Into Galilee—Day Two

Our first Shabbat starts with a flurry of activity. Though Israel is a small country (about the size of New Jersey), there much to see. You cannot walk far, or turn a corner it seems before you're uncovering biblical history. And our guides are anxious that we miss none of it.

As we board our buses for one of the crown jewels in Herod the Great's ambitious reconstruction of Israel, a light fog hugs the coast. By the time we arrive at Caesarea Maritima, the sun warms a pristine blue sky.

The ruins of Caesarea seen from the south. The round structure in the foreground is a 5000- seat theater with nearly perfect acoustics. North and slightly west are the foundations of a summer palace, where Paul gave a defense of himself and appealed to Rome (Acts 25). The long structure hugging the coastline is the remains of an ancient hippodrome that seated 11.000. Some things never change. Sports are still more popular than the arts :-) North of there sit the Crusader's fortified city and the restoration of a temple complex. 

We file into the theater along with other tour groups from around that world. Pastors teach, guides lecture, and worship leaders break out their guitars all within the confines of the theater. Pastor Randy starts our first full day with a devotional focused on the contrasting Kingdoms of Herod and Jesus.

The theater entrance is flanked by replicas of Greco-Roman and Byzantine sculptor recovered at the site.

Constructed between 20-10 B.C., the restored theater boasts contemporary artists' presenting productions.

Pastor Randy teaching at the theater in Caesarea, contrasting the pride and ruin of Herod's legacy with Jesus' Kingdom.

The town also included a summer palace, a functioning seat of the regional Roman government, a man-made harbor, and a hippodrome for chariot racing.  All of this was intended to memorialize the self-styled greatness of King Herod. It was also meant to impress Caesar Augustus under whom Herod ruled.

Audra Cross leads worship with the B4 group.

Our next stop was Mount Carmel, as we made our way from the seaside to this high point overlooking the Jezreel Valley. You might remember the Mount as central to the story of Elijah's confrontation with the pagan prophets who ate a Jezebel's table. In 1 Kings 18.

Mount Carmel seen from the Jezreel Valley

From Carmel, we traveled to Tel Meggido. With nearly 6000 years of history enclosed by this man-made hill, we toured a pagan Canaanite altar, and one os Soloman's most strategic strongholds. The Tel is a hill made by the continual destruction and rebuilding of a settlement with later building happening on top of older structures. Megiddo has a long history of passing through the hands of many an empire as it sits astride a key trade route linking Egypt, the Ancient Near East, and China. Thos who controlled Meggido controlled the trade route.

6000 years ago the Caananites constructed a temple complex at Meggido 10 times larger than any previously known structure. The round object in the top center is the altar.

King Ahab improved access to water from Solomon's time by constructing a tunnel from within the city to reach a natural water source. located outside Meggido's protective walls.

One of our tour groups descends into the tunnel Ahab built to secure a water source for Meggido.

Emerging from our underground adventure we headed up to Nazareth and the Mount of the Precipice. Though scholars believe the confrontation Jesus' had with those in his hometown (Luke 4) occurred closer to present day Nazareth, this is a traditional site for pilgrims. Our climb was rewarded with a stunning view of the Jezreel Valley. We enjoyed the view as the late afternoon sun bathed us all in a light that felt almost liquid. All while receiving an encouraging word by Pastor Dan from John's Revelation of Jesus.

Looking south from across the Jezreel Valley

Pastor Dan Gill teaching from John's Revelation overlooking the Jezreel Valley where the Battle of Armageddon will be fought according to the prophecies in the Revelation. Thanks Pastor Randy for the pic!

We ended our day bunked in a comfortable Kibbutz on the south shore of the Sea of Galilee. Tomorrow? A boat trip on the Sea, then north to Dan, Lachish, the Gates Of Abraham, followed by a jeep tour of the Golan Heights!