Up to Jerusalem - Israel Tour

March 4-14, 2016

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In Christ Alone

Hard to believe today is our third day of touring! After an early breakfast we boarded the bus at 8 am to leave for a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We have been blessed with perfect weather all week and today was no exception. As we drove, we saw hyrax (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrax) among the rocks along the road. We passed Peter’s hometown of Bethsaida and the Mount of Beatitudes.

Aboard the boat we sang a mix of traditional Jewish songs and songs of our Christian faith. In the middle of the sea (the Sea of Galilee is actually a fresh water lake), with the engines turned off, Steve Herzig gave a devotional from Luke 4 and 5 about the account of Jesus and the disciples great catch of fish. He reminded us that Jesus authenticated who He was through many miracles around the lake. Peter, James, and John left everything they knew to follow Him. Steve challenged us, like the disciples, we need to invite Jesus on the boat by responding to His call. We must forsake all to follow Him. Living a life of faith does not stay close to the shore! We know that Peter was willing to take that step of faith and we must too.

We watched a demonstration of how fishermen would have cast their nets 2000 years ago. The boat staff then led us in some traditional Jewish dancing and more singing. It was a very clear day and we were able to see all the way to Gamla. We also had great views of Tiberias and the cliffs of Arbel as we approached the shore.

Once on shore, we made our way to the Jesus Boat Museum. There we learned how during a drought, researchers found in the murky mud a boat dating back to Jesus’ time. It was fascinating to see how they moved the boat and preserved the wood.

As we headed north to Caesarea Philippi, we saw the snow on Mount Hermon and passed the largest Tel in Israel, Hazor which was one of the four places Solomon fortified. We also drove through Kiryat Shmona, a city located on the Lebanese border.

We arrived at Caesarea Philippi where in Matthew 16 Jesus took His disciples and asked, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” Steve Herzig delivered a devotional about Peter and his response to Christ. He not only said, “You are the Christ,” he went further and said, “the Son of the living God.” Peter knew the Old Testament Scriptures and that the Prophet Isaiah said the virgin will conceive and have a son and that Messiah is God. Right there in the spot of the pagan Greek god Pan, Peter uttered his great confession to the God-man. We are able to base our faith in things that can be proven, prophecies that have been fulfilled! Just as God started Israel through a miracle birth of a 100 year old man (Abraham) and a 90 year old woman (Sarah), so by a miracle birth, our Messiah, the God-man came.
Jim Showers explained that the cave here at the site was referred to as the gateway to Hades. Jesus said, “On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

After walking around the site, we traveled on the road to Damascus, stopping for lunch at a Druze village in Birket Ram for falafel, schnitzel, and labneh.

We drove to the Valley of Tears in the Golan Heights. This is the site of a major battle in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Even though the Israeli forces were outnumbered by the Syrians, they were able to hold their positions for four days and they forced the Syrians to withdraw.

We then headed to the Jordan River for a time of baptism. Pastor Ray read from the Word, we sang In Christ Alone, then eight of our tour members were baptized. We ended our time there singing with three Calvary Chapel churches from Canada in song. We were blessed to find out that they were supporters of The Friends of Israel!
We had a feast at the famous Decks restaurant on the Sea of Galilee in Tiberias. And ended the night with our very own fireworks show where they honored Jim Showers with a video greeting from Prime Minster Bibi Netanyahu.

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