell, the water doesn't look so clean. I can understand why Naman wasn't so keen on dipping in here.



An early Roman bathroom at Beit-Shean/Scyhthopolis. You can see the drain where the water flowed. It was probably cleaner than most of the gas stations we stop at these days.


Standing on the Tel overlooking Beit-Shean/Scyhthopolis. According to 1 Samuel 31, this where the Philistines fastened the bodies of Saul and his three sons after defeating them at the battle on Mt. Gilboa. Some remains of the walls of a fortress of the time of King David and Solomon is seen here too. Gideon also went to a brook nearby here for people to drink. This place has many impressive structures including bathhouses, a larger public theater, and public latrines. I can only imagine what it looked like back then.


I have some more pictures of Qumran and the Dead Sea. They will be in my next post.

Additional Pictures from Day 9 in Israel

Looking along the security fence between Israel and Lebanon. There were several signs warning of uncleared mines. This is where Israel and Hezbollah fought a year or two ago. I am not sure if those are bunkers in the left side of the photo.

The two thousand year old boat at the Kibbutz.

Riding on the bow of the boat on Sea of Galilee.

You can see how the wind can be strong on the surface of the sea. Apparently the air rushes out across the water after coming down from the Golan Heights which you see in the background.

I tried to walk on the Sea of Galilee but started to sink immediately. Sorry for the blurry photo.

Israel (Day 9)

4/11/08 We left Tiberias and drove to Capernaum where we saw the ancient synagogue. There were two sets of remains, the originals from the time of Christ and then those that were built on top in about 400AD. In the same area we also saw the remains of what is thought to be Peters house. Over top the remains is a large Catholic church. After that we drove up a hill behind the city to the Mt of Beatitudes, which included a natural theater on the hillside. On the hill, we visited the Church of Beatitudes, a Roman Catholic Church built relatively recently. If I remember correctly, it was built with some financial support from Mussolini. From there, we drove north to Dan. We saw many streams from springs which feed the Jordan River flowing to the south. Driving from Dan to Caesarea Philippi we went along the Lebanon-Israel border, site of recent conflict with Hezbollah. Looking out from the bus we could easily see the Lebanese towns, Israeli patrol roads, and large fences. Beside the road were signs warning people not to go there because of land mines. We were certainly within range of gunfire or rockets as we were less than one mile from the border. We had lunch in Caesarea Philippi. There we saw the remains of multiple temples, city ruins, and a deep cave with a spring that also fed the Jordan River. We drove back south to Galilee and saw an ancient boat, estimated to be 200 years old, in Kibbutz Ginosar. From Ginosar we took a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Tiberias. During the trip there were several short messages and songs (Hebrew and English). I managed to get a seat on the bow with a great view. It was neat to think who would have been sailing around on this lake about 2000 years ago. From the boat we could see the Golan Heights on the Northeastern shore. That evening after dinner, I took a walk along the Sea of Galilee. I walked in the water, not on it.

The excavations and synagogue at Capernaum.

Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes.

The springs of Caesarea Philippi. It was here at the site of much pagan worship that Peter confessed "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Israel (Day 8)

4/10/08 We drove up the coast to Caesarea and saw the ancient remains. There was Herod’s palace, the hippodrome, theater, and quite a bit of other stuff. I think the hippodrome is where they held the horse or chariot races and later where Christians were put to fight animals. From there we drove up and saw the aqueduct that brought water from Mt. Carmel to the city. We went up to the top of Mt. Carmel where we had a commanding view of the Jezreel Valley. While looking out, we saw several F16’s fly overhead. We also were able to see Nazareth and Mt. Tabor. We drove down to Megiddo and saw the ruins of many civilizations. From here you could see Jenin, the site or much conflict only a few years ago. We saw the Valley of Megiddo, the site of many battles in the past and one to come. Leaving there we drove to Nazareth, a Jewish and Arab city. In Nazareth Village, a 1st century recreation, our guide, an Arab believer, explained to us many of the parables that Jesus would have shared. They had many recreations of what He referred to in the parables. There was a wild little donkey tied to a tree that made me think of that children’s song, “there once was a wild little donkey, who had to be tied to a tree.” We drove past Cana on the way to Tiberias where we would spend the night. It was interesting to drive 200 meters below sea level. That evening, I was able to walk along the Sea of Galilee. I also had the chance to visit with a fellow tourist about Christianity, faith, logic, the reliability of the Bible. It was also that night that we figured out our guide was a Jewish believer, when she prayed in Jesus name.

Caesarea along the Mediterranean Sea, where the Gentiles first heard the gospel from Peter. This is the hippodrome beside the amphitheatre and aqueduct.

Looking out across the Jezreel Valley from Mt. Carmel, where Elijah hid from King Ahab. Notice the runways where the F-16s flew out and then over our heads.

Looking from Megiddo, across the valley to Nazareth on the left and Mount Tabor on the right.

An ancient olive press at Nazareth Village.

A little ship on the Sea of Galilee.