Israel Study Tour - Grace Bible Church

April 23 - May 3, 2014

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I have so much more to study now…

Day 4: Mt. Arabel. Areamos Topos (Mount of the Beatitudes), Chorazin, Tabgha, Capernaum, and Yardenit

Something said today that I believe will resonate with many of us after we return home from this trip “I have so much more to study now…” To take in sights of probable roads upon which Jesus walked, hills from where he taught crowds, and the area where he called disciples to come follow him, has made an impression today.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35

After a hike and climb up Mt. Arabel, the question was posed, “What are some one word descriptions of the journey up here?” Answers included:

challenging    intense     fulfilling     exhilarating     breathtaking     steep     majestic     adventurous     picturesque

Jesus often took himself to a secluded area to pray, not unlike Mt. Arabel. Wes made the point to us that for Jesus to get alone with God, it certainly required both effort and intentionality. Lesson for us: Finding time alone with the Lord will require effort and intentionality as well. We ended the time atop with personal time in the word.

Mount Arbel

Mount Arbel (Hebrew: הר ארבל‎‎, Har Arbel) is a mountain in The Lower Galilee near Tiberias in Israel, with high cliffs, views of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights, trails to a cave-fortress, and ruins of an ancient synagogue. Mt. Arbel sits across from Mount Nitai; their cliffs were created as a result of the Jordan Rift Valley and the geological faults that produced the valleys.

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“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16

Sitting looking over the Sea of Galilee on the Mount of Beatitudes, we took time to read through the Sermon on the Mount. Completely different landscape here in Galilee with green all around us, compared to the desert of just yesterday morning.

Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. Luke 10:13

Chorazin was a small town in the area of Jesus’ ministry. A town of 400-500 hundred, close enough to know and hear about Jesus, possibly for even some from the town to have gone and heard Jesus teach at some point. We walked through the ruins of the small town built of volcanic rock, noting how close in proximity the people lived to one another. Close community.

Chorazin

The synagogue at Chorazin is a typical “Galilean” style synagogue. These synagogues are characterized by 1) a basilical shape with three hallways separated by two rows of pillars; 2) three doorways and the central one is the largest; 3) benches around the interior walls; 4) a stylobate to support the weight of the arches.

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Matthew 4:18-22

We stopped briefly at Tabgha, in the area where Jesus called several of the disciples to come and follow…. The beginning of His ministry. And a reminder to us today…go and make disciples!

They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. Mark 1:21

So much to see at Capernaum: The 1st century road next to the synagogue where Jesus was likely to have walked. Pieces of the 4th century synagogue that was built upon the synagogue from Jesus’ day. Outlines in stones of the homes of Capernaum, a population of about 1500 at the time of Jesus.

Capernaum

Jesus made Capernaum his home during the years of his ministry: “Leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum” (Matt 4:13).

Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen living in the village. Matthew the tax collector also dwelt here.

Capernaum is one of the three cities cursed by Jesus for its lack of faith.

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Baptisms

An incredible ending to our day was our stop at Yardentin (Jordan River) for the chance for seven on our trip to be baptized!

 

 

 

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